Why You Should Write for One Reader

Summary

Writing for a single, specific reader can lead to a more focused and successful writing process than trying to appeal to everyone.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the importance of writing with a clear, singular audience in mind. It suggests that aiming for universal appeal often leads to a diluted message and a less engaging narrative. Instead, authors should concentrate on a single reader who represents their target audience, whether it's a real person, an idealized reader, or even the author themselves at a younger age. This approach simplifies the writing process and helps in crafting a story that resonates deeply with at least one segment of the readership. The author, Shaunta Grimes, shares her personal experience of writing for her ten-year-old self, her daughter, and her brother, as her 'One Reader' strategy. She acknowledges that while it's impossible to please everyone, satisfying a specific reader can be both achievable and rewarding.

Opinions

Writing for everyone is an unrealistic goal and often results in failure.
Identifying a specific reader helps in getting the genre, cover, and keywords right for marketing purposes.
It's acceptable to have a small group of people in mind as your 'One Reader' during the drafting phase.
The 'One Reader' approach prevents writers from becoming overwhelmed by the diversity of potential readers.
Personal satisfaction comes from pleasing a specific reader rather than trying to appeal to a vast audience.
The author uses her family members as her 'One Reader' and values their immediate engagement with her work as a measure of its success.

You can’t please everyone. But maybe you can please one person. (And that’s enough.)

It’s tempting to daydream that your book will appeal to people of every demographic. It’s got a potential readership of 7.53 billion! Readers from infancy to decrepitude will fall in love with it.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages — everyone will love your story.

I often ask the question ‘who are you writing for?’ Sometimes, the answer is everyone. That is pretty much always . . . well, I don’t like to call people wrong, so let’s go with tough.

Writing for everyone is tough. It doesn’t really work.

One writer doesn’t want to exclude male readers from her women’s fiction book. Another knows that adults will enjoy his YA book and is writing for the cross-over market, but he’s also sure that smart ten-year-olds will like it, too. Many people are writing for all the readers who loved some massive bestseller.

Aspiring writers often think that they need to prove that there’s a vast audience for their work.

The truth is, if you nail down your book’s genre, finding an audience is marketing. Put it in the right place in the bookstore or on Amazon. Get a cover that telegraphs that genre. Get your keywords right.

When you’re writing your book, I think you need to narrow it way down. Way, way down.

To just one person.

It can be an actual person. Someone you know who reads in your genre, who’s opinion you care about. Someone whose approval will be enough.

It can be an imaginary One Reader. An ideal reader who embodies the characteristics of an average reader you hope to reach.

And ‘one’ is suggestive. It’s okay to have a couple of people you write for. Just, when you’re in the drafting phase especially, try not to write for all of humanity. You’ll only make yourself crazy.

I write middle grade fiction and often my One Reader is myself, aged ten. If my ten-year-old self would have fallen in love with my story, then I’m happy with what I’ve done.

I also send everything I read to my older daughter and to my brother. I know that’s not one reader, but it’s still a very narrow pool. I’m happy when they start reading and can’t stop. I know I need to go back to the drawing board if I have to poke them for feedback after a few weeks.

You can’t please everyone. Not even some of them time. But you might be able to please someone.

Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She’s on Twitter @shauntagrimes and is the original Ninja Writer.