Knowing Your Audience and reading like a writer

Warm Up Exercise

Write a list of precise words that you feel an audience will expect to see when reading the following:

• Fashion Article: Style, Trends, Fashion, Brands, Upcoming

• Science Fiction: Alien, Space, Spaceship, Supernatural, Planet, Chemistry

• Horror story: Screams, looming, accident, sinister

• Sports Article: Team, league, Group, win, loss, competition

• Music Article: Chords, bass, composer, choir, singer

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Choose two of these categories and free-write using words from the pallet:

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Fashion Article

Up and coming Stylistic trends have been dominating the modern world of fashion - but what can we expect to see the public wearing in 2024?

From the resurface of the once-called 'tacky' leopard print to a modernised re-vamp of 'Business-chic', we can expect a range of fashion trends to be popping up - not only in vogue but in everyday life.

We have spoken to fashion expert and designer Miriam Boyle to discuss the ins and outs of 2024 and whether these fashion and beauty could be negatively impacting the surge of sustainability worldwide.

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Horror story

In the heart of the mist-shrouded forest, where ancient trees loomed like silent sentinels and the darkness whispered of long-forgotten secrets, there stood a dilapidated mansion known as Blackthorn Manor. Its crumbling walls bore witness to centuries of sorrow and suffering, and its shadowy corridors echoed with the anguished cries of the restless spirits that dwelled within.

What makes a story?

Six broad categories of what makes a good story:

• Conflict - Politics, Crime, Natural Disaster, etc.

• Celebrities (elite people)

• Human interest - Ordinary people

• Human interest - Relevant to me

• Quirks (off-beat peculiar stories that have little or no bearing on any reader's life)

• Science/Research and Discovery

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Why is it important to know your audience?

Knowing your audience is crucial when writing anything, as it allows you to tailor your theme, tone, and style of writing effectively to meet the needs and expectations of your specific audience. It is also essential for creating impactful and effective communication. By considering who your readers are and what they need, you can tailor your message to resonate with them and foster engagement.

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Knowing your audience exercise

• Look at a selection of texts and identify the target audience - note down your findings.

• Write a brief summary of the several pieces including why you think it is written in a particular way and identifying the characteristics and features that help you understand this.

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Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a coming of age novel, published in 1868. The story follows the lives of four sisters and details their passage from childhood to womanhood. Although this novel was written a long time ago, it is still considered a classic, which is why it is still popular today. This is why I think the intended audience for this book could apply to all ages, though especially young girls/women as it would be deemed as more relatable, due to the female-led characters and storyline. The way in which the book is written is very dialogue-heavy, and exhibits the natural dynamic between sisters. Although the author uses slightly more old fashioned language that was used during that time period, it does not come across as hard to read, due to the smooth dialogue and inter4sting storylines. This is why I think this novel could target a younger audience interested in classic female fiction, as well as older people who have a stronger connection to the era in which it was written.

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Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmus

Lessons in Chemistry is a novel by Bonnie Garmus, which tells the story of a woman in the 1960's who becomes a beloved cooking show host after being fired as a chemist four years earlier.

The target audience for the book speaks to me as being intended for adults, especially women, who are fans of historical fiction, women's roles in science, and those seeking a thought provoking exploration of challenges that women face.

This is apparent due to the writing style, which is clean and unburdened by intense commentary or description. This precision in the writing gets to the point and emphasises the main characters struggles and themes throughout the book, which is something that I think this target audience is looking for.

Unlike the previous example of Little Women, I think that this book could come across as too heavy for a younger audience due to the shocking moments and brief descriptions of sexual content.

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Writing Task

Choose a specific audience and write 300 words for that group. Plan, prepare, and use knowledge from sources from the previous exercises or other favourite writing mediums.

For this task, I decided to choose an audience of children between 8 and 12 and write a short story for them.

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Short Story

In the heart of the ancient Enchanted Forest, nestled among the tall, whispering trees and blooming wildflowers, there stood a mystical well-known as the Well of Whispers. This magical well was said to hold secrets and powers beyond imagination, guarded by the spirits of the forest.

