WIFT: What’s In it For Them? 

I wish every post (ok…ANY post) could be a pearl of new, previously unspoken wisdom, but you’ve heard this one before: You must give your audience a reason for reading your work. They must be able to answer the question, “What’s In It For Me?”

Like any good salesperson, however, you may have to paint the picture for your audience, so that they can see and understand the benefit they will receive from reading your book. Is your book a morality lesson? Perhaps it’s just side-splitting fun. Maybe you’ll make your reader more conversant about current issues on the world stage. No matter what the benefit is, try to have these thoughts in mind from the moment you think of your story. Why are you telling this particular story? What will the audience get out of it? In other words, WIFT.

I do a bit of hiking, and I always carry a compass. It’s got one needle, but it points in two directions: where I’m headed to, and where I’m coming from. If you let WIFT be your compass, then your writing will be with the reader in mind all along your journey. You’ll know your starting point, and writing for your audience, so that they “get something” from your efforts, will keep you on course.

Hope that helps you today!

Write on!

JR

www.jackriston.com

www.forallthemarbles.net