Willie Sutton Law of Writing (BTWriter Club 🔒)

Remember It?

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Remember Willie Sutton's law?

"Willie Sutton's Law" is a colloquial term often used to describe the principle attributed to the infamous American bank robber Willie Sutton. Sutton was active during the early to mid-20th century and gained notoriety for his numerous bank heists.

The phrase "Willie Sutton's Law" essentially means that people tend to engage in activities, often illegal or unethical, that are profitable or personally advantageous to them. Specifically, it's often paraphrased as "Why do you rob banks? Because that's where the money is."

While Sutton himself may not have used these exact words, the sentiment behind the phrase implies a straightforward and pragmatic approach to criminal behavior. In essence, if someone is looking to obtain money or resources, they would logically target places or activities where those resources are most abundant or easily accessible. For Sutton, this meant robbing banks because banks held substantial amounts of money.

This principle is not limited to criminal behavior and can be applied more broadly in various contexts to suggest that people are likely to choose actions that align with their goals and offer the greatest potential benefits, whether positive or negative.

In writing, for example, it makes more sense to choose a topic or even a niche area that readers are already interested in, than to choose some obscure, esoteric subject that doesn’t really appeal to many people.