In The Know: Pt. 2

Once you know why you're writing, and what you're pursuing, then it's time to take a look outward. At your audience.

Know your audience.

If you're writing to be published, then this is essential. What do they expect? Your book will be placed on a shelf someday in a marked aisle/section. Who are the people perusing that aisle? What do they like?

This is similar to knowing your genre and the expectations inherent in it. Even knowing the necessary word count of your genre is important.

As writers seeking publication, we answer to more than just ourselves (as many of you said in last post's comments).

Are you "in the know" when it comes to your audience? Fill in the blank. A satisfied reader equals....?

Comments

Kristen Painter said…
A satisfied reader is one who can't wait to buy book 2. lol
May 21, 2009 at 7:32 AM
Jody Hedlund said…
I totally agree with Kristen! A satisfied reader falls in love with you as an author and then can't wait for your next book!

BTW, looks like you're making some great progress on your WIP!
May 21, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Hi Jody,
Thanks. It actually was a completed category romance that I've decided to lengthen into single title. :-)
May 21, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Janna Leadbetter said…
...one who feels something through the words (of mine) they read. That's it for me.
May 21, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Hmmmm, that would be a wonderful thing. Very true.
May 21, 2009 at 8:35 AM
Cindy R. Wilson said…
I totally agree with Kristen! A satisfied reader is one who gets drawn into the story so fully they don't want to put it down. Then they can't wait for book two!
May 21, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Jennifer Shirk said…
Yup to the satisfied reader anxiously waiting for your next book.:)

Or even better, a writer who thinks, "Why can't I write like that?" LOL!
May 21, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Jeannie Campbell, LMFT said…
since you've written a category length and are lengthening it, i wondered if you had ever done the opposite? shortened a single title to a category length? i'm just curious. :)
May 21, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Hi Jeannie,
Well, kind of. My historical came out at 85000 words but when I found out that LI Historicals were only supposed to be 70-75K, I had to pare down.
Since it was my first completed manuscript, I found quite a few scenes and sentences that weren't necessary, so it ended up being fairly painless.
However, I've never cut a ST down to 55K. :-)
Have you?
May 21, 2009 at 11:11 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
LOL Jennifer. Other writers admiring my work...hmmm, that tastes a little on the evil/delicious side of things.
:-)
May 21, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Cindy,
We can dream!!! I hope that happens with all of us. Maybe ten years from now we'll all be on the bestseller lists. LOL
May 21, 2009 at 11:13 AM
Katie Salidas said…
I totally agree with Kristen's comment. That's a definite sign we got something right!
May 21, 2009 at 11:31 AM
Danyelle L. said…
A satisfied reader equals a good career. ;-)

For me, the most important thing is being honest in the story, so that in turn leads to honesty to the reader.
May 21, 2009 at 1:24 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Hi Danyelle,
What an interesting way to put it. Honesty in the story. I like that.
May 21, 2009 at 1:35 PM
Karen Hossink said…
"My" audience just wants a few minutes of quiet in which they actually CAN read! At that point, I'm not sure they'd even care what they're reading - just the peace is often enough to satisfy.

But I think they need to know they are not alone in the struggle of mothering. They are not "failure moms" if they don't do everything perfectly. God still loves them when they fall. And He is present in each moment - available to them if they will only seek Him.
That's what my readers need to know to be satisfied, and that is what I aim to deliver.
May 21, 2009 at 1:57 PM
Eileen Astels Watson said…
Yup, I'm with the early birds. Definitely satisfied when you want to find another right away to read from the same author. I actually love it when I discover an author later in their career, because then there are so many books of theirs to keep me company!
May 21, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Kate Karyus Quinn said…
I think a satisfied reader is one who will: recommend your book to their friends, buy your next book (and if it is in hardcover, not even wait for the paperback version), and for books that I really love - count the days until that next book comes out!
May 21, 2009 at 3:29 PM
Larie Carlice Proverbs 27:19 said…
...mission accomplished.

smooches,
Larie
May 21, 2009 at 3:35 PM
Unknown said…
Wouldn't that be entertaining if we all ended up best sellers! I'd love it :D
May 21, 2009 at 5:05 PM
Kathryn Magendie said…
I wrote what I wanted to read - that's pretty much it. :)
May 21, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Susan J. Reinhardt said…
Hi Jess -

I agree with the other commenters: A satisfied reader equals a repeat reader.

