Thank you for the article! I'm currently stuck in creating my cover letter, and this exercise was helpful! Cheers
1. What makes your ideal reader feel seen and understood? Connecting to the creative life, being open to their own inner child
2. What do they stand for (social justice, family, creativity, etc.)?
They stand for Art, Imagination, Empathy, Innocence and Learning, Close friends and family
3. What do they care about most in a story?
The characters and their journeys
4. What is their idea of the perfect way to spend a Sunday?
Sleeping in, having a delicious brunch (either with loved ones or alone), then a brisk walk, sitting in a café and reading, meeting friends for beverages, and a night in, relaxing with TV, then reading before bed.
5. Apart from reading, what is their favourite activity?
Going to a play or even acting themselves.
6. What kind of stories do they love reading?
Tales that are whimsical, humorous, have vibrant characters, and sometimes poetic prose or magical realism
7. What is their favourite film?
The Wizard of Oz
8. What setting will they be in when they’re reading your book?
Sometimes in bed, sometimes in a café, and also on the subway.
9. What kind of stories feel overdone or cliché to them?
Anything too seeped in genre—Sappy romance, adventure without intriguing characters
10. What are they looking for in a book?
An escape, a central character to empathize with…a story that’s moving, imaginative and has some humor
Thanks for your comment, Ariana! I'm so glad to hear you found this exercise helpful. I love your responses to the prompts too. It sounds like you got to know your ideal reader very well. "What is their idea of the perfect way to spend a Sunday? Sleeping in, having a delicious brunch (either with loved ones or alone), then a brisk walk, sitting in a café and reading, meeting friends for beverages, and a night in, relaxing with TV, then reading before bed." Love, love, love!
First of all, I wanted to say thank you for this article--I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I had a ton of fun doing the exercise to find out who my ideal reader is!
Before jumping in to describe them, I'd actually like to point out something that surprised me from your article--and I hope this doesn't come across any type of mean way. I actually found myself leaning more towards enjoying the style-led bits than the substance-led writing--particularly in the character getting laid off scenario (a desk like a grave no one visited? You're kidding, that's so beautiful!). Again, not a criticism at all, if anything it's made me more curious to continue reading your advice and to try to practice it myself, to challenge myself to write more substance-led pieces to see how it fares. It just made me laugh a bit, to see that we had such different opinions on the same pieces! I am looking forward to learning more from you precisely because of this stark difference.
Anyways, here's my ideal reader:
My ideal reader's someone who's curious about what makes us human, and seeks to understand it through the written word. Action-driven narrative can be fun, and they sure do enjoy it every so often, but they're more concerned with the interiority of the characters. They want to see a beautifully-woven story, a story full of not necessarily ambiguities, but certainly room for a little wiggle, for questions that do not need an answer. They feel understood when they see their own emotions reflected on a character, even if their circumstances differ greatly. They care for seeing shared humanity that trascends personal experiences. They want to be surprised, like with Woolf's life full of matches struck in the dark--and they wish to remember it vividly with such interesting use of language. On Sundays, they'll likely be relaxing with tea and a book, or tea and friends; either way, human connection. They enjoy walking around their town and people-watching; they're probably a writer themselves too. Their favorite film is Amélie, and they'll be in the comfort of their own home when reading my texts, or somewhere else where they feel comfortable and safe. I do not think they care much whether a story has been told a thousand times, as long as it reveals a new angle from which to look at ourselves.
I did not answer the questions in order, but I do hope I got all of them! Again, thank you for the article and the fun exercise! Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!
I agree with what you wrote about the style- vs substance-led writing. I wonder if part of it may be that I'm someone who reads for emotion more than a visual experience. I also like to experience those emotions without the author instructing me. (Still I'd like to be able to write with both techniques, so I'm going to reread and try to better understand the difference.)
And hi! I'm your ideal reader! I'm going to check out your Substack now. Saúdos!
Hi Shannon! When you say, "I also like to experience those emotions without the author instructing me", I could not agree more! I hate, hate, hate when there is too much hand-holding in any piece (which I don't think is what the author of the article is doing, but many writers in the wild do lean towards it); it makes me feel as if I were the laughing track in some 90s sitcom. Do you by any chance enjoy the work of Clarice Lispector?
And it's so great to meet my ideal reader, I didn't expect it would happen! I'm currently only writing in Galician in my Substack (although by your use of the word "saúdos" I'm assuming you know how to speak it?), but I'd also be happy to send you a message when I decide to go back to writing in English. Saúdos!
It's challenging to write without the hand-holding bc it is the emotion you want the reader to feel (well, I'm speaking for myself) but you have to do it without telling the reader what to feel.
No I don't speak Galician. My household speaks Spanish and I was like eh, that's kinda Spanish-like, so I did a little Google Translating to read some of your blog.
