WHY PEOPLE DON’T WRITE FOR THEIR READERS
Have you ever noticed that people only read things they want to read? It doesn’t matter if the content is important, even life-changing, you simply can’t make people read books and stories that don’t interest them. You may think what you’ve written is irresistible, but if it isn’t finding its audience, perhaps you need to rethink your approach.
Many writers write for themselves, to satisfy their own interests or needs. Some authors write for its therapeutic value; others to memorialize their own or their family’s stories; and still others write to serve the public good. All these reasons are worthy, but if you want to be traditionally published, you need to set aside these personal motivations and write with your readers in mind. Romance readers want happy endings, for instance, and readers of traditional mysteries don’t want graphic violence or sex. By identifying readers’ expectations within your genre, and applying those lessons to character development and plotting in your own work, you’re certain to excite your audience—and isn’t that what we all want? Think of it this way: If what you write doesn’t sell, isn’t it analogous to baking the best cake ever—it might be the best, but if no one eats it, what’s the point?
Q: Writing for readers sounds like