Do you want to know the number one mistake made by first time authors?

They write their book for everybody. And when you write for everyone, you don’t connect with anyone.

Let’s face it, 97% of people who start writing a novel never finish it.

And here’s the secret…

Most of those unfinished books don’t make it because the writer doesn’t know who they are writing for.

So in this post, you will learn…

  • Why your reader matters
  • How to find your perfect reader
  • What readers really want
  • How to connect with your audience

Why Your Reader Matters When Writing Your First Book

Before we begin, here’s a question…

Would you use the same language to tell a story to a five-year-old and a fifty-year-old? Of course not. Yet there are thousands of writers typing away at their keyboards with no idea who will read their work.

So here’s the problem.

If you don’t know your audience, everything is much harder.

Your writing is all over the place. Your message is unclear. And worse of all? You have no idea what your book title should be.

You can write a whole book and still struggle to come up with a single, catchy title that works.

And that’s why smart authors have learned to use a reliable book title generator to test out different ideas and see which one sounds the best to their target reader.

Because your title is your first chance to make a connection with your audience.

And here’s the data to prove it…

Authors who don’t know their readers and struggle to find the right title often never finish their books. This is because they don’t have that magical connection to keep them motivated.

And once they hit a wall, they give up.

Just look at the numbers. The median advance for authors is $25,000, but this is only for books that get published. Most authors never get to that point.

How To Find Your Perfect Reader

Ok, here’s something most writing courses won’t tell you…

Your perfect reader is not a demographic.

He is not “women aged 25-45” or “business professionals”.

Your perfect reader is a real person.

Your perfect reader is real, and he has three things:

  • Specific problems that keep him up at night
  • Questions he desperately wants answered
  • Dreams he is trying to accomplish

And the crazy thing is…

When you start to write with one perfect reader in mind, you suddenly become relevant to thousands of that exact same reader.

It’s like magic, but it’s actually not. It’s human psychology.

You want to know how to find your perfect reader?

Here’s a few things to ask yourself…

  • What problem does my book solve?
  • Who has this problem most?
  • What have they tried and failed?
  • What transformation are they looking for?

The clearer you are on these four things, the easier everything else becomes.

What Readers Really Want When Writing Your First Book

Ok, here’s something you might not know…

Readers today are different to readers ten years ago. They are busier. More distracted. They have millions of options at their fingertips.

So what do they want?

Clarity. Readers want you to make it as easy as possible for them to understand your message.

Solutions. They want to leave with something useful. Even in fiction, readers want something they can use.

Connection. Readers care less about your titles and qualifications, and more about whether you get them.

Smart first-time authors know this. They don’t try to impress with big words and complex ideas. They focus on value, and on making things as clear as possible.

In fact, authors in the higher income bracket average 61 published books compared to 9 from the lower end. The difference? The successful ones know exactly who they are writing for.

Building Real Connection With Your Audience

Ok, let’s be real for a moment.

If you want to make a real connection with your readers, stop trying to sound like a published author.

Start sounding like their best friend who just happens to know something valuable.

What does that mean?

  • Stop using big words and academic language.
  • Speak directly to their concerns.
  • Talk to their experiences.
  • Empathize with their struggles.

Too many first-time authors try and sound “writerly”.

They throw in complex words and long sentences to make themselves sound smart and professional.

But let’s be honest…

Readers aren’t looking to be impressed by your vocabulary. They want to be understood.

The Research That Can Change Everything

Ok, now for something to get your teeth into…

If you really want to understand your audience, you have to go where they live. And that doesn’t mean stalking them in the local coffee shop.

Try:

  • Search for reviews on books like yours
  • Join relevant online groups in your genre
  • Survey potential readers
  • Analyze the questions they ask

Pay special attention to the language they use. The words your audience uses to describe their problems is golden information.

Most authors overcomplicate things and completely miss this point.

Your audience often can’t describe the book they want or need. They can’t tell you exactly what they need.

But they can tell you what is frustrating, scaring, and inspiring them right now.

Your job? Connect the dots for them.

Making It Personal (Without Being Creepy)

Ok, just a word of warning…

Nobody likes to feel like a number, and readers can smell generic, undifferentiated content from a mile away.

So what is the solution?

Write like you are talking to one person. And give them a name. A face. A life. Get to know their morning routine. What keeps them awake at night.

Ok, some authors will say this is creepy. Ok, maybe a little. But it works.

Because if you write for everyone, you write for no one.

The Feedback Loop That Most Authors Ignore

Ok, here is something that will save you years of wasted time and energy…

Get feedback. Early. And often. And I don’t mean from your mum and your best friend.

Get feedback from your target audience.

Send them chapters. Ask if they like it. Are you covering what they care about? Test out ideas and see which one sounds most attractive to your target reader.

Too many authors wait until their book is 90% finished to get feedback. By then, it’s often too late.

The smart authors involve their readers from day one.

Creating Content That Truly Serves

Ok, the final word on this…

Your audience doesn’t owe you their attention. It’s not like you’re at a job interview and you have to give it to them.

You have to earn it. One page at a time. One chapter at a time.

How?

By giving them value. By respecting their time. By giving them what they came for, and then surprising them with even more.

This is not dumbing your content down. This is making it accessible, and more importantly, actionable.

You see, every page should either solve a problem or entertain (ideally both). If a section in your book doesn’t do this, it doesn’t belong.

Beyond The Book

Ok, you might think that understanding your audience stops when you type “The End” and hit publish.

Wrong.

In fact, that’s when it all begins.

The authors who build a career understand that their relationship with their reader includes…

  • Responding to reviews and messages
  • Creating more content they need
  • Building a community around shared interests
  • Continuing the conversation outside of the book

Wrapping It Up

Ok, that’s all for this one.

One last thing to leave you with.

Creating a book is not just about writing 80,000 words and calling it a day. It is about writing a book for a reader who needs what you have to say.

Do you know what the statistics are for only 3% of people finishing their novels?

The ones that make it understand this one simple truth…

Writing your first book is not about you, it’s about your reader who needs what only you can give.

So before you write another word, ask yourself this.

Who is this book for?

What do they need?

How can I best serve them?

Get clear on those three things and you are golden.