Area, I was also impressed by the style-led versions and at first preferred them. But reading the notes and recalling something someone once said about good writing vs. great writing helped me understand it a bit better. Good writing draws attention to the brilliance of the author (oh, how clever! how unusual!) Great writing feels invisible; we don't think of the author at all, just how it makes us feel. Does that framing help with the substance/style comparisons?
Hi Jennie, many thanks for the thoughtful reply and for your insight! I see what you mean in this comparison of good vs. great writing and appreciate that you took the time to illustrate it.
I think here it may come down to personal preference and what each of us look for in our reading experience. I absolutely adore when an author's brilliance shines through, I love marveling at their choice of words and their unusual way of expressing emotions and experiences. I'm thinking right now of T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and his question, "Do I dare to eat a peach?" (after having already asked "Do I dare / Disturb the universe?") and how the vividness of this question has remained with me throughout the years. I am amazed not only by the contents of the poem, but by how they are transmitted as well. Same thing with the poem "Not Waving but Drowning" by Stevie Smith. I hope that makes sense!
However, I can acknowledge that these examples all come from poetry and, save for Woolf's matches struck in the dark, I struggle to think of other instances in fiction where I feel similarly about the style. Maybe this principle of substance vs. style applies better to prose than to poetry? Given that the author is also a poet, I'm curious to see what she says about applying copywriting to poetry!
Again, thank you for your reply! It was great food for thought!
Thanks for your comment, Area! I totally hear you on the style vs. substance part. I also love really stylistic, descriptive writing and I definitely think there's a place for it. The main point of that section was to illustrate that, in my view, style should never replace substance altogether. A piece of prose or poetry could be written beautifully but if other elements are missing (like plot, characterisation, pacing, tension etc.), something is lost. Just like showing vs. telling, I subscribe to the view that you need a bit of both to make a really compelling story and that balance is definitely tricky.
I can definitely see what you mean and I agree--all the flowery language in the world could never make up for a piece that has nothing to say. Perhaps since I already knew the substance ("a character laid off") the style just enhanced that for me, but I'm trying to imagine whether in a vacuum of not having known that I would have still enjoyed it as much. In any case, as you say, balance is key but also tricky!
I do struggle quite a bit with pacing, so I think this workshop will be incredibly illuminating for me!
a reader persona is such a good idea!
Thanks, Amanda! In Elizabeth Strout we trust <3
Thank you for the article! I'm currently stuck in creating my cover letter, and this exercise was helpful! Cheers
1. What makes your ideal reader feel seen and understood? Connecting to the creative life, being open to their own inner child
2. What do they stand for (social justice, family, creativity, etc.)?
They stand for Art, Imagination, Empathy, Innocence and Learning, Close friends and family
3. What do they care about most in a story?
The characters and their journeys
4. What is their idea of the perfect way to spend a Sunday?
Sleeping in, having a delicious brunch (either with loved ones or alone), then a brisk walk, sitting in a café and reading, meeting friends for beverages, and a night in, relaxing with TV, then reading before bed.
5. Apart from reading, what is their favourite activity?
Going to a play or even acting themselves.
6. What kind of stories do they love reading?
Tales that are whimsical, humorous, have vibrant characters, and sometimes poetic prose or magical realism
7. What is their favourite film?
The Wizard of Oz
8. What setting will they be in when they’re reading your book?
Sometimes in bed, sometimes in a café, and also on the subway.
9. What kind of stories feel overdone or cliché to them?
Anything too seeped in genre—Sappy romance, adventure without intriguing characters
10. What are they looking for in a book?
An escape, a central character to empathize with…a story that’s moving, imaginative and has some humor
Thanks for your comment, Ariana! I'm so glad to hear you found this exercise helpful. I love your responses to the prompts too. It sounds like you got to know your ideal reader very well. "What is their idea of the perfect way to spend a Sunday? Sleeping in, having a delicious brunch (either with loved ones or alone), then a brisk walk, sitting in a café and reading, meeting friends for beverages, and a night in, relaxing with TV, then reading before bed." Love, love, love!
Wonderful article! Thank you.
Thank you so much, Lindsay! I hope it was helpful for you :)
Hello!
First of all, I wanted to say thank you for this article--I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I had a ton of fun doing the exercise to find out who my ideal reader is!
Before jumping in to describe them, I'd actually like to point out something that surprised me from your article--and I hope this doesn't come across any type of mean way. I actually found myself leaning more towards enjoying the style-led bits than the substance-led writing--particularly in the character getting laid off scenario (a desk like a grave no one visited? You're kidding, that's so beautiful!). Again, not a criticism at all, if anything it's made me more curious to continue reading your advice and to try to practice it myself, to challenge myself to write more substance-led pieces to see how it fares. It just made me laugh a bit, to see that we had such different opinions on the same pieces! I am looking forward to learning more from you precisely because of this stark difference.
