Um.

Further to another thread on making characters compelling [ah, formerly 'likeable' but who cares about that?] I made some changes and got some favourable responses from readers but was then floored when one of the scenes that a reader highlighted as the most powerful / effective turned out to be something I only put in as an afterthought because it was what the character would have done.

So, I reread it in the abstract and came to two rather alarming conclusions:

1. It is never a good idea to read your scenes in the abstract.
2. There is a possibility that what I had considered to be a slightly horrific, intelligent, thought-provoking piece of fiction may in fact be chick lit, maybe even a teen interest love story that would be well suited to Mills & Boon.

I'm trying to steel myself to ignore both of the above and to just get the bloody thing written before I worry about stuff like who might read it, but... ah... what would you do?

I think as writers we subconsciously second-guess our work all the time, along with our motives for writing. I have worried from time to time that my propensity to explore the dark side of fiction is indicative of something strange in myself. And I did receive a few odd messages following the release of my mini-novella Practical Devil Worship. Two came from angry American Christians but that was only to be expected. One came from a man who insisted he was actually a gun and told me he was the real Antichrist, and he'd shoot me if I claimed otherwise. I don't recall ever claiming to be the Antichrist, to be honest. On My Space, I'm inundated with friend requests from goth bands and death metal rockers. It's the Marilyn Manson connection, I think...)

So yes, it gave me pause for thought and I wondered who my audience is and why they all look so wilfully dead. I think they'd all be rather disappointed at my lack of make-up and hairspray if they ever met me. I might have to make an effort.

JB

A gun, you say?

I mean, an actual gun?

Perhaps it will be less worrying if it turns out I am writing a teen interest love story, after all, what could _possibly_ be scary about that audience? :0

Yes, an actual gun. 'I am a gun' he claimed, and there was a picture of one and everything.

I think we'll be safe enough, but there are certainly some fruit loops out there!

JB

and there was a picture of one and everything

He sent you a nude photo of himself? Eek!

I don't worry about it, Gaius, but i always write with my audience in mind - usually women 20-infinity who lead frazzled or rather hum-drum lives (as they perceive them) and are looking for a bit of escapism.

That doesn't mean i write purely for a market, i tried that before and it didn't work - but i think it's only sensible to thing about your readers and who they may be as that's exactly what a publisher will ask themselves.

Mind you, my current wip is historical, chick litty, paranormal with a bit of crime thrown in and a recent competition has classed it as fantasy. so i'm not worried, i've got a pretty broad audience

I don't worry about it, Gaius, but i always write with my audience in mind

I guess my trouble, being as yet unpublished, is to understand even notionally who my potential audience might be. I am, of course, pleased to have had positive reader reactions, but the whats and whys were something of a surprise.
It's like fluking your first game at a bowling alley, you don't want to change anything in case you screw up, but aren't quite sure what you did right either.