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I’ve heard authors say that as they write, they ask themselves what their readers want from the plot and characters at each moment or scene of the story. I find this admirable. I’m not surprised that writers care this much about their audiences and are passionate about giving their best. But. . .
I don’t obsess in this way. I don’t ask myself what potential readers want from plot and characters while I am beating at the keys of my laptop. Maybe I shouldn’t admit this or blog about it. Believe me, I do care a lot about my audience, really I do, but once I’m writing the first draft of my stories, I don’t ponder what the readers want. There is too much else going on in my brain. I am too immersed in my story and my characters while I am scraping out the first draft. I am right there with those characters, getting to know them, going through the motions of the story, tripping over road blocks, living the moments. To consider the audience too much would yank me out of this story world. A sports commentator might say I’m “in the zone.”
I do, however, consider audience during my first step--when I’m outlining and crafting the skeleton of the story. Does that count?
As a reader, can you tell when an author has been keeping you in mind?
If you are a writer: At what point do you ask yourself what your readers want? Or do you ask yourself this at each moment and scene of the story?
I'm like you. Actually writing a first draft for me is like a mad, passionate love affair. I jump right in with both feet, throwing caution to the wind. Later, I worry about whether it's appropriate or not! Heh heh. I start asking those questions in my second draft and start molding all subsequent drafts to what I think readers would like. But that first flash--I just write it. I figure if I get to draft 2 and realize that no reader will ever want to read any of this, I'll just put it under my bed and work on something else. But at least it's out of my head.
ReplyDeleteI, too, consider the reader when plotting. Then I access if I've accomplished my initial goals after the first draft. That way I have time to fix it long before anyone sees it.
ReplyDeleteOoops. I don't think of the readers with my story! I think of the people I'm submitting to! LOL!
ReplyDeleteTake care
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Great comment, Lisa! I love reading how people work. It sounds like you and I have a similar routine.
ReplyDeleteThanks, E.R. I'm happy to read that I'm not the only writer who doesn't consider the audience in each moment and scene.
That's hilarious, Old Kitty! I think we all keep the people we're submitting to in mind. : )
If thinking about what kind I trouble I can stir up, obstacles I can create, and misunderstandings between characters I can cause, then I do this. But more so in the planning stage. During writing, I'm more likely wondering what my character is thinking at the moment. And why.
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Carol. Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm like you--in the "zone" when I'm writing. Sometimes I forget someone will even be reading it later. LOL Although sometimes I "feel" like things are slowing to a plodding pace, and that would be yawners to read, so I must have the reader in mind subconsciously. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your continuing sentence on my blog! I like the growl "moving the air." :)
So glad you came by my blog and left a comment so I could follow you here! I totally identify with this post, I do the very same thing. It's only in the revision stage that I focus on the all important reader. When I'm hammering out the rough draft, it's all about me! It's the story in me that I want to tell.
ReplyDelete*new follower excited to be here*
KarenG
What a great question. I agree with you. It's not something I think of while I'm in the first draft mode. When you plan it's a great consideration, and even looking at it that way when doing a revision pass might be nice.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to say that when crafting my novel, I wrote the story that was in my heart. As I was writing and revising, I didn't really think what the reader wants, but just finetuned my story. The reader came into play as I did final edits, though, when I made sure that the writing was such that the reader wouldn't be taken out of the story by errors or inconsistencies.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I don't consciously consider my readers. I just write what I would like to read. I stay within the confines of what's acceptable (or mostly so), but I have to please myself first. Then when that's done, I make sure it's not only plausible, but believable. If you do that, why wouldn't the reader be satisfied?
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Nancy. And I really wonder just how many well known authors of old actually thought about their possible readers before writing their stories? Was A. A. Milne thinking of about his readership when he wrote Winnie-the-Pooh? Did Mark Twain give a hoot? I get the feeling that that attitude may be a newer trend.
ReplyDeleteI do think about the reader as I plot (my very sparse pantsy kind of plot) - and then again as I revise - but while I'm writing that first draft - I'm like you ... don't think about anything but the story.
ReplyDeleteGreat post - I'll be thinking about that next book I read.
