Who We’re Writing For

by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig

Unless you’re writing a memoir or a family history, chances are that you’re not writing for your family. Nor, unless your friends are eager readers of your genre, your friends.

I read a lot of blog posts, though, where writers lament the lack of support they’re receiving from their family members. The support they’re often looking for is for family to buy and read their books.

Although I don’t necessarily think family should feel obligated to purchase a writer’s books, it’s certainly one way to support a writer. There are many, many more. Family members can share a writer’s social media posts, spread the news about a book release among friends, or even persuade libraries or bookshops to hold a book signing. They can brag about you to others. Most importantly, for writers who have young children or who might be caregivers to others, family and friends can help provide time for the writer to write, work on business tasks, or promote online.

My (grown) children will sometimes ruefully tell me that their friends give them a hard time for not reading my books. My answer is always, “But I didn’t write them for you. I dedicated some books to you, but I didn’t write them with you in mind.” And I didn’t write them for my husband, mother, or any other family members. I have a good grasp on who my readers are and they’re always very much my target audience when I’m writing.

I was reminded of this recently when visiting with my mother’s tax attorney. He’s a nice guy and asked if he could purchase one of my books. He thought his granddaughter might like it. I say what I usually say when someone I know asks to read my books–that they should give it a try at the library first. If they like that one, there are about fifty others.  :)  He reiterated that he’d like to purchase one, so I sent him a copy in the mail.

Some time later I spoke with him on the phone, regarding my mother’s taxes. At the end of the conversation, he said he’d read my book and was enjoying it, but didn’t think his granddaughter was quite ready for it.

I totally agreed. That’s because, despite the fact that cozy mysteries have no explicit gore, profanity, or adult material, they do have murders.

I learned that he’d been a bit misled by the cover design for my books. An avid cozy mystery reader would immediately recognize the hallmarks of a cozy…the cat on the cover, the hint of danger (in this case, a blood-splatter on a tombstone). The cartoonish elements indicating there might be humor between the covers.

I never want to turn away potential readers, of course. I’d like to think that I’ve persuaded several mystery readers to give cozies a go…some of them are folks I know. But my books aren’t a good fit for every reader. And I’d never have my feelings hurt if friends and family didn’t read my books…or even if they did and didn’t like them. Because I have a good lock on my audience and who I’m writing for.

As always, this isn’t one size fits all advice, as most advice isn’t. If you’re not getting any support as a writer, suggest that your family or friends help you out in other ways. And remember that, ultimately, you’re writing for other people. The readers who chose your books because of your genre and the singular spin you give it. And, most importantly, you’re writing for yourself.

How does your writing life mix with your family and friends?

Photo credit: pedrosimoes7 on VisualHunt.com