Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fantasy (Blood of Kings trilogy), science fiction (Replication), and dystopian (The Safe Lands trilogy). Find Jill on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or on her author website.
One of the questions was to describe my intended reader.
This is something writers learn about at conferences and in writing craft books. We all should be writing books with some sort of target reader in mind. But this sheet was asking for specific details. They also wanted to know how my book (Replication) would appeal to my readers.
Okay, I’m going to make myself really vulnerable here and share what I wrote with you guys. Keep in mind, this was 2010 when I wrote this.
I write for male and female teenagers, ages fourteen and up.
 |
| photo ©2011 , Flickr |
My male reader is sixteen years old. He’s in high school. He likes to read, but he’s busy. He usually only reads Dean Koontz or Stephen King. If it’s really popular, he’ll give it a try.
He’s an athlete. He lives in a small town where sports matters. He reads to be entertained and get his mind away from the stress of life, school, and relationships.
He yearns to be a respectable man. He fears failure. He cares most about his image, doing good in sports, getting decent grades. He’d like a girlfriend. One who’s not sleazy and doesn’t flirt with every guy or isn’t always freaking out about everything he does or doesn’t do. A girl who is also his friend. Maybe an athlete. Maybe not. He’s not sure if that matters.
He respects and loves his coach, a man who really cares and doesn’t judge him when he does stupid things. He hates his dad, a man who left his mom and his siblings for another woman. When Dad does show up, it’s only to be critical.
Replication will appeal to his need to simplify his life. He’ll see the wisdom in how Marty questions the shallow things of our society. He’ll be inspired to think about what’s important in life and his own purpose. The idea that his choices define him will resonate with his desire to be a respectable–and better–man than his father.
My female reader is sixteen years old. She’s in high school. She loves to read, especially books like Twilight and Hunger Games and Maximum Ride. She loves books that have a strong girl character who meets a really nice guy. The kind of guy who’s different than the guys at school. The kind of guy she’d like to date. She loves romance in books. She reads to escape and to dream. She sometimes imagines herself as the main character.
She’s not in any clubs or sports. She babysits a lot to earn money to buy clothes and books and to get manicures. She longs to be beautiful, admired by other girls, crushed on by guys. Her last boyfriend turned out to be a jerk. She doesn’t understand why guys only want one thing. She wonders if there are any truly heroic guys out there.
Her parents make her go to church. She likes it okay. It’s kind of boring most the time. Her youth pastor is nice, and she likes learning about the things he talks about. But she wishes there were more teens in church. At least more cute guys…
Replication will appeal to her romantic side. She’ll fall in love with Marty and wish there were more guys like him out there. Marty’s questions about God, love, and marriage will get her thinking. The idea that looks don’t matter—that they don’t define her or give her value as a person—she’ll take that to heart. Behavior, kindness, choices. Those are the things that make a girl beautiful. Now if only she could find a guy who thought that way. ;-P
These are just two profiles of my target readers. They’re not my only target readers. And a book will find a wide variety of readers, but an author should have a plan for what kind of person she’s writing for. For example, I have lots of adult readers for my Blood of Kings series. But I still write for teens.
After writing ten novels, and now that I’m finishing up my last contracts, I’m taking a little break to write something new and rethink my target readers. They may stay the same. But my writing may change a little. I don’t know. I think all writers evolve with each book they write. At least I do. And I’m definitely in a place where I want to try something a little different.
But I’ll still write for teens ages fourteen and up.
Who do you write for? Take some time to write out a description of one of your target readers and how your book will appeal to him or her.
As Stephanie mentioned a while back, we’re taking next week off to recharge our blogging batteries, and to determine what we’re doing well and what needs changing here on Go Teen Writers. Have a great week, and we’ll see you back here on Monday, October 28!
We’ll miss you!
Jill