BWFoster78
Myth Weaver
As most of you know, I'm not much of a marketing guy. I've read a lot on the subject, however, trying to get up to speed before I launch my book.
There's one piece of advice I encounter over and over - Know Thy Audience!
I have to admit that I feel a bit like South Park's underwear gnomes:
Step 1: know your audience
Step 2:
Step 3: make great profit
Seriously, though I don't know exactly how to utilize the data, I can see it's value, and, since I have no idea who my audience is, I've been thinking a lot lately about how to find out.
I took one of my scenes to my writing group the other night. A guy there said that he didn't like my protagonist, didn't even know what about my protagonist he was supposed to like. I've had other people say, though, that the scene made them smile and really feel for my protagonist.
This led me to a brilliant thought: This scene defines my audience!
If you're the kind of person who reads this scene and smiles and thinks "poor guy," you're probably going to really enjoy my book. If not, I'm not sure you're going to hate it, but you're probably not going to get the core of my story.
ALL THE ABOVE JUST TO GET TO THIS POINT: What do you think of this idea:
On my blog, post the following -
1. Appeal to help me out
2. The scene in question
3. A survey
Then, use my blog, FB, and forums to ask everyone I can find to fill out the survey. Hopefully, from both the positive and negative responses, I can get a better picture of my audience.
I'd want to keep the survey short and simple, something like:
1. Did you smile and find yourself feeling for poor Xan? Yes or No (with buttons)
2. Please tell me about yourself - age, gender, hobbies, authors you read (important!), and anything else you may want to tell me
3. If you liked the piece and want to sign up for my newletter, enter your email address:
Suggestions, thoughts, advice?
Thanks!
Brian
There's one piece of advice I encounter over and over - Know Thy Audience!
I have to admit that I feel a bit like South Park's underwear gnomes:
Step 1: know your audience
Step 2:
Step 3: make great profit
Seriously, though I don't know exactly how to utilize the data, I can see it's value, and, since I have no idea who my audience is, I've been thinking a lot lately about how to find out.
I took one of my scenes to my writing group the other night. A guy there said that he didn't like my protagonist, didn't even know what about my protagonist he was supposed to like. I've had other people say, though, that the scene made them smile and really feel for my protagonist.
This led me to a brilliant thought: This scene defines my audience!
If you're the kind of person who reads this scene and smiles and thinks "poor guy," you're probably going to really enjoy my book. If not, I'm not sure you're going to hate it, but you're probably not going to get the core of my story.
ALL THE ABOVE JUST TO GET TO THIS POINT: What do you think of this idea:
On my blog, post the following -
1. Appeal to help me out
2. The scene in question
3. A survey
Then, use my blog, FB, and forums to ask everyone I can find to fill out the survey. Hopefully, from both the positive and negative responses, I can get a better picture of my audience.
I'd want to keep the survey short and simple, something like:
1. Did you smile and find yourself feeling for poor Xan? Yes or No (with buttons)
2. Please tell me about yourself - age, gender, hobbies, authors you read (important!), and anything else you may want to tell me
3. If you liked the piece and want to sign up for my newletter, enter your email address:
Suggestions, thoughts, advice?
Thanks!
Brian