Writing a Book? Real Questions. Real Authors. Real Answers

I’m not sure who my book is for, does it matter? Do I need to know my target audience?

Knowing who your book is for - your target audience (aka your reader), is a vital part of the writing process. This information matters. If you’re unsure, it’s an easy fix. If already started writing and you got it wrong, you can change your path and do some editing.  

I write fiction but I work with non-fiction authors helping them craft their books. In both of my worlds knowing who your READER is key to your success of writing and having your book sell. Not knowing who your reader is might not seem like a problem, you’ve probably thought and said that your book has a wide audience, and everyone is going to read it. Or, on the flip side you might have chosen the wrong reader.  

Both have their own set of issues. But both can cause:

• Too many ideas and you wind up with a book that has no focus.

• Writer’s block because you’re not clear on what you’re writing (because of no focus).

• You never finish your book.

• our book doesn’t sell because your readers can’t find it.

• Your message is watered down.

• There’s no connection between the reader and your book and they don’t finish reading it.

If you’re halfway through writing your book and you cannot answer this question clearly, or your answer is everyone – stop writing. Hold for a moment. Take a pause. If you’re just starting out, perfect. Take a breath and let’s figure this out.

Knowing Your Target Audience as an Author Matters

First writing for everyone is like saying everyone likes (insert your own thing here). Example ever go to a car lot? There are assorted styles and colors of cars. But even before you get to the car lot there is also the brand of car. Not everyone wants to drive the bright red sports car or the camo painted Jeep. Maybe you only drive Hondas so you'd never to to the Ford dealership to buy your brand-new red Honda, right? It's the same thing with books. Your reader is looking for a specific type of book, they're not going to find it if it's not where they are looking.

Fiction Writers: You should know your genre like the back of your hand. You’re writing for a particular age group and telling a specific kind of story. Example:

• Young Adults (age 15-18) Science Fiction

• Middle Grade (age 11-13) Mystery

• Adult (ages 18+) Romance (which has a set of sub-genres)

You know your readers’ age and what they like to read - this is your TARGET AUDIENCE. If you’re writing a middle grade mystery – you know your reader. Make sure though, that if that’s what you’re writing – that you KNOW your audience (which comes from reading books like the one you’re writing.) Your book should be a mystery, not a romance geared toward your age group.

Non-Fiction Writers: This is where you need to take some time and discover your reader. Everyone does not want or needs to read your book, and if that’s who you’re writing for no one is going to find it. Readers aren’t going to connect with your writing and then you’ll be a flop. No one wants to be a flop.

Exactly how do you discover who you’re writing for?

I like to have my clients think about a person that they envision reading their book. Get down to the nitty gritty details like the age of this person, what are their hobbies, what is their economic background, where do they live, what kind of car do they drive. Are they vegan? Do they like the outdoors? I really mean it – get specific on this person. You don’t need AI to do this, you already know this answer, you need to pull the ideas out of you with a good old fashioned brainstorming session.

This person is your reader, your target audience. When you're planning your book, and writing it you will be writing FOR and TO THEM. For your reader, when they read your book they will feel your words, they hear your voice and they want to do whatever it is your telling them because YOU KNOW THEM.  And if you’re writing a book because you have a coaching business, a life plan, self-improvement, etc. you already KNOW who you’re writing for. You’ve got a built-in audience.

Journal using a pen and paper - to discover who your audience (your reader) is.

I know the temptation is to write for everyone, or to pick a large group. But doing that will water down whatever it is you’re trying to say. The way to get your book in front of everyone is to write to your audience, your reader. Once your reader finds you, they will share your book, and you will have organic growth in your readership. If you write it they will come.

I make it sound easy, I know. Discovering your target audience, who you’re writing for, is the first step in ensuring you’re successful in writing your book. Writing is hard, and it’s why a lot of people shift to using AI to write. It’s easy to plug in some questions and have the answers spit out for you. But there is no reward for you in using AI. The process of writing has numerous rewards – and you can only discover these if you trust the process and let go of what you think you know.

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