Blessings,
Susan :)
May 21, 2009 at 6:20 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Good for you Karen! It's so important to know what you're delivering, and why. :-) Esp. in non-fiction, I'd think.
May 21, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
LOL Eileen! Me too. :-) I'll gather a whole bunch of their books from the library and settle down for some happy reading!
May 21, 2009 at 7:24 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Kate,
That's more than a satisfied reader. That's a fan! LOL!
May 21, 2009 at 7:26 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
It would be pretty awesome, Mary Beth! :-)
May 21, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Kathryn, I've heard many authors do it like that. I guess I do too. I'm looking forward to reading your book!
May 21, 2009 at 7:30 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Trust you to say it succinctly, Susan. :-)
May 21, 2009 at 7:31 PM
Jaime Wright said…
A satisfied reader is a satisfied author ;)
May 21, 2009 at 9:43 PM
Krista Phillips said…
A satisfied reader.... wow, there have been so many good responses, I'm not sure what to add!!

I write romance with a bit of humor, a bit of suspense at times, and a bit of "tug at your heart"

So for MY audience, a satisfied reader would laugh and cry while reading my book and do a bit of soul searching when they're through:-)
May 21, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Jessica Nelson said…
Woohoo Krista! I love it. That's so put together, so well thought out. Nice. :-)
May 21, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Jeanette Levellie said…
For me, it's someone who says or thinks; "You remind me of Erma Bombeck!" and who gets to know the Father better from reading my books/articles.

Jessica:Thanks for this wonderful post!

I never even considered word count for my auidence...
Happy Weekend,
Jen
May 22, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Jessica Nelson said…
Oooh, my mom had some Erma books lying around. :-)
Do non-fiction writers even need to worry about word count? Hmmmm....
Thanks for stopping by Jen! :-)
May 22, 2009 at 10:37 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

We All Got to Learn to Do It Sometime

*grossness alert* We all have to learn to deal with doo-doo eventually. Consider me a newbie mom, but it never occurred to me that my son should be wiping himself until about a month before kindergarten. And then the flashbulb went on and I scrambled to teach him. One problem. He didn't want to. He's fastidious and doesn't like to make mistakes, so the thought of taking care of this daily chore literally reduced him to screaming and crying on the toilet. Basically, he didn't trust himself. He was afraid. Scared to get his hands dirty. Afraid he'd miss something. This is probably weird, but it made me think of us as writers. There comes a point where we have to "grow up" and trust ourselves. We can't always rely on a crit group, agent, or editor to wipe up our mess. I think this should be a part of maturation for every writer, that we can look at our work and be confident in our ability to clean it up. Not saying we'll make it perfect or that we won...
Read more

Work First, Play Later

I'm back! I had a wonderful time with my family. Thank you all for asking. :-) In 2009 my schedule evolved into a blog first/write later kind of thing. It happened that way because my husband began using the computer in the afternoons and evenings for his project, but now that I have a router, my schedule's changing. It's time to work first, play later. That means I do my chores/errands in the morning, write at naptime, and visit your wonderful blogs in the afternoons and evenings. So if I don't show up in the morning, don't be alarmed (if you even notice, lol). I'm just changing things up. I'm too exhausted in the evening to write, that's why. During the day I have way more energy to write but at night there's a fifty percent chance I won't do it because I'm so tired. When's the best time for you to write? I also need to shout out my awesome crit partner, Linda Glaz! Some of you may have met her at ACFW. She's a wonderful, faithful, ...
Read more

Melodramatic Mother

Mom, this one's for you. *wink* The other day we were on the phone and my mom was describing some of her ailments to me. She's normally a healthy person, but she does suffer from allergies and sinus issues. She's also a vivid person and this comes across in her language. In this case, she told me her pain was skewering up through her nose. Skewering. She never finished the description because I laughed. What a perfect word! Strong, to the point, I had an exact (if somewhat gross) image of what was happening. Do you have a vivid person in your life? Someone who thinks in ways you forget to? And in your WIP, are you using the strongest verb possible to convey EXACTLY what you mean?
Read more