Who Is Your Ideal Reader?

Write for yourself first. We've all heard that one.

Writing the stories you want to write without worrying over how future readers will receive them has its merits. If you're not into what you're writing, readers will be able to tell, making it harder for them to get into it.

Not to mention that it's harder to write the things that don't pique your interest.

That being said, it's likely that you're not only writing for yourself. Whether you're planning out your next plot twist or editing for clarity, you're likely considering your readers—even if you don't know it yet.

In querying your book and marketing, your ideal reader is something you'll want to know. This tells prospective literary agents and editors how they'll be able to pitch your book and lets readers know if it's something they might be interested in picking up. For example, saying your book is perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood can get the attention of contemporary romance readers while informing those looking for a gritty crime thriller that your book may not be suited to their taste.

Another thing I've found helpful is envisioning your ideal reader reading your work as you're writing it. Having an idea of who your book may be for can help you not only finish writing it but also make sure it'll be one worth reading.

But how do you determine who your ideal reader is? How does that help with writing?

Finding Your Ideal Reader

When we talk about ideal readers, we're not saying that only a select demographic can or should read your book. It's a term referring to those who are most likely to be interested in picking up your story and are more likely to enjoy it.

This might be based on the age your book is written for, like saying the ideal reader for a YA novel is between 12-18 years old, or readers who are already fans of your genre. This doesn't mean that a 49-year-old man who normally reads thrillers couldn't enjoy a New Adult Contemporary Romance novella, but it might be less likely that several of them would compared to a group of 20-something women who are fans of Ali Hazelwood and Abby Jimenez.

When thinking about your ideal reader, it can be helpful to think about traits common among those who enjoyed your book's comp titles, or you can use your ideal reader to help find your book's comp titles.

Understanding Your Readership

Another avenue for understanding your ideal reader's tastes is exploring online reader spaces. It can be helpful to scroll through social media, blogs, review platforms, and forums and see what readers are saying about books akin to yours.

What are they loving about those books? What did they dislike? What do they wish they saw more of in the genre? What are the trends to watch?

Paying attention to and engaging with these communities can help you determine common reader tastes and provide insight into what they're looking for (which can also help when you start querying and nearing the publishing and marketing stages).

Envisioning Your Ideal Reader

Having data or facts is helpful, but if you're like me and find that it feels too abstract to be tangible, it can be helpful to envision your ideal reader as a real person. It could be someone you know, like a friend or coworker, or you may entertain the fantasy of a favorite book reviewer talking about your book on their platforms or your favorite athlete reading it on the sidelines.

A.J. Brown reading "Inner Excellence" by Jim Murphy on the sidelines during the Eagles-Packers NFC wild card game, via People.com

Longtime readers of the blog might know that when I was working on my first-ever stab at writing a novel, I had dreams of a blockbuster film adaptation with Toby Regbo in one of the starring roles (and potentially narrating the audiobook because his voice was a perfect fit, just listen to this clip of him reading a Jeopardy! clue). And because of that, I also imagined him reading my book.

I can't say for certain if Toby Regbo is a fan of historical romance novels, and therefore can't say for certain if he would be my ideal reader, but having that image of him reading my book was definitely motivating to me as a teenager. There'd be nothing for him to read if it wasn't published sooooo...

Even though that particular book did end up getting shelved for the foreseeable future, I still find it's helpful to keep the image of someone reading my book in the back of my mind.

Here's a challenge for you: once you have your ideal reader in mind, give them a name. What's their favorite book (other than yours, of course)? What's their personality like? Do they have a furry reading companion? Are they more of a tea or coffee drinker? What music do they listen to? Where are they most often seen reading?

The more real they feel to you, the easier it will be to write for "them."

In a way, keeping your ideal reader in your mind can be like having an imaginary friend cheering you on and giving you something to work towards. You're writing your story for them as much as you're writing for yourself. Telling them the story.

As much as you might want to believe that your book will be a perfect fit for every single reader who comes across it, but that's not going to be the case. Not every reader will connect with your story, and that's okay. Instead, writing with your ideal reader in mind can help hone your focus and craft a more impactful story that resonates with your audience.

Think of it this way: if you imagined the perfect reader picking up your book, someone who got it, who would they be? They don't have to be a vague concept or a pile of data. Create a tangible image of someone and give them a cozy nook in the writerly corner of your mind to call home.

Knowing your ideal readers is not about limiting your book's reach. It's about maximizing your book's impact.

Have you thought about who your ideal reader might be? Let me know in the comments!