A few months ago, we were taking a course on email marketing, and there was a segment on knowing our audience. It seemed relevant and essential to learn, but we left the room as soon as the chapter ended.
Yesterday, I encountered a reader who mentioned that he didn’t understand the Schism and how it ended. Interestingly, we still got a few likes on that piece. It got me thinking. Some parts of our work might resonate with our readers, and some might not. Let me share what we’ve grasped or understood about finding that balance.
We are often told that we need to find the right audience. This is solid advice. We want people to read and connect with our work. We need to understand who we’re writing for. But taking it too far can also backfire on us. Going solely for mass appeal or trends can reduce our originality and expressiveness. So, what can we do?
Understanding the audience means recognizing who we are writing for. It’s not just about age, gender, or location; it’s about their interests, struggles, and desires. When we know our audience, we can tailor our content to meet their needs, speak their language, and touch their hearts. It’s not about selling out or becoming a mindless crowd-pleaser. It’s about understanding who we’re writing for and using that knowledge to craft content that resonates deeply.
Imagine we’re at a party, discussing agriculture or books for recommendations. Nothing works, right? In the same way, we customize our writing style and topics for a specific audience. This can increase the chances of finding people who genuinely connect with our work.
While it’s crucial to understand and write for the audience, it’s equally important to maintain our own interests and passions. Finding a balance between meeting our audience’s needs and staying true to our interests is key. It’s hard, but it’s possible.
Write What We Love
Our passion for a topic shines through in our writing and captivates our readers. If we love what we write, our audience will feel that energy and be more engaged. Draw from our own life. The mundane details, the everyday interactions—these can make our writing relatable and real. Readers find comfort in stories that reflect their own lives.
You don’t write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say. — F. Scott Fitzgerald
Blend Interests
Combine our interests with our audience’s preferences. It’s about finding our spot, the intersection between our interests and what our ideal readers crave.
Here’s the good news! There’s a whole world of readers out there with different tastes and interests. We don’t have to be everything to everyone. By understanding our strengths and what truly excites us as writers, we can attract a dedicated audience that appreciates our individuality.
Write what disturbs you, what you fear, what you have not been willing to speak about. Be willing to be split open. — Natalie Goldberg.
Push ourselves a little extra
Writing is hard work. It takes dedication, practice, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zone. Pushing ourselves a little extra doesn’t mean we have to overhaul our entire process; it means making small, consistent efforts to improve. We can study readers’ reactions through feedback, engagement, and metrics.
There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. — Ernest Hemingway
Try New Things
Experiment with different genres, styles, or perspectives. If we usually write fiction, try a non-fiction piece. If we love poetry, try our hand at a short story. Pushing our boundaries helps us grow as writers and can reveal hidden talents.
You fail only if you stop writing. — Ray Bradbury
Be a Trendsetter
Aim to be original and innovative, to surprise and delight. Give readers something they’ve never quite experienced while making it accessible and relevant to them.
Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly. — Franz Kafka
Edit Relentlessly
The first draft is just the beginning. Editing is where our story really takes shape. Don’t be afraid to cut out parts that don’t work, even if we love them. A lean, well-edited piece is far more compelling than a bloated one.
The best writing is rewriting. — E.B. White
Seek Constructive Criticism
Honest feedback from fellow writers can provide new insights and help us improve. Remember, critique is not personal; it’s a tool to make our writing better.
The Power of Being Ordinary
It’s easy to get caught up in trying to be the next best thing. But remember, there’s beauty in the ordinary. Our unique perspective, our everyday experiences—these are what make our writing special. Embrace our ordinariness and use it to connect with our readers.
To gain your own voice, you have to forget about having it heard. — Allen Ginsberg
By knowing our audience and pushing ourselves creatively, we’ll carve our own niche and attract a dedicated tribe of readers who connect with our unique voice and perspective.
Celebrate the small steps, and never stop pushing our boundaries. In doing so, we’ll not only find our audience but also discover the extraordinary writer within us.
Cheers!
Happy writing!
Thank you for reading ♡!
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