I’m often asked how I come up with ideas for my books and articles. When I was writing nonfiction, it was easy. I spent a lot of time out among my potential readers and I knew what sort of information, support, and resources they needed and wanted. I met them at writers events and book festivals. I followed their message boards. I read the books and articles they read and knew what was missing. I listened and I learned. I wrote for my audience.
No matter what type of writing you do, you write to be read. So it is always important that you keep your audience in mind when you choose a topic and as you compile and/or write your book.
I’m writing a lot of fiction now and my methods for coming up with story ideas are a little different. I still want to be read, so I still must write for the reader. But it is up to me—as the author—to devise/contrive a story that my audience will want to read.
I write cozy mysteries involving cats. It’s my job to entertain, delight and maybe challenge and touch my readers. The story can take place anywhere and I can follow just about any theme, but I’d darn well better be able to make readers feel something. While some of my readers enjoy the antics of the cats I write about, others are interested in the mystery aspect. Readers want to love or hate your characters. They want an emotional experience. Some are addicted to the mystery aspects. Most who read cozy mysteries want a fast, uncomplicated, relaxing read. Some who read cozies with cats, want a very real experience with the cats in the story. And readers can be ruthless in their critique of books within their favorite genres. They have expectations and you’d better meet them. On the other hand, some readers resent cookie-cutter books.
So here I am telling you authors to write for your particular audience, and then I reveal the truth—that not all of your readers are looking for exactly the same experience. This does present a challenge for authors. It boils down to the old and true adage: You can’t please all the people all the time, as is proven in the ratings and rankings our books get at Amazon and GoodReads, etc.
So what is an author to do? Only the best that he or she can within the limitations and the boundlessness of their chosen genre.
I started out to talk about creativity this morning, but ended up going a different direction. I’ll blog about my creative process later in the week.