“Trustage.” Yes, it’s a made-up word and if you just rolled your eyes, congratulations, you’re already in the club of people who understand that all words are made up anyway.
(Seriously, someone just pointed at a tree one day and said, “That’s a tree,” and we all nodded like, “Yeah, sure, makes sense.” Words are weird. Welcome to the chaos.)
But “Trustage” isn’t just a word, it’s a philosophy. A principle. A rallying cry for writers, artists, marketers, and all of us who traffic in the art of Make Believe. It’s about trusting your audience. Trusting that they’re sharp, savvy, and smart enough to get it.
Too many storytellers (and marketers and, let’s be honest, the guy who explains the plot of a movie to you while you’re literally watching it) don’t trust their audience. They spoon-feed them every detail, double underline every point, and then add a PowerPoint presentation for good measure. And what they’re really saying is…
“Hey, buddy, I don’t think you’re clever enough to figure this out on your own.”
Which is insulting. It’s like handing someone a fork and then showing them an instructional video on how to stab the broccoli.
Personally, I’m a big fan of not doing that. My job isn’t to hold your hand and walk you through the woods. My job is to drop you in the middle of the forest with a compass and a wink, and trust that you’ll find your way out and probably with a cool story to tell when you do.
Audiences (readers, customers, clients, whoever) are amazing. They’re capable of piecing things together, of connecting dots, of getting it without you having to spell it out like a kindergarten teacher on a caffeine bender.
So, a blood oath. Okay, maybe not blood. A coffee oath. Let’s agree to give our audiences what they need, just enough breadcrumbs to lead them to the gingerbread house and leave the rest to their brilliant minds. Let’s give them that Trustage.
Because when you trust your audience, magic happens. Stories resonate. Products shine. People feel seen and respected. And bonus!…you don’t have to work so hard trying to explain everything like a human Wikipedia.
So write the thing. Paint the picture. Sell the product. Trust your audience to figure it out. They’re smarter than you think. (And if they’re not? Well, that’s on them. You did your part. You’re awesome. Go eat a cookie.)
Yours in Trustage,
Stephen Walker
https://stphnwlkr.com/theleague
Maker of Words, Believer in Breadcrumbs, Giver of Winks and observer of squirrels who may be a plotting shenanigans…
If you’re not diggin’ these tasty little emails anymore you can hit the unsubscribe button right here >>> unsubscribe
Stephen Walker
Unit 146317
PO Box 7169
Poole
BH15 9EL
United Kingdom