I’ve heard that writers need to find a niche and then directly address a niche-specific audience.
But in order to do so, the writer must first figure out who that audience is.
Each of us, of course, hopes our work will enjoy universal appeal, when more than likely it will attract one segment of the population over others.
With this in mind, one of my creative writing teachers gave us the following assignment:
- Create a character that is your ideal reader–the one you imagine pulling your book from a shelf and thumbing through the pages you have written.
- Give the character a name; give us a picture of your reader and write a brief scene that shows him/her interaction with something you have written.
- 350 words.
Here was my response:
My Ideal Reader
Lorna bites her tongue and prays for patience. Each time she ventures into an unfamiliar bookstore and asks the clerk to direct her to Visionary Fiction, she gets the same response. A blank stare.
“Paul Coehlo,” Lorna says, already anticipating the response.
“Oh you mean the Metaphysical section.”
No, Lorna thinks. I mean fiction in which the expansion of the human mind drives the plot. But she nods. Guess Metaphysical will have to do.
No matter where she goes, she finds Paul Coehlo shelved under Metaphysical, with nonfiction books on Wicca, astrology, and self-actualization. These books have their merits, true, but Lorna believes that Paul and writers like him deserve a section of their own.
No use asking for the author Lorna is specifically looking for. Margaret Duarte is too obscure for that. Duarte’s fiction appeals mostly to Cultural Creatives such as herself, a subculture equally obscure, invisible, and under the radar.Lorna fumes at the thought. Duarte’s stories are as familiar to her as her own face in the mirror. She likes the author’s first person accounts of the mystical, psychic, and paranormal.
Duarte presents a third way, not a neutral center, but a bridge to connect the end and the beginning. Her stores are like surf crashing on rocks.
Lorna is an optimist, but hardly a Pollyanna. Just because she likes reading about expanded mental abilities with an eye on solutions rather than dysfunctional relationships and political corruption, doesn’t make her less valuable as a reader and consumer.
She takes the only copy of Margaret Duarte’s novel Between Will and Surrender from the shelf and places it dead center on the table displaying the current best sellers.
It’s time more people step into “the between.”
First, I imagine my future readers as female (though I hope to attract male readers as well). After all, I write about a woman’s struggle for psychological freedom and her yearning to discover a path based on meaning and purpose rather than income and security. But then I take it a step further and add an emerging subculture called Cultural Creatives as my ideal readers.
- Loves nature.
- Cares about self-actualization and spirituality.
- Wants equity for women.
- Wants to be involved in creating a new and better way of life in our country and our world.
- Dislikes emphasis on getting and spending.
- Likes experiencing and learning about other ways of life.
- Is optimistic about the future.
- Walks his/her talk.
- His/her sense of the sacred includes personal growth and service to others.
As an author, how would you describe your ideal reader?
Or, if you are a reader, how would you describe yourself and your preferred author?
Since I’m trying to identify (and address) a niche audience, I’m especially interested in your answers.
As always, thanks for stopping by,
For myself it's hard to pin point a reader for of my book or books. I think they'be very similiar to yours. Intelligent, loves history, but likes it right, not imagined. Loves the details, and emotions that go with historical events. I think whoever reads, Phillippa Gregory, would like my books. I hope.
I agree, Lee. Your historicals not only tell a good story, but educate and satisfy an appreciation for detail.
I just learned I am a cultural creative…Cool!! So I will def be one of your readers 🙂 My readers will be Ancient History & Religion dorks…just like me 🙂
Welcome, SS. Love the way your describe your readers. Ancient History and Religion dorks. Guess that includes me, too.
Nice blog. Enjoyable to read. I always considered myself a good reader enjoying 2 books a week. However the subject of the book and the way its written has a big impact on readers. Unfortunatley some of the books that weren;t necessary catchy for me are still waiting on my book shelf to finish for some time now.A book that I would consider good for reading is one that has a good story, something to learn from and most, good written style and most importantly passion from the writer.
Hello Acrross The World ICS. That's why it's so important for an author to keep his or her potential reader in mind. A good story and style, of course, are extremely important, as is passion. Actually, these alone might be enough to attract new readers. But so is the "type" of story (genre). Some readers read strictly for pleasure. Others demand more substance. Some like history, others fantasy, etc. An author must know his or her potential audience and not expect to please everyone.
Margaret, you've just made me want to scoop your book right off that shelf! I can't wait to read it. I love the passage your wrote from your ideal reader's perspective. I am ready to set off into the world of visionary fiction. 🙂
Thanks Darcia. So I'll count you in as one of my potenial readers when the big day comes.
Margaret, your blog was a truly serendipitous discovery today. My coach suggested I look up cultural creatives, and it so happens that I am also seeking a niche for my small business. I'm going to try this exercise as soon as possible – I can see that thinking about my ideal client is going to help me focus on how to find and market to those clients. Thanks for sharing, I look forward to reading more of your blog.
Wow, Southmountainmedia. I'm glad my post can help out in discovering a potential "audience" or niche for your business. Your coach wise suggesting you look up Cultural Creatives. They are an up and coming subculture under the radar for now, but not to be ignored. Oh, and by the way, I'm a firm believer in meaningful coincidence or maybe in this case, I should say synchronicity (a link that cannot be explained by cause and effect). I'm glad your search and my post coincided.