Why do you write what you write?

 Is it because you love that genre? Because you aspire to be like your favorite author? Is it because a particular story has moved you to create your own?

Think about your answer to those questions. Jot it down in a notebook and ponder it for a while. Often we find ourselves drawn to a specific genre or audience age range that appeals to us the most and we write with that in mind.

I personally am drawn to young adult fantasy, sci-fi, supernatural, etc. It’s the type of book that gets me genuinely excited to read, and if I think back on the books I couldn’t put down, they all have in common that genre and target audience. That’s why I find myself writing stories that fit in those categories as well!

But why does that matter? Why do you need to care about that as you write?

 Because as all readers have expectations.

 And you do too! When you pick up a book in your favorite genre, you expect that book to play in the proper sandbox with the proper tools. If a fantasy book was about normal reality, the fantasy reader wouldn’t want to read it, right? They are looking for the fantastical! The same goes for readers of historical fiction. Historical fiction readers want to be transported to what it was like back in a specific time period. If a medieval king was using a cell phone, the reader would be thrown out of the reading experience.

 Jessica Brody in her book, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, states, “Readers want to read something they know they will like, told in a way that they’ve never heard before” (Pg. 82). I believe this whole heartedly! Reading the familiar makes a reader comfortable, tells them they can buckle up and enjoy the ride as they flip through the pages of your story.

 But what about keeping it exciting? Staying original?

The truth of the matter is no story is every truly original. Every story, down to it’s core, is the same. Emma is the same as The Kite Runner, The Handmaid’s Tale is the same as The Great Gatsby, and The Hate You Give is the same as The Hunger Games. The reason they are is because each plot has the same set up readers come to expect.

While we will be talking more about plot later in the year, I want to you to start thinking about those similarities and expectations, the things that you know your dream readers will expect of your story.

So let’s make a chart!

I love writing out and creating visuals when I plan. It helps to solidify my already wild thoughts, grounds me to the story. So when it comes to getting to know my audience, I create a persona chart.

If you don’t know what a persona chart is, it’s a tool often used by business, marketers, freelancers (like me!) to get to know their potential clients and customers. I think it’s also a brilliant way to get to know your potential readers!

In the chart, I break down my notes into three categories:

1. Demographics

2. Passions

3. Other Important Info.

In the demographics category, ask yourself these basic questions:

• What is my ideal reader’s age (can be a range if you want it to be)?

• What is my ideal reader’s gender identity?

• What is my ideal reader’s ethnicity?

• What is my ideal reader’s education level?

• What is my ideal reader’s social interaction like? (Do they hang out with a certain group of people? Do they interact with people online? Are they antisocial? Etc.)

• Where does my ideal reader live?

• What does my ideal reader do for a living (if applicable)?

• What is their family situation like?

• What do they aspire to be when they grow up (if applicable)?

• Etc.

 Answering these questions gives you a solid foundation to start understanding your reader. Often too, you can use it as a well on which you can reflect on if your ideal reader can connect with your main character. On the other hand, if the point of your story is to make your reader see through a perspective that is different from their own, you can reflect on how you do that with your main character.

 In the Passions section, ask yourself what your reader cares about:

• What kind of music does my ideal reader listen to?

• What are their favorite books?

• Their favorite movies?

• Their favorite tv shows?

• What do they like to do on the weekends?

• What are their hobbies?

• Who are their favorite characters?

• Who are their inspirations in real life? Their role models?

• What do they stand for?

 I recommend breaking down these questions even further in order to really understand what your reader likes about those books, movies, music, characters, etc. because this section is where you are going to really draw from their expectations. You ultimately want to know why your reader likes what they like.

I find myself writing down in these charts a lot of things that I like in these spaces as well, which may sound silly but that’s okay! It all ties back to my first question: why do we write what we write? Because we are passionate about the genre, the stories that we want to emulate. The best writers are fans of the genres they write in, so it’s okay if you write down your own passions on the list!

Finally, in the last category, Other Important Info., ask yourself if there is anything special about your reader that you haven’t written down yet:

• What specific experiences do they have that you want to connect with?

• What certain desires in life that you want to resonate with?

• What else do you need to know to better understand who they are?

This section is usually the one I continue to explore and add to the most as I draft. New information will dawn on me as the story sits with me and I get to know my characters. So don’t feel bad if you can’t think of anything to put in this section yet. Let it come to you!

But can we truly say for certain that this ideal reader will be the only one to read my story?

No way! Readers come in all shapes and sizes, backgrounds and creeds. There is no way that this chart will ever truly identify everything about your readers. But that’s the beauty of writing a story. You never know who is going to read it and what impact it’s going to have on them.

So remember as you play with chart and get to know your audience that nothing is set in stone. This tool is ultimately here to be another resource for you when you get stuck along the writing path.

Next week, we will be taking all that information you discovered about your ideal reader and talking about their expectations! So stay tuned! Don’t forget to subscribe so you can stay up to date!

Sending you lots of good writing vibes!

Xoxo,

Kelsey