Do you write for yourself or for readers?
My answer to this is: Yes.
And I use a Reader Persona to guide my understanding of readers and to expand my perceptions of what writing can do and who writing can reach.
This discussion thread is an invitation to explore our relationship to readers, using The Reader Connection Blueprint as a launching point.
I’ll be available in this come-and-go format to answer questions (this is available to anyone with a paid sub — upgrade here!), but here are a few to help you get started:
I thought writing for readers was discouraged. How come you’re talking about it?
How can I think about readers without getting overwhelmed?
Where can I apply the Reader Persona to my writing on Substack?
Hi everyone! I can't wait to connect with you all today. Today's chat is centering around readers and is an open invitation to ask me questions about The Reader Connection Blueprint, how to use it, questions, concerns and creative ideas about how to meet readers where they are. IF you have read the digital guide and would like to leave a review (and get a one-month comp as a thank you!), go here and leave your review in the comments: https://theeditingspectrum.substack.com/p/reader-connection-blueprint.
First, thank you for this. Sessions like these are exactly what I was looking for when I joined Substack, so I’m hoping to gain a better understanding of the culture of writing.
At the end of page 7 in the blueprint, there is a question that asks, “Is it controversial?”
I’m currently working on a fiction novel, where young kids in a small town exchange lynching cards instead of baseball cards for fun. It is merely a mention that comes back in the end, but I’ve been grappling with this for some time. Is it my place? I feel like I’m qualified to write the story, but I know some in society would feel differently.
I understand that lynching is part of America’s dark past and I feel tentative to write about it, but it’s crucial to the story. I also recently saw a plaque outside of a courthouse talking about lynchings done inside the actual court and it strengthened my argument to tell my story. But I’m conflicted.
Obviously, the offense taken would be subjective to the reader and not everybody will be impacted in the same way, but will it hurt my chances of getting published? Will I even be able to find an agent with “controversial” work?
Thank you for your time.