Narrowing Down Your Target Audience

Who is the target audience for your book?

Sometimes when a book features a wide range of characters of varying ages and multiple perspectives (POVs) are tapped into, it can be challenging to determine the intended audience. Unfortunately publishers typically don't respond well to authors who say “my book is for everyone,” because that implies “my book is not marketable enough to reach a specific audience.” You never want to imply that your book lacks a clear market. I’ve actually heard writing instructors advise to never say those words to an agent or publisher—that your book is for all audiences, even if you genuinely believe that to be true. Being specific on your audience is always key, and once you identify the particular group of readers most likely to connect with your book, you can make any necessary adjustments to better align the content with their interests.