"Who's Your Audience?" by John Matthew Fox

Finding your niche is more important than ever

For a long time, without even realizing it, I was trying to write fiction that pleased the wrong people.

After three degrees in creative writing -- a B.A., an M.A. and an M.F.A. -- I had sat under dozens of professors and internalized all their little critiques and expectations. So as a dutiful student, I was trying to write a story that would please them.

And when I stopped doing that, I wrote to please the writers in my writing group. After 50+ critiques from them, I got to learn what they liked and disliked, and I started to shape my fiction to meet those expectations.

Lastly, there was a phase in my writing life when I wrote to please the critics. I read their book reviews, figured out their tastes, and tried to write a book that would make them offer up a praise-filled hymn to my writing greatness.

In all three of these phases of my writing life, I was writing for the wrong people.

Because the only people you should write for are your readers.

• The professors weren't my readers.

• Authors alone aren't my core readers.

• Critics are not my main audience.

I was trying to please the wrong people with my writing, in order to get a some quick dopamine bursts of respect and adulation, and that hamstrung my abilities.

Now, I'm not saying that you should write whatever your readers want to read with no concern for your own tastes. No, no, no, no. You absolutely have to write the book that you want to write.

Just don't write a book that you think will please some high-minded critic or the snooty person in your writing circle, because you're not going to brown-nose your way to writing stardom -- you need focus on your true audience.

Ultimately, you have to write the book that is right for your audience.

• Is your audience blue-collar steelworkers from Detroit?

• Is your audience suburban moms? rebellious teens?

Great, then write for them and forget about what your professors would say, what your writing group would say.

You have to trust yourself, and write what you want to write. Your writing can't please everyone and you'll fail if you try to.

Unshackled from pleasing the wrong people,

John Matthew Fox

PS. Write for the right people, and learn other helpful tips through my online writing courses.