Write to the child inside of you. That was some of the first advice I was given when I began my degree at Vermont College of Fine Arts. I would ultimately earn my MFA in writing specifically for children and young adults. Who was I writing for, anyway? Not myself.  

The need to know your audience puts me in mind of the Friends episode where Phoebe finds herself on a date with a guy who tells her a little about himself.  

He says, “I write erotic novels for children.” And in the next sentence adds, “They’re wildly unpopular.”

Well, duh.

There’s a writer who didn’t care to know his audience, and by that I mean knowing enough to understand what matters to your readers. When you know what matters to those who matter, you’re more likely to resonate with them, and you’ll have much more success at building a fan base.

So what do children want to read about? What kind of story transported me when I was young? Who are you writing for?

And who are you living for?

Good writers know their audience. But writing is only one hat, and we all wear many. You might ask yourself, Who else is in my audience? A spouse maybe? My own children? Neighbors, friends, extended relatives, a boss and colleagues? Knowing enough to understand what matters to them might go a long way in their being your biggest fan.

This goes beyond what you want for yourself, or what you want for them. You may decide that children should be reading a particular type of book, but that doesn’t mean they’ll read it (and it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t write it, either). But the surefire way to a child’s heart would be to follow the platinum rule: do unto others as they would want done to them. Of course, if a parent were to follow this rule all the time, chaos would ensue. Here’s a better example . . .

My husband bought me a ridiculously expensive cutting board for Christmas. It was a nice cutting board. Massive. Beautiful. But I would never spend said ridiculous amount on a cutting board. I spend plenty of money on plenty of necessary things, but not that, and he knows this about me. The cutting board went back to the store. The next thing I know he's handing me a piano book of Beatles songs, which I love, and he knew that I would love.

So if you’re not writing for yourself, and if you’re not solely living for yourself, knowing your audience can help you connect with your readers, and anyone else that matters, on a deeper level. And avoid some of the more awkward encounters at Williams Sonoma at the same time ;)

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