Know Your Reader
By Jerry D. Simmons | March 2nd, 2006 | No Comments » (Click to add yours!)
Authors I have known and writers I respect, all say, write in your own voice. Never try to write like another author, and never try to write to fit a particular best selling title or genre. Write what you know, write with passion, write what you want, in your own voice. What makes your writing unique and your story original is your voice in your own words.
In addition, you need to know your reader. Recently a publisher told me that the vast majority of their authors could not answer the question: Who is your reader? Whether you are self-published, by a small press, or under contract to a large publisher, the question will be asked: Who is your reader and how do we reach them? This is one question you need to give serious consideration.
As publishing has changed over the past few years, so has the way in which they market books. Chances are good, regardless of where or how your book is published that you will be asked to assist with the marketing of your book. Unless you have some clear idea, who is most likely to be your reader, you are not going to be able to make a contribution to the marketing effort. This means your publisher will be making all the decisions, and this is where authors begin to get in trouble.
This is not a suggestion to write to fit an audience or particular genre, it simply means as an author, once your manuscript is complete, you need to give consideration to who will be your reader? The more you can target the person or group, the better you will be able to help your publisher and yourself to focus attention on the one area where it will do the most good. And at the same time, sell more books.
Tags: Book Marketing, Book Publishing
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