How to find an audience?

[magpie Asylum]

This might seem like a dumb question but how do you find an audience/market for your particular kind of fiction? There is a lot of fiction out there right now between traditional and indie publishing. There seems to be this narrative of this ubiquitous audience out there but where do you actually find it?
Any thoughts?

 

[THX1138]

I would think it would be based off of the publishing company.
If you are self-publishing then based off of what you consider the style of your writing to be.
As well as the readers interpretation of your writings. i.e You call it Steam Punk, but do they see it as you do or as something else?
Market demand.

There are plenty of others here who have more knowledge and experience then myself.
Good question too I might add!

 

[JS Wiig]

It’s like fishing:

Your audience is out there, unseen beneath the shimmering glare of the water’s surface. Sure, you may have a general idea where they lurk; under that rocky overhang, amongst that patch of underwater vegetation, near that sunken boat. But the only way to know for sure is to visit each of those places, cast out your baits and see if you get any bites. Good luck!

*Disclaimer: don’t have an audience myself. Yet.

 

[Oochillyo]

hey everyone how are you all

I like JS Wiig view on it and yes I think just get your work out there and the audience that it appeals to will find it and attach themselves to it, especially if its good, you know there are billions of people on Earth so I think its more true now that there is something for everyone and their is an audience out there for anything. we all have a bigger pool of target audience out there than ever before maybe its just about drawing in the numbers you want/need to secure your work but there is always someone out there an audience for your play

Plus with the style, type of things you write about ect you are often finding the audience you want to begin with and can keep molding the audience appeal to them but stay true to your vision ect but if you have the audience you have the power to shape them and your work to suit each other (though still keeping true to your vision plans ect) and the overall goal to secure your work, be famous ect ect whichever your aiming for or a multiple depending on how well things go too hitting the storm at the right time or whatever the saying is ha

Regards - Declan Sargent

 

[Oochillyo]

hey everyone how are you all

I wanted to say I think many of us depending on our goals especially as writers are aiming for fame popularity ect (some of us just wanna write for like a hobby cause we enjoy it but we all think if only I struck gold with this) but I think with my point above the audience will find us and we can keep improving too we dont have to be famous on day one or our first writing (book, poem ect) I think shouldn't we all aim to have fun and write but not to land in famous straight away we put a lot of stresses on ourselves to be unique, not copy ideas too much try and make fresh ideas or twists on common ones ect and overall hit Star Dust maybe some people are fine with that and can take the struggles following a shooting star but maybe its not good for us to aim soo high try for perfection as we write especially with the stresses ect of our own lives in a modern world, get your work the way you want it but dont damage yourself trying to aim for perfection and fame at the first step I think, we all likely want it but its really really hard and we are likely to have draw backs and not get there without struggle and that can damage us along the way however long it takes, you think of Vincent Van Gogh one of the best painters ever and I dont know when depression seeded in him but he thought he was nothing and I reckon he had soo much pressure to get there and he lost, we dont know if or when we will strike gold and if we put too much pressure and doubt on ourselves aren't we doing the same damage to ourselves as Vincent, can that ever be worth it, I bet Vincent would be happy about how brilliant and loved people think of him now but if he or we cant see that for ourselves shouldn't we just aim to be happy with our work and not turn on ourselves trying to be the best version of ourselves at rocket speed and for what fame and money, its nice to be noticed and your work praised but its a hard journey and short lived for many of us, Shakespeare , Vincent , Ronnie best in the world at their skill/what they do but it properly did and does takes a lot out on them and think of all the millions of others who try and didnt get their or are forgotten in time.

Wow just realized my other post was pretty jolly like dont worry your audience will find you and now this one is like crisis of the mind and fame whoops but I think generally they are both lessons about the journey take it back to why you started and the simple elements to the journey and pretty much write what you want if you like it and dont be over stressed if you dont find star dust from day one your audience will find you and just take care of yourselves whatever your goal is and how far/long it takes you to reach it and its never worth harming yourselves for it

Regards - Declan Sargent

 

[Phyrebrat]

Brand yourself and make all your stuff consistent with that. Design your website to reflect that brand, that look, make sure your social media profile pics are the same.

Logos and consistency help potential audience to recognise and remember you.

My online presence for writing reflects the genre I write in and my personal preference combined into a branding that is simple and I can get behind when trying to highlight myself.

It also makes it easier for me to distance myself from the self-doubt etc, that I have from time to time.

 

[AnyaKimlin]

I follow Bridget McNulty, Ben Galley and Joanna Penn in that order on social media. They give me ideas about how to create an audience, brand and tell the writer's story.

 

[Astro Pen]

I will say that your audience may not be who you expect.
When I wrote Changebringer I was trying to introduce well rounded characters to my sci fi writing. What surprised me was how popular it was with female readers. A typical comment was "I don't normally read sci-fi but I really enjoyed that."
I think I can see my audience now and it is not as 'SF specialised' as I thought. Encouraging MS assessment from Julie Crisp, who was head of Tor UK, have nudged me into going down this new track.
"The Limassol Affair" which I put a passage up for critique here a year or so back is a further step down that unexpected road and toward a different readership.
Basically you audience is the people who like your writing, so get it out there to a wide demographic and see who comes up your path.