Beyond the Page Week Two
An author’s success isn’t just about writing a good story, author appearances, and putting up posts on social media. Let’s dig deeper than that.
Reader Engagement
First, let’s begin with the writing side of things. As both author and publisher, I consider story ideas that will have the widest reach possible. Reader engagement is incredibly important for making a living with writing. The ability to create relatable characters and stories is imperative for success. When crafting characters, I ponder how the reader will relate to each character. I overanalyze and ask myself questions to be sure that the reader will understand that character.
For example, in my novels, there will never be a jerk of an ex-boyfriend who is awful to the heroine for no good reason. Especially, if she continues to respond to that person. My initial question is why the heroine would have ever liked him in the first place if he’s a jerk. His terrible nature could actually be considered poor judgement on the heroine’s part (for dating him at all), and we know that the reader wants to root for the main character. We usually see ourselves in her… Instead, their rift could be caused by something else. Perhaps he was lovely when they’d met but had started pushing her away or even straying. Now she can be hurt by him and there’s the conflict.
Foreseeing how the reader will relate to characters could really help with reader engagement.
Target Audience
Not only does a career author have his/her finger on the pulse of his/her target audience, but he/she also has an awareness of current market trends and reader preferences. What do readers enjoy about the stories they choose? What turns people off?
I never respond to my negative reviews, but I pay attention. If there’s something that continually comes up in those reviews, I strip it out of my future novels. On the other hand, the same holds true for positive reviews. I keep a mental note of what the reviewers liked about my stories and I try to include those elements into my future books.
Success comes from the ability to balance commercial appeal with artistic integrity. A work could be really well written, but if no one is interested, the book won’t sell.
Adaptability
Lastly, an author’s willingness to adapt to changes in the publishing industry will be one of the most important skills for longevity.
If I compare my first book to my last, the change is noticeable, but my readers have stayed with me, grown with me, and enjoyed the books from the start of my career to now. Paying attention, not only to what books are out there, but what books are selling—which books are ranking high on the digital and traditional lists—is important information for an author. His/her flexibility in exploring new ideas and working with editors on a fresh perspective is paramount.
Join me next week as I delve into “Stepping Outside the Author Bubble,” where we take a closer look at that whole world outside of the manuscript.
Happy writing!
Jenny
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