Anyways, here's my ideal reader:
My ideal reader's someone who's curious about what makes us human, and seeks to understand it through the written word. Action-driven narrative can be fun, and they sure do enjoy it every so often, but they're more concerned with the interiority of the characters. They want to see a beautifully-woven story, a story full of not necessarily ambiguities, but certainly room for a little wiggle, for questions that do not need an answer. They feel understood when they see their own emotions reflected on a character, even if their circumstances differ greatly. They care for seeing shared humanity that trascends personal experiences. They want to be surprised, like with Woolf's life full of matches struck in the dark--and they wish to remember it vividly with such interesting use of language. On Sundays, they'll likely be relaxing with tea and a book, or tea and friends; either way, human connection. They enjoy walking around their town and people-watching; they're probably a writer themselves too. Their favorite film is Amélie, and they'll be in the comfort of their own home when reading my texts, or somewhere else where they feel comfortable and safe. I do not think they care much whether a story has been told a thousand times, as long as it reveals a new angle from which to look at ourselves.
I did not answer the questions in order, but I do hope I got all of them! Again, thank you for the article and the fun exercise! Hope you have a wonderful rest of your day!
I agree with what you wrote about the style- vs substance-led writing. I wonder if part of it may be that I'm someone who reads for emotion more than a visual experience. I also like to experience those emotions without the author instructing me. (Still I'd like to be able to write with both techniques, so I'm going to reread and try to better understand the difference.)
And hi! I'm your ideal reader! I'm going to check out your Substack now. Saúdos!
Hi Shannon! When you say, "I also like to experience those emotions without the author instructing me", I could not agree more! I hate, hate, hate when there is too much hand-holding in any piece (which I don't think is what the author of the article is doing, but many writers in the wild do lean towards it); it makes me feel as if I were the laughing track in some 90s sitcom. Do you by any chance enjoy the work of Clarice Lispector?
And it's so great to meet my ideal reader, I didn't expect it would happen! I'm currently only writing in Galician in my Substack (although by your use of the word "saúdos" I'm assuming you know how to speak it?), but I'd also be happy to send you a message when I decide to go back to writing in English. Saúdos!
I don't know Clarice but I'll check her out!
It's challenging to write without the hand-holding bc it is the emotion you want the reader to feel (well, I'm speaking for myself) but you have to do it without telling the reader what to feel.
No I don't speak Galician. My household speaks Spanish and I was like eh, that's kinda Spanish-like, so I did a little Google Translating to read some of your blog.
I started following you so I'll keep updated :)
Area, I was also impressed by the style-led versions and at first preferred them. But reading the notes and recalling something someone once said about good writing vs. great writing helped me understand it a bit better. Good writing draws attention to the brilliance of the author (oh, how clever! how unusual!) Great writing feels invisible; we don't think of the author at all, just how it makes us feel. Does that framing help with the substance/style comparisons?
Hi Jennie, many thanks for the thoughtful reply and for your insight! I see what you mean in this comparison of good vs. great writing and appreciate that you took the time to illustrate it.
I think here it may come down to personal preference and what each of us look for in our reading experience. I absolutely adore when an author's brilliance shines through, I love marveling at their choice of words and their unusual way of expressing emotions and experiences. I'm thinking right now of T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and his question, "Do I dare to eat a peach?" (after having already asked "Do I dare / Disturb the universe?") and how the vividness of this question has remained with me throughout the years. I am amazed not only by the contents of the poem, but by how they are transmitted as well. Same thing with the poem "Not Waving but Drowning" by Stevie Smith. I hope that makes sense!
However, I can acknowledge that these examples all come from poetry and, save for Woolf's matches struck in the dark, I struggle to think of other instances in fiction where I feel similarly about the style. Maybe this principle of substance vs. style applies better to prose than to poetry? Given that the author is also a poet, I'm curious to see what she says about applying copywriting to poetry!
Again, thank you for your reply! It was great food for thought!
Thanks for your comment, Area! I totally hear you on the style vs. substance part. I also love really stylistic, descriptive writing and I definitely think there's a place for it. The main point of that section was to illustrate that, in my view, style should never replace substance altogether. A piece of prose or poetry could be written beautifully but if other elements are missing (like plot, characterisation, pacing, tension etc.), something is lost. Just like showing vs. telling, I subscribe to the view that you need a bit of both to make a really compelling story and that balance is definitely tricky.
Also, I love your ideal reader!
Thanks again for your message :)
Many thanks for taking the time to answer!
I can definitely see what you mean and I agree--all the flowery language in the world could never make up for a piece that has nothing to say. Perhaps since I already knew the substance ("a character laid off") the style just enhanced that for me, but I'm trying to imagine whether in a vacuum of not having known that I would have still enjoyed it as much. In any case, as you say, balance is key but also tricky!
I do struggle quite a bit with pacing, so I think this workshop will be incredibly illuminating for me!
Have a wonderful day!