The Most Important Question a Writer Can Ask

When possible, I try to catch myself when I get into the realms of hyperbolic speech. Instead of saying something is the best, I prefer to say it’s “one of” the best; instead of saying something’s the worst, I try to say “one of” the worst. 

(15 Things a Writer Should Never Do.)

So maybe there’s a more important question for each specific writer, but I believe that this is the most important question for any writer who wishes to get published or paid for their writing eventually. And it may even be the most important question for writers who don’t care about such pursuits.

The most important question is, “So what?”

I’ve heard this two-word question countless times from editors, agents, booksellers, creative writing professors, writers, and readers in every genre of writing, including poetry, nonfiction, and fiction. In many cases, the answer to this question is the thing that decides whether someone bothers to read your writing, let alone spend money on it.

So What and the Craft of Writing

Regardless of genre, answering the question of “so what” is a huge part of getting an agent and editor and ultimately readers. For example, a poet may write an exceptional sonnet that perfectly describes a summer rain shower. It may be technically correct in every way, but a poetry editor may say, “So what?”

Putting ourselves in the poetry editor’s thought process, they may be able publish 20 poems in each issue of their literary journal. For each submission period, they receive 200 technically correct poems (perhaps in a variety of poetic forms) and most of them about nature-related topics, like a summer rain shower. As such, there are 200 technically correct poems, so what does differentiate them?

The answer may be that one of the 200 poems goes beyond merely describing the summer shower. Maybe that one special poem connects the summer shower to an important personal moment that reflects the overall human condition in a way that many people would relate. In other words, it might be technically correct, but it also brings heart.

The same question could be applied to a novel. Let’s say a new writer puts together a romance novel that hits all the right beats, includes the expected tropes, and finishes at the correct word count. However, people who read it walk away saying, “Meh,” or some variation of that sentiment. Why?

Instead of asking why, writers should ask, “So what?” In this case, the skeleton of a romance novel exists, but so what? What makes it worth reading above other romance novels? Is there a fresh twist on an old trope? Is there a secondary character who does incredible things? Does the dialogue make you wish you could participate in a conversation with the characters?

So What and the Business of Writing

Related to this, “So what,” is the question all editors and agents ask before taking on a new project. It’s the question book buyers ask before taking one book off their bookshelves to replace it with a new one. It’s the question that must be answered in an effective query letter or on the back cover of a book.

In fact, many effective nonfiction books and articles will attempt to answer the question in their title and subtitle. For instance, Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City is a pretty compelling title, but it answers “so what” with its subtitle: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America. Any history buffs who are also into true crime will find that title-subtitle combo irresistible.

Likewise, The Copywriter’s Handbook, by Robert W. Bly, answers the “so what” question with: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Copy That Sells. People who want to break into copywriting may recognize the book is about copywriting, but what makes this one special is that it breaks the process down into simple steps and shares how to write copy that sells.

Titles for fiction and poetry may be more artistic, but the back cover copy and pitches answer the “so what” question for publishing decision-makers and readers. In fact, every genre of writing should be able to answer the “so what” question with an effective elevator pitch.

Here are 60 relatively recent (and effective) hooks for books authors have used. Or check out this quick list of a few elevator pitches that appealed to me recently:

A rising country star, grieving the death of his best friend in a mass shooting, speaks out on guns, ending his career. He moves back home to his small Kentucky town to rebuild and encounters a ghost from his past. –Colton Gentry’s Third Act, by Jeff Zentner (romance)A memoir about one man’s betrayal of many women who united to help each other, and confront him and the society that enabled and protected him. –The Chain: Love, Betrayal, and the Sisterhood That Heals Us, by Chimene Suleyman (memoir)When Lana discovers a magic portal in the sweet section of her local supermarket, she enters a world where fairy tales are real, and she and her brother Harrison must change their endings to save the day. –The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale, by Ben Miller (MG adventure/fantasy/humor)When a fortieth birthday celebration leads to a ghostly visitor, three friends find themselves navigating surprising mysteries and spiritual high jinks. –An Enchanting Case of Spirits, by Melissa Holtz (mystery)

Even though each of these pitches is for a different genre of writing, they all introduce the main character(s) and the stakes. 

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So What Should I Do About So What

Asking yourself “so what” is not meant to discourage you from writing. If that’s what you’re taking from this, please stop and take a breath. A deep one.

Rather, asking yourself “so what” is meant to give you a tool for digging deeper into your writing than perhaps you have before. 

Write a poem about your first car? Ask what was so significant about this benchmark. Did it cause you to act foolishly or more conservative? Any special moments?Write a murder-mystery? Ask yourself what makes this mystery different than the others? Is it the setting? The time period? The circumstances of the murder? The characters involved? Write a nonfiction history book about World War II? Ask yourself what is special about this book vs. all the others that already exist. Are you covering a specific moment in more depth? Revealing a story that’s never been shared? Or connecting some dots that have never been connected before?

Writing is an activity and an exercise. Asking “so what” of your writing is like adding 10-pound weights to the bench press. It’s a little bit of resistance to see if you could put a little more into your writing, whether that’s to understand yourself better or help others find entertainment, encouragement, or education.