Book Clubs and Readers

Book clubs remind writers why we write – for the readers. Some writers begin
writing because they have a story to tell or a story that is bursting to get
out. Some writers begin because they are inspired by a story they loved or,
conversely, by a story they hated. Every writer begins their race down the
rabbit hole from somewhere, but once we're down there, we're writing for the
readers.

Discovering Your Audience

A book club meets twice a month at my local bookstore. The group is
boisterous, fun and very well read. Book references bounce around the circle of
their meetings like a mad game of pong. These ladies (and one gentleman) enjoy
a wide range of book choices and authors. What is fascinating about visiting
the group is remembering how much I love to read.

I sometimes forget how much I love to read, to invest in the characters and to
debate their motivations and where they are going. As a writer, creating and
exploring characters is part of the job, but readers can experience the books
they love through reading and sharing with other readers. Most authors of
even the most complex series can point to their readers as the subject matter
experts because they can quote chapter and verse when and where something occurred.

Remembering Your Audience

As a writer, you need to remember that we're not writing for agents or editors
or publishers – we're ultimately writing for the readers. Sure, we spend a lot
of time honing our craft and toning up our technique, but it's the readers we
want to enjoy what we write. Nothing is more satisfying to me than a note that
says: the scenes in that chapter were perfect or I was so engrossed in the
characters I hated when the story ended.

What this tells me is that the reader connected with the story, with the
characters and that gossamer bit of connection gave them an emotional tug.
Those emotional connections are the why I write.

So thank you to all the readers out there, the DFW Tea Readers and the Books
That Bite book club – I really do appreciate you.