The Starting Point: Knowing Your Audience

“Learning How to Love Your Readers”

Dear Writer, I hope you had a good week exploring your story! This week, we’re going to look at our audience. Our audience will determine many of the choices we make as we write from formatting and style to how we publish and promote our work. But before we dive in, let’s take a look at some people who knew their audience.

Knowing Your Audience in History

Mister Rogers was a man who knew the audience for his unique message and tailored his methods and formats of communication to meet their needs. Though it was relatively new at the time, television was a n excellent way to reach children, and Fred Rogers created a show that would teach them life principles in a way they could receive them, instilling key truths of life through a warm safe word of “make believe.” Through his tireless work, he not only impacted a generation of children, but he gained an influence that allowed him to speak to people of all ages. All because he carefully and considered his audience.

It’s like that for our work, too, writers. When we know who we are to reach, our work can reach a whole new level as we lovingly craft our stories and messages in methods that will reach into our readers’ worlds and lives. Let’s continue…

Knowing Your Audience in the Bible

The Apostle Paul is another man who knew his audience. In fact, he knew his audiences (plural) and tailored his message to reach the many different types of people he visited. In his own words, “20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:20-22. Paul knew the deep value of his message and of the people it was to reach and took special care to make sure those he was speaking to—regardless of their background and culture—would be able to understand the mystery of the Gospel through the words he shared and the way he shared them.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should change your story to please men, writer. But what it does mean is that you should know who God has called you to send your story to and what kind of communication they can receive.

Knowing Your Audience in Life

For me, I knew my story was—unusually—to have a broad appeal. Especially to “non-readers.” Because of this, I knew my story couldn’t be as wordy your typical works of fiction and that—while maintaining excellence—I needed a story that flowed easily and didn’t bog down in the details that most readers love. Because of that, I opted to use adverbs more liberally than most for the purpose of streamlining my prose. And you know what? It worked. Non-readers have read my book and loved it! But here’s the thing… I’d already learned about my “non”-readers ahead of time.

I had watched my “non-reader” Mom, devour a massive work of fiction in the span of just a few days once. It captivated her. It wasn’t that she didn’t read. It just took the right book. One that read more like a movie. And because I knew my audience included readers like her, I knew how to craft a work that would engage them.

Knowing YOUR Audience

It’s the same for you, writer. When you know who you are called to reach, it will guide you when you get to forks in the road and must choose “this” versus “that” versus some third way. For instance, if you are writing for busy professionals, you might want to consider shorter chapters and strong simple concepts or even doing a podcast or audio book they can listen to while on the go. But if you are writing for women in their golden years, you might take a whole different approach.

But here’s the thing. Don’t be afraid to step outside of the box to reach your people. God is always finding new ways to reach people. When you know your message and the heart, values, preferences, and lives of those who need to hear it, then framing your message in way that will flow into their lives naturally and benefit them richly becomes so much simpler. And when our words hit the right readers heart at the right time, they have the power to change lives.

Still wondering how critical it is to know your audience? Let’s take a peek into scripture…

• • The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. – Isaiah 50:4
  • A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold. In settings of silver. – Proverbs 25:11
  • Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. – Ephesians 4:29
  • Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. – Colossians 4:6
  • “20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” – 1 Corinthians 9:20-22.

Here’s the thing, writer. When you know your audience—truly know them and their lives and needs and hopes and dreams. And that point where your words intersect their lives at the point of their need is the point where transformation occurs.

Just think of all those touched by the work of Mister Rogers. Of the countless ages of Christendom transformed forever by Paul’s targeted words. Of those who saw their relationships in a new light after reading my story.

Where to Start with Knowing Your Audience

Are you getting excited yet? I hope so! Because, here’s the thing, writer. Taking time to know your audiences equips you to love the through your work and words. When you know them, you will discover more and more ways to reach them and serve them through your words. Because here’s another thing. We can’t love those we don’t know. Love is a about relationship, and for our words to connect people to God, it’s important that we first connect with them.

Wondering where to start? Here are a few ideas to get you going…

1. Think about who needs to hear your message. Maybe you already have a clear idea. Maybe you have no clue. I encourage you to begin by asking God for wisdom and then consider, who would most enjoy your story? Who would most benefit from it? Who among your friends and family are most likely to truly enjoy the work. These will begin to give you some clues about your audience.
2. Think about what their lives are like. Is your story good for young moms? Retirees? Established business professionals? Every group of people has different kinds of lives with different types of demands and needs. Knowing how they think and communicate and what’s important to them—the deep desires and needs on their heart—will help you shape your message in a way that will not just fit into their lifestyle and language but also catch their hearts.
3. Create a reader profile. Of what the life of what your reader would typically look like. This can give you some excellent insight into their unique stage of life, preferences, and needs.
4. Think outside the box. Sometimes, the best way to reach a particular audience hasn’t been discovered yet. A lot has changed from what would have worked 30 years ago and culture and society are constantly growing. So, if you see a need and a good way to meet it, don’t be afraid to try it out—even if it’s never been done before.
5. Get some beta readers. Once your first draft is finished, get some beta readers from your target audience to review your work and give you feedback!

Now, here’s the thing, writer. Our stories are precious gifts from God…because the souls they are going to reach. There reason we are to be so diligent to guard and grow our stories is because your story’s unique expression is designed to reach specific hearts. When we know who those hearts are, it can make those artistic decision points we face that much clearer and give us great confidence as we move ahead.

So, I encourage you today, writer. If you don’t know who your audience is, take a little time this week to prayerfully consider who they are.

And if you do know, I challenge you—give yourself the freedom and permission to write what’s on your heart for them in the way you know they will receive it. And don’t forget to seek and follow the Lord’s leading in all you do. He is the one who gives us an “instructed tongue.” He knows the hearts of all men. Then as you begin seeking God’s heart and methods for them, you will be amazed at the love that will begin to feel you for a people you’ve never met. And that love will shine through your words, writer. And make a lasting impact on the people your story reaches.

#word #audience #love #EveryWriterWriting