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| Tune into Your Audience |
I critiqued an article last week for a homeschooling newsletter and I was struck by two things. First, the depth of the research and the genius behind the conclusions the author drew. And . . . the boring way she conveyed that information.
Ouch. As difficult as it was to share my insights without discouraging this budding writer, we all know how hard it was to receive this kind of a critique. But without a little kind redirection the article just wouldn't get read.
Tough stuff, but we’ve all tried to wade through writing so formal you had to wear a suit and tie to read it. The facts are there, but polished to the point where there’s no life left in the words. Here are some tips to avoid missing the mark.
Define your audience. You have to have a clear picture of who you’re writing to. This means you need to familiarize yourself with the publication or website or group. A little pre-writing can save you a disappointing rejection.
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| Define the Gender and Age of Your Primary Audience |
- Define the mood. Yes, even non-fiction has emotion. It’s more subtle, but it’s there. For example, when I write for a Do It Yourself website I keep the articles upbeat and encouraging. The purpose of the website is to let people know they can accomplish a particular project—not keep them from even trying.
- Define the gender and the age. Men and women express themselves differently and our writing needs to reflect that. I spent a year as managing editor for men’s college magazine and I discovered this first hand. I finally had to come up with two lists or word pools, labeled—Girlie Words and Man Speak.
Don’t forget to join the conversation!
Blessings,
Edie
When it comes to defining your audience, how do you write for a group of people that span a category? Example: What if both men and women read a magazine or devotional you write for?
ReplyDeletePerhaps it has to do with their reason for reading? How do you define that if it's not obvious?
Ellen, great question. Every publication has a tone to their articles. For example, a financial magazine or website would have a more formal tone. That would mean less contractions, more "proper English" and less slang. Your audience, is the publication's (even if it's on the web) audience. You want to submit an article that sounds like the rest of the publication.
DeleteI hope that helps.
Blessings,
E
It helps a lot. ThanksEdie.
DeleteGreat tips, Edie. I try to put myself in the shoes of my readers- what do they need from me? What will make their day better? In my "helpful" posts, like how to add books to Goodreads, I strive for a conversational tone, like we're discussing my topic in young adult aisle at Barnes and Noble. I keep the helpful tips in, but also add little humor. Your tips today help me realize that I should probably think about my audience more carefully.
ReplyDeleteJulia, that's a great way to stay in step with your audience. Thanks so much for stopping by, Blessings, E
DeleteI asked the same question while reading your article: "How do you define your audience if it's not obvious?"
ReplyDeleteI think I answered on Ellen's comment above. If not, just ask again and I'll try to help some more. Blessings, E
DeleteEdie -
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see that list of girlie and Man Speak words! I hope you'll post it sometime. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Sometimes it's so hard to put myself in the shoes of my audience to figure out exactly who that is...what do they need? I try to ask myself what I needed in the midst of my seven years of hell so I can try to give that to my readers. But the further I get from those years, the harder it is to remember what I needed. I started a personal journal just after my miracle healing, and going back and reading those thoughts sometimes helps me remember. I'm getting there! ...thanks largely from all of your guidance :)
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