When was the last time you walked on water? If you think this might be a kooky question, maybe you aren’t letting your creative juices flow often enough. For the writer who might consider it just a hobby, you might believe that people don’t really want to read your work, and that may be true if your work reads like you didn’t really want to write it in the first place. If readers believe that you just opened a blank Word document and tapped out a few catchy phrases on it without much thought to who would read it, they won’t commit to it in any serious way. Knowing how to capture your audience for their own purposes is relevant for anyone who is serious about writing.
People read for many different reasons. They may need topical information, so they look for writing that will help them gain knowledge about a chosen subject. These readers usually want something concise. Other readers want to be entertained, so they might seek out something funny that they can put down and pick up again when they feel like it. Some readers just want to escape from the complexities of a busy life, and they prefer to dive into the adventures of intriguing characters cast in exotic settings. There are even people who need to be coaxed into doing something they have dreamed about for years. Whatever the motivation, no one wants to feel like they are just investing their time in all your ideas without getting some type of return on that investment.
As a writer, it’s important to consider how you can help your audience get the most out of what
you have to offer, even if it’s just a travel brochure. Whether you’re attempting to educate readers on how something works,
or you’re trying to get them to choose your travel agency to book their dream vacation, you want to ensure that they will stay tuned for the deal clincher. Like the opening line of this article, something needs to get the immediate attention of your readers. The truth is, you kept reading because you wanted to see just where I might be going with this idea of walking on water. Don’t tap out just yet, the answer is coming soon.
Any “good” piece of writing needs to convey the message that the target audience wants to hear. It usually plays on the senses. For instance, a great novel is one that makes the reader feel. It takes them on a fascinating journey through time, space, or environment. Whether the outcome is a couple of destined lovers finding each other after years of heartbreak and experimentation, or a mysterious spy who weaves his or her way through a twisted maze of thrilling obstacles, the most successful novel writers are those who figure out how to make the reader feel something along the way. Even though this is true, you don’t have to be a miracle worker to achieve the reader’s purpose. You don’t have to, wait for it, walk on water. You simply have to write with a purpose in mind.
Still, you should never overthink your subject matter. In a reading class, teachers inevitably ask students to explain the author’s purpose. If you’re the author, you should always consider it the other way around. A good question to ask is, “What do my readers want from me?” On the other hand, you can’t be too predictable either. If your writing seems rushed or forced, it will become predictable and boring. It should read like it was handled with care…like the football in a big game. That’s not always an easy tackle, and it may take a couple of long drives to get the right mix of offensive and defensive plays that will bring the crowd to their feet. The point is to keep driving and keep believing that your big score is just across the goal line, no matter how far away it seems. Even at a few yards out, it might seem like you’ll never reach it. The trick is to remember that the goal line is always in sight, and it’s sometimes just a matter of shifting your perspective.
This is where patience becomes the virtue to which you so often hear people refer. Take the time you need to keep the fresh ideas coming. Trust me, a blinking cursor is not an indication that you’re stuck at a permanent road (or writer’s) block. Sometimes, it simply means you’re trying too hard.