Page 28 - August 2020 Voices

JUST WRITE

Who Let the Dogs Out?

(Better yet, Who will read your story?)

Ken Coomes, DTM

Who are you writing for? Having at least a your ideal or
general idea of your readership helps with the first reader. One
writing. Your general readership for fiction is at approach (the

least interested in your genre. If you’re writing one I do NOT
across genres, a subset of those interested in each recommend) goes
genre constitutes your general readership. The something like this: “Hey,
non-fiction audience are those people who are I really need to get a lot of

interested in your subject matter. reviews on my book. Would you
But who is your ideal reader? You can enhance please read it, review it, and post the review on
the effectiveness of your writing by creating a Amazon? That would really help me a lot.”
persona for her (or him, or them). Consider age, A better approach (the one I DO recommend):

gender, profession, friends, hobbies, places this “I know you’re really interested in fast, simple
ideal reader hangs out. Not only will this help meals. I’ve put together a cookbook that takes
your writing focus, but some of this information, recipes from long, long ago in a galaxy far, far
even if initially imagined, will help you target away. I upgrade them to modern ingredients,

your marketing and promotion later on. and convert them to fast, easy microwave meals.
If you know and have access to your ideal Since you love fast food prep, I thought you
reader, and she reads your first or second draft, might find it helpful. If you would review it and
value her feedback (you know, just like in tell me what you think, maybe post a review on

Toastmasters; feedback is awesome for writers, Amazon, I would really appreciate it. And you
too.) Listen to her, and tailor your writing to may keep the copy you review.”
appeal to others like her. James Wantz is the winner of last month’s
If your first reader hails from a demographic contest, “share 100 words (or so) about where

different than that of your ideal reader, ask him you found an idea, and what your idea might be.”
to picture himself as your ideal reader, and to Here is James’s inspiration:
give you feedback from that perspective. Maybe “I fed the small birds the crumbs of my dry
your first reader isn’t comfortable trying to place ham sandwich. I wasn’t hungry. They were.
himself in the shoes of your ideal reader. In that I was entranced as they hopped and chirped

case, graciously accept the feedback he offers, from tidbit to tidbit. They didn’t even heed the
and go from there. bars– they went right between them.
Let me say a little bit about approaching I was in prison, they were not. They found

28 ONE COMMUNITY