Let’s talk about defining your writing. I don’t mean genre, style, voice, or any of those other craft-imposed definitions. This post is about what you want to be known for in your writing. What will readers say about your stories?
Readers will determine your place in history, and that is why it’s important to know reader expectations and seek to fulfill them. Readers don’t care if you followed the right plot structure or had a good foil character. They just know what works, and it’s your job to learn the craft so your stories do work. However, I want to address something deeper than craft today. I want to talk about legacy.
Every author is known for something. Brandon Sanderson’s magic systems. Stephen King’s characters. J.R.R. Tolkien’s worldbuilding. Your legacy can be shaped, but it’s largely innate in who you are and where your passion lies. Because of this, it can be hard for writers to know and explain what their writing brings to the world. My solution is a simple five step plan to uncover what makes you excited about books and how that can be applied to your writing goals.
Shaping Your Legacy
1. List
What are some of your favorite books? Which authors do you want to emulate? Make a list of ten books you wish you had written. Do it right now. I’m serious. Pause reading this, grab pen and paper (I’m old fashioned), and list ten books you love.
Got it?
Ok, on to the fun part.
2. Research
Go to Amazon and search for the first title on your list. Then scroll to the reviews section and start reading. I want you to list any phrases or words that pop out to you or are repeated in several reviews. For me, I pause on words like con artist, heist, game, and magic. What words speak to you and make you excited? Write them down and then put tally marks by them each time you see other reviewers use them or something adjacent to them.
I want you to read every review for that book. Are there thousands? Well, I guess I can limit it to the first ten pages of reviews, but reading all of them would be preferable. Once you’re done, you should have a long list of words and phrases readers used to describe that book.
Now repeat the entire process with the other nine books you wrote down.
I know, it’s 100 pages of reviews to read, but being a full-time writer means determination and hard work.
3. Analyze
You should have ten lists of words that describe the books you want to share readers with one day. Lay them all out and look for similarities. What are the readers saying that applies to most or all of them? Of those words, which have the most tally marks by them? Start a new list with those words. You will end up with descriptive words for the book you aim to write.
The best part about this exercise is the words come straight from the readers—the people who will help make you a successful author! Reviews are the readers’ way to advertise what they want in a book. I’m not saying to “write to the market” or anything. That’s why I asked you to list ten books you love. They should be books you are passionate about and want to write. This process of defining your writing is simply a clear and effective way to have a measurable goal for your own stories.
4. Compare
Now that you have a master list of all the things your potential readers are wanting in a story, compare it with your book. Can those words and phrases be used to describe your work? Look for any areas where you’re lacking and study how to do it better. Do all of your favorite books have epic fight scenes but you have none? Research how to do them and add some into your plot (you can start with my overview post on fights). Hone your skills to match your goals.
It’s important to note that you may not be able to do everything on your list. Some people have a way with prose, and others struggle with it regardless of how much they practice. Reach for the stars but, after years (yes, practice for years) without success, realize your limits.
5. Sell
Here is where most authors cringe. Yes, you have to give a sales pitch if you ever plan on selling your work. The good news is, if you did all this work, you are well on your way to a good sales pitch.
If an agent, publisher, or reader want to know what type of book you write, you have an answer that will resonate with the average person. After all, you got the words from the readers’ mouths. Pick your three top words that apply to your book and use them in the pitch.
It’s a multiple POV fantasy that centers around a greek mythological universe and multiple plot twists.
The book’s a swoon-worthy romance about a strong female protagonist at boarding school.
It’s a fast-paced thriller full of high stakes and dark humor.
As you can see, these descriptions are vague and can go with many different books, but they use the trigger words for people who like those types of stories. Pair some of the words you found with your book blurb, and you will have a description that catches the attention of not just anyone, but the ideal reader who will love your book and come back for more.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes it’s hard to quantify what we write or what we like. If you ask someone why they like something, they may give a generic response like “It’s funny.” But what kind of funny? There are many types of humor, and one person’s style won’t resonate with someone else. By doing this book review research, you can see clearly what type of book you aim to write.
For me, this exercise was time-consuming and tedious, but it was worth it. I found several descriptors of books I loved that didn’t apply to my books. Some of them were easy to incorporate, others are taking some research and practice. Overall though, I am glad I took the time to do this exercise because it has helped me improve my craft and speak more clearly to readers in a way that resonates with them. Trust me, do this research. The writing world is full of murky puddles where no one has a clear answer, but defining your writing does not have to be one of those puddles.
Thanks for reading!
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