KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

My husband and I celebrated our 23rd wedding anniversary this past weekend. Some wonderful family members took us to the Improv to see Bob Marley. A hilarious man, by the way. What does this have to do with writing? I'll tell you, but first ask yourself what all the top comedians of today have in common. Jim Gaffigan jokes about food. Bob Marley jokes about his family. See where I'm going with this? Before Bob Marley came to the stage, two openers stood at the mic. Their jokes weren't as focused as Bob's. Sure, they had some funny things to say, but their routine was all over the place. As writers, we need to find that "brand" everyone is talking about. What makes our stories different from other authors? What can make us stand out? What does the reader expect to see in our books when they start reading? Know your audience. All the greats do. That's the secret. I honestly believe you don't have to be the greatest writer, (although you DO need to be the best YOU can be) the funniest writer, etc., but you do need to know what your target audience is looking for and continue to deliver with each book.