Yes, that’s the person who reads your work, not a device. Lately our author discussions have revolved around audience. Who is going to read your book and what can you do to make your book better for them?
It is clear when you are writing for YA or children, you use specific language – or more correctly, don’t use specific language. No sex! Entertain, don’t Preach! And your themes need to connect with what your age group is focused on. Or, perhaps the next age group up.
When you write in a genre, you must work with the conventions of the genre. No mystery reader is going to buy your second book if you don’t solve the crime. Although the bad guy doesn’t need to get punished, but the reader needs to know who did it, and usually why. And, if they don’t get punished, if the detective walks away from the final closure, you have to have a compelling reason.
Science Fiction seems to get the most buzz about conventions in story – there’s that group of readers who put more emphasis on the Science and the group the places more emphasis on the Fiction. And the group in between who want a good story with some science.
What we advise our authors is to make sure they understand the conventions of their genre or age group. Then if they need to break them, do it skillfully and with purpose. If your reader thinks you’ve made a mistake in your writing, you’ve kicked them out of the story. If you are skillful in changing conventions, they will be intrigued and captured in the story.
How do you get to know your audience?
The best way is to read what they read. If you do that, you can see the conventions and you will ride the knowledge as you write.
The second best way is to buy and read a book about writing for the age group or genre.
My advice – do both. Start with a book on how to write for that audience to see what you should be including, then read books in the genre/age group so you can see how well it’s done, or how badly.
I wish you good writing.
Perry
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