Audiences love pieces that ask questions and provoke thought. They want to feel like they are part of the process and not mere outsiders. They also like taking something away with them after reading an article or book. It could be a new perspective or just having the feeling that someone is saying something simple but profound to them, such as “I understand you and I can relate to what you have been through.” Readers want a conversation; they do not want to be told, they want to feel and come to conclusions by themselves. Most importantly, they want writing that they can relate to and that they can learn from.

Catchy Titles

Pick catchy phrases that will elicit curiosity. Phrases that appear urgent and imply that the reader may have been doing something the wrong way may appeal to more readers than vague titles. Use powerful adjectives that bring out particular emotions. Use humor too, we all love someone who can make us laugh. Do not give everything away at once if it is a fiction piece; hint at ideas and keep the reader guessing what the end of the story will be. If you can add spontaneity and unpredictability to your work, you will not only keep the reader entertained but you will also be able to sell them all your ideas up to the very end.

Being specific

As we live in an age of information overload, readers want to move on as quickly as they can to the next article. Concentration spans are becoming shorter and shorter as we continue to be bombarded with information from different angles. Being specific in content delivery and clearly stating and presenting details will make your work more preferable for many readers; the fewer details, the better. Read your work to cut out details that you think do not add any benefit to your work in terms of developing your ideas.

Getting your content out there

Marketing your book through various platforms is crucial in reaching the intended audience. Get your ideas out there and speak about your work as much as you can and through different media forms. Let people know about your work; even a great piece requires promoting. Do not wait for readers to come to you; if you can reach them, do so and do it with enthusiasm.

Non-fiction and Fiction audiences

The role that an audience plays sometimes differs with the type of work you are aiming to produce. While in technical work the audience plays a very crucial role in determining what they would love to read and what may not work, in fiction, the audience plays a more subtle, though still important, role. Sometimes readers want to be surprised and read something new, something that will challenge their usual way of thinking. Writing for an audience is definitely a delicate balance. Knowing at the back of your mind who you are writing for is always important even though the audience should not dictate everything that you include in your work.