Cherrilynn Bisbano @bisbanowrites
When I ask some of my clients,
“Who is your audience?”
Many times I hear,
“I want my book to help everyone.”
As a new writer, I said the same.
However, I’ve learned that when we write for everyone, our message gets watered down, and the reader feels unseen.
We need our reader to say,
“Wait! Has she been reading my mind?”
When I finally focused on one person, I found it easier to write the book. The book was more powerful and personal.
Who is the one person I desire to reach?
What season is she in?
What keeps her up at night?
What has she already tried?
What does she want most?
Give her a name if it helps.
Does this serve her?
Does this story help her?
Does this example connect with her?
Does she really need that fascinating fact, or am I keeping it because I spent three hours researching it and now I’m emotionally attached?
“Did this help you?
What confused you?
What’s missing?”
Apply the feedback to strengthen your book. The people you asked for advice will buy the book, too.
You don’t need to write to everyone, but the person who needs it most will be thankful you focused on her.
She feels seen, shares your book, and becomes your best marketing tool.
Your book is not written for everyone. But that’s a good thing.
Have you tried to write for everyone? What tips or tools would you add to this post? Join the conversation.
Cherrilynn Bisbano is an award-winning writer, coach, editor, and speaker. As former managing editor of Almost an Author, she helped the website earn the #6 spot on the Top 100 best writing websites for 2018 by The Write Life and Top 101 Websites for writers with Writers Digest. Cherrilynn is a speaker with Women Speakers. Her topics include leadership, book proposals, and the Bible.
She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. Her work in progress, Accidental Findings, won the first 10 pages award with, When Words Count Retreat. You can find her published in Blue Ridge Writers Blog, Southern Writers, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Christian Voice, Refresh, and other online magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to award-winning, Get to the Margins-Author Anthology; Breaking the Chains; Heart Reno, Kiss Guilt Goodbye; and Chicken Soup for the Soul-Miracles books. Her latest book, Shine Don’t Whine, released October 2020. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard, earning the John Levitow Military leadership award. She lives with her eighteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 22 years. Cherrilynn loves Christ, Chocolate, coffee, and Cats. You will often find her on the beach sea glass hunting.
