Who Is Your Ideal Reader? (And Why It Matters More Than You Think)

One of the best things a writer can do for their story is to take a step back and think about where their book will land in the marketplace. 

Yes, even before you’ve written the first draft. And especially before you head into revision. 

For a long time, I would’ve said my ideal writer looks like this: 

A woman in her 30s to 60s who likes murder mysteries.

Generic, much? 

That description captures a massive group of people who would almost certainly not be interested in my story. I mean, don’t get me wrong – it would be fantastic if they were. But that’s not how books find their readers. 

Who Is This Story For, Really? 

Knowing your book’s ideal reader matters because it informs so many of the story decisions you’ll make. The most important question isn’t really “Is this good?” but rather: 

“Who is this story for?”

If you know the kind of reader who will pull your book off the shelf, devour the description, and ignore their towering TBR (to be read) stack until they’ve finished it… then you know your ideal reader.

And once you know that reader, you can ask better questions. 

• What kind of story do they expect? 
• What emotional experience are they looking for? 
• What promises does this genre make, and am I keeping them? (this is a whole other discussion!)

Getting Specific: My Ideal Reader

For my current work-in-progress (WIP):

I’m writing for a reader who devours mysteries and enjoys procedurals, but who really digs it when an ordinary person gets caught up in a dangerous situation and has to stretch beyond her comfort zone to solve it. They prefer stories set firmly in the present day. No magic. No monsters (at least not supernatural ones). A reader who knows this kind of story can happen in real life… and all too often does. 

My ideal reader enjoys learning how the past shapes the present. They notice landscapes, and appreciate waterfall hikes. They understand that a place carries history… and that history can make a place feel alive.

That layer matters to my ideal reader — and to my story — so I have to make sure it’s on the page. 

This description isn’t perfect, and I’ll keep refining it as my revision progresses. But do you see how much more specific this is? And how much more useful?  

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Out of curiosity, I ran some rough numbers based on the American Community Survey (ACS) 2019-2023 data: 

• About half of U.S. adults read at least one book in a year → 181M reading adults
• 50.6% of readers are female → 92M female readers
• 40-45% of female readers read at least one mystery per year → 41M female mystery readers 
• With 60+M U.S. females aged 30-60 → roughly 20+M potential female mystery readers aged 30-60

So what are the odds that all of them will find and devour my book?

Slim. 

But what are the odds that a very specific slice of those readers — the ones who love grounded mysteries in immersive settings with intelligent amateur sleuths — might find it, love it, and recommend it to their friends? 

A girl can dream. 

And that’s the point. Drilling down to a specific reader doesn’t limit your story. It sharpens it. It helps you avoid the generic and choose details that add texture and depth to your story. When you know who you’re writing for, you’re not just putting words on the page, but you’re writing to someone. And that can make all the difference.  

You don’t have to know everything about your reader yet. You just have to know them a little better than “everyone.”

If you could write this story for one specific person, who would they be, and what do you want them to feel when they turn the final page?

Photo by Tolga Ahmetler on Unsplash

Hi, I’m Rebecca Davis, Author Accelerator certified book coach, mystery lover, and former research administrator. I traded grant proposals for plot twists and now I get to help writers find their way through the maze of story and structure. I live on the South Carolina coast, and believe every story needs both a map and a little mystery. Explore Coaching Services →