It happens to the best of us: you read a post on Facebook from someone far more successful than you on how to write for your target audience and you wonder: who the fuck is even gonna read this shit? In the midst of your purely psychotic {read: brilliant} story crafting the thought creeps in, interrupting your progress.
Perhaps in your more lucid moments the thought even turns into actual behavior: market research and analytical journals and the like. Actual statistical probabilities, scarier-than-thou factoids and analogies designed to scare you straight. This shit IS real.
But what if that's the whole point? What if the stuff that comes out of you- the soul juice that you tap into when reality leaves the building and you're left with nothing but the crushing madness of your own existence- what if that's the whole damned point?
What would you do then?
Would you give a shit about market research and financial logistics and mathematical regressions and trends? Fucking trends.
Or would you say 'fuck it' and let the crazy, scary, sexy, devourer of mankind loose on the world? Without judgement. Without worry. Without anything other than the pure essence of you.
Because me, personally? I vote for the latter.
I started writing just for me. Science fiction isn't a big selling genre. Fortunately there were just enough people to keep me going. Because outside of fantasy, there's not much else I'd want to write.
ReplyDeleteAnd Thank God for that because the world desperately needs more great science fiction!
DeleteI've actually never read a "how to write for your target audience" article. Most of that kind of reading tends to be story-structure-revisions-editing-etc based. Dang, that would add a butt-load of pressure. But I guaranteed you later today I will search out a post to read--cause now I know they're there...
ReplyDeleteI definitely have more fun when I write for myself. Otherwise, the pressure of worrying what others will think, how to market, and all that crap stifles my creativity. So, I try not to worry about writing for any one other than myself.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with 'writing for my target audience' is that the folks seem to be forgetting that the audience that reads your books is composed of people who like what you write about. I am not a fan of hard-core horror (too much imagination) but writers of such work are writing for those who enjoy reading it.
ReplyDelete...but perhaps I'm missing something? (Good post!)
My books reflect what I want to write, the type of story I like to read, no formulas and not for any particular audience. When do I question my motive - each time I check the sells stats. Would I change anything? No, I'd still write 'my stories' but I'd also find a way to write for the masses - so I could earn enough to make writing 'my stories' a pleasure (no stress) because the bills are also getting paid. Great rant!
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