Member-only story
Don’t Write to Fit In
Stand out instead by fitting in where it counts
A month ago I bought a new pair of shoes for work.
They fit fine. But I was trying to save a few bucks so I went for the cheap pair. They looked fine. They fit. So I wore them faithfully day after day.
Soon I discovered there was a problem.
My feet sweated like faucets when I wore them.
Gross, I know.
The crazy thing is this happened no matter how cold it was outside.
Last weekend I bought a new pair. I tried them on. I’ve worn them for a week. My feet aren’t begging for relief at the end of a hard day. I’m not sweating buckets even if it’s hot (it’s not right now). These shoes are as different from the previous pair that comparing them is like putting light next to darkness.
It’s great when things fit.
When does fitting in matter?
If you want your work to appear in a publication, you better follow the rules. There’s freedom where nothing is specified, but if you violate an expressed wish, you close the door to that opportunity.
Rules are like job interviews. They screen you first with your resume. If you meet the specs, they’ll call you in to see if they’ll…