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I'm with you, Cynthia, on not being too concerned about the reader while I'm writing. In flow, I'm thinking about the characters' needs and motivation. When I begin to look at the reader is when I'm posting my novels where my critique partners can see it. That's when I realize that maybe the reader needs me to expand more on this or that thing. I guess to each his own. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I ask myself these questions except at the very beginning stage when I work out what type of story I want to write. After that, the characters tend to take charge of the plot.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I forget all about the reader when I'm writing. It's not their story. It's my character's story.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize some writers do that. Wow.
I can't worry about what anyone else will think of the book while I'm writing it. That leads to a self-consciousness that stops me cold.
ReplyDeleteI just try to tell a story that feels true and interesting. I figure if I can do that, readers will like it.
I tend to ask myself what readers want during the revision process. As in, "What does a reader need in order to understand this present scene and have I supplied it?" or "What questions can a reader reasonably ask, and am I answering them?" But not during the drafting, and not even really during the pre-planning. However, I should probably point out that my audience is pretty built-in, since I just naturally write for a bookish twelve-year-old girl.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't considered the subconscious, Carol, but of course it whispers to us as we write. Great point!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm glad you liked my sentence. Your continuing story idea blog post is such fun!
Welcome, Karen! And thank you for following and commenting! : )
Thanks, Lisa! And you're so right--revision time would also be a great time to think about the readers.
Interesting, Joanne. I like what you said about making sure the reader isn't taken out by errors or inconsistencies.
Good question, Nancy.
Bish, you've got me thinking. I wonder if this consideration of the reader while writing is a more modern thing.
Thanks, Michelle. : )
Ah, yes, J.L., those readers called critique partners are most helpful in highlighting where we may need to expand or explain.
Great point about characters, Lynda and Stina: When the characters take over, enough said.
I can understand how too much consideration of audience can make a writer self-conscious, Jenn. That would stop me cold, too.
I think it totally counts when you're writing your outline. I never put much thought into it, but I think that's when I think about the audience too. I need to focus on the story when I'm writing. I can't get caught up in worries or else I get blocked.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
I think most about audience when I'm outlining and revising. In between, when I'm writing the draft, I'm too busy organizing my thoughts and exerting the will to vomit words on the screen.
ReplyDeleteMarcia, I love that you naturally write for a "bookish twelve-year-old girl."
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly it, Christy--too much fussing blocks me, too. Never good.
"Vomit words on the screen"--hilarious, Medeia! That sums it up. ; )
Sometimes I think about the reader from maybe a interest level but I think I'm a lot like you -- the story idea and when I'm writing the story is something I'm interested in and would like to read. I write for myself first.
ReplyDeleteGrr, blogger didn't tell me you put up a new post, so I'm a couple days late.
ReplyDeleteDuring the writing, I'm pretty focused on the story. I'll sometimes stop and say, 'Dang, that's boring, let me redo that' but most of what I'm doing is getting the actual story out of my head. I'm more worried about questions like 'is this character behaving appropriately for him or her?' and 'what happens next?' Once I've finished and read it over myself, and given it to someone else to read, those other questions arise: Is this part OK? Did you think this was boring/believable? etc.
I recently read a book where I felt like the author very much did NOT consider her audience, but instead bent the plot to show her views. But it is rare that I think about that question as a reader. As a writer, I usually only think of that in rewrites and pivotal moments.
ReplyDeleteIt seems we're in the majority, Karen. : )
ReplyDeleteJeff, I love that you stop when something seems boring. We do get those inclinations while writing, don't we?
Interesting about that book that didn't consider audience, Janet. I'm with you: When I am reading, I usually don't think about whether the author considered the audience while writing. It's sort of a given, unless the story isn't working.
This had never even crossed my mind as a reader or an author except when I read 'I am Number Four' and thought "This has been written primarily to catch the film market!" Needless to say it threw me right out of the story, which isn't good for any novel.
ReplyDeleteI guess I consider it at all parts, probably mostly during the outlining phase. But I love to read so much, I think it just comes naturally that I write what I want as a reader.
ReplyDeleteNot good at all to be thrown out of a novel, Madeleine. And it's interesting that you picked up on the film audience that the author was going for.
ReplyDeleteI think that might be the heart of the matter, Susan--that we write what we want to read.
BTW Elizabeth Craig answers your question on my blog today! :D
ReplyDeleteFabulous, Lisa! I'm on my way over. ; )
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