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I've been blogging about how to make any kind of writing more literary. I had a chat with a fellow writer this week that made me start thinking about the importance of knowing your audience. Some readers/audiences--like children and Marvel fans--like adventure with a side of humor. Some readers/audiences like a focus on romance, no matter what the genre. Some readers/audiences--such as DC and horror fans--may have a tendency to see anything with a heavy emphasis on humor or romance as trivial or weak. It's so important to know your audience in order to write something that appeals to them.
Some writers say that the most important thing is to be true to your own voice. There is definitely validity to this. If you aren't true to your voice, what's the point of writing? Your voice is what makes your writing unique. Hemingway became famous through writing in a minimal fashion, using no extra words. Mark Twain became famous for his folksy writing and American frontier themes. Poe's voice excels at its dark themes and voice. They wrote in a way that was true to themselves and their voice.
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At the same time, in order to get published and popular within your genre, you have to know the conventions of the genre. What attracts readers to that genre? What gives them fulfillment when they read a piece? This is the part that is critical in order to fit into a genre. Your voice is what makes you stand out in that same genre. Effective writing walks the line between being true to your voice and your audience. Read other pieces in your genre as well as anything you can find on what makes your genre tick. Know your genre well. Then, figure out how your writing will stand out. What themes do you want to emphasize? What voice are your going for? Once you figure this out, you're ready to excel.
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