Manny’s answer to “Thanks. No, beyond frustration, no there isn't. I have lots of fragments that seem entirely usele…” > Likes and Comments

My long held impression is that the writing I like to read was written to please the author.

One statement I took to the bank: A letter to the editor of a magazine I'd long subscribed to had "suggestions" for what the reader might "like". His reply:

my readers don't know what they like until I give it to them

Well, knowing what you want and writing it for yourself is the ideal situation! But failing that, writing for someone else is the next best thing.