There’s a lot of writing out there in the world, but the stuff that stands out in our modern, noisy world seems to follow one approach: It takes a stance.
It puts a stake in the ground and says, “This is what I think and believe to be true. Here’s why.”
Why does it stand out? Because expressing an opinion (especially online) entails a certain level of risk.
People may disagree with your point of view (and take to social media to start a conversation about it.)
The internet never forgets, so if you change your mind, someone out there might dig up what you shared in the past and challenge you on it.
It can spark conflict, confrontation, and disagreements.
Putting your thoughts, feelings, and convictions into writing often feels scary. That’s why so many people just...don’t.
But guess what? Writing that doesn’t take a stance has its downsides, too.
It can lead to writing that reads as non-committal, wishy-washy, or fluff.
It can mean surrendering your platform to simply regurgitating what other people think/say on the issue.
It puts you on the sidelines where you’re not sharing your two cents and using your personal voice.
More and more lately, I find myself seeking out writing that takes a stance. Sometimes I agree with the author; sometimes I don’t. But either way, I appreciate when writers make the brave choice to share their personal thoughts on a topic.
Take a look at a few standout examples I bookmarked that have come across my desk lately and see what this looks like in action:
In all three of these examples, the author is coming down on one side of an issue and making an often *very persuasive* case for doing so. They’re shining examples of how to make a case for what you believe in with logic, data, and storytelling that’s all woven together.
So if there’s one thing I can ask you to consider this week as you sit down to write, it’s this: Share what you think.
You are a person with valuable, interesting personal insights. How can you leverage those to make a case for your point of view? It may open the doors to conversations and engagement like you’ve never seen before.