The well's waters shimmered like liquid silver in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy above. Tiny rainbow-hued fish darted playfully beneath the surface, their scales sparkling like precious gems. Soft, melodic whispers seemed to emanate from the depths, as if the well itself held the wisdom of ages past.

Surrounding the well were delicate vines adorned with glowing flowers that bloomed in every color of the rainbow. Butterflies flitted gracefully from petal to petal, their delicate wings carrying them on a gentle breeze that carried the sweet scent of jasmine and lavender.

As children approached the well, they could feel a tingling sense of wonder and anticipation in the air. The stones that lined the edge of the well were etched with intricate symbols and glowing runes that seemed to dance and shift with a life of their own.

Legend had it that anyone who gazed into the depths of the Well of Whispers would see their deepest desires reflected back at them, and those who dared to drink from its waters would be granted a wish of pure heart and intention.

But the well demanded respect and humility from those who sought its magic. Only those with pure hearts and a genuine spirit of kindness could unlock the true power of the well and receive its blessings.

And so, the Well of Whispers remained a beacon of hope and wonder in the Enchanted Forest, a place where dreams took flight and the impossible became possible. Children from far and wide would visit the well, their hearts filled with awe and reverence for the magic that dwelled within its depths.

As the sun set behind the ancient trees, casting a golden glow over the forest, the whispers of the well would fade into the night, leaving behind a sense of peace and enchantment that lingered in the hearts of all who had been touched by its magic.

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Recap - Differences between a News article and a Feature article

Feature articles and news articles are two common types of journalistic writing that serve different purposes and audiences. News articles are typically focused on reporting timely and objective information about current events, often following a traditional inverted pyramid structure where the most important details are presented first. These articles aim to answer the basic questions of who, what, when, where, why, and how in a concise and direct manner. On the other hand, feature articles are more in-depth, detailed, and often explore a specific topic or issue from multiple perspectives. They are usually longer than news articles and may include interviews, anecdotes, and analysis to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the subject. Feature articles are often more narrative-driven and aim to engage readers on a personal or emotional level, offering context, background, and insight beyond the facts of the news.

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Finding a focus for your story - important questions

Ask these questions during the editorial process: when planning a story, when doing the reporting and photography, when writing and editing, when deciding how to present it, and in determining if follow-up is warranted
1. What is the central point?
What's the story really about? What question or questions must the story answer to be worthwhile?
Why do people need or will want to know about it?
If it's a "big" topic, how can it be broken down so it's easier to explain?
If it's a "small" topic, is there a story behind the story? Does it reflect a larger trend or theme?
2. What is the central evidence?
What kinds of evidence can be presented to verify or explain the central point of the story?
What kinds of evidence can be presented to prove that the story is relevant or newsworthy?
How good is the evidence? Will the reader be able to distinguish verified information from assumptions or assertions the story may also include?

3. What is the central place?
Where is the central place of the story?
Will the reporting and photography include covering the central place?
What information will come from somewhere other than the central place or places?
What will not be covered in the story?
4. Who are the central characters?
Where or from whom can the facts be learned?
Who can put the facts in perspective?
What is the relationship between the central characters and the central places of
the story?

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Exercise

Write a feature article about any theme/issue/person that you wish to explore:

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My initial ideas for this task came from ideas that I discussed with my fellow classmates, Becks and Ella. 

We wanted to write/record something about the toxic masculinity within social media, and how popular social media creators, specifically Andrew Tate, have had an effect on the mindset of young men and women who consume his content. 

We each chose a specific topic surrounding this subject and recorded our thoughts and ideas in order to write a feature article. For example, I began to research and interview my classmates about harmful, misogynistic jokes that are popular on social media, and how this absence of sensitivity could be impacting the mindset that young men have towards women.

Although this was an interesting idea for a potential podcast, we ultimately decided that there was possibly too much content to cover if we wanted to successfully convey such messages through a podcast, and some of the topics could be deemed as too controversial. This is why we decided to switch our focus to an idea for a podcast that we were more interested in and were more confident in executing - a podcast about ghosts, and all things supernatural.

To begin planning this, we researched a vast range of real-life ghost encounters that people have had, both from online posts and from people around us who have had experiences with the paranormal. This allowed us to receive differing opinions from both skeptics and believers, as well as gain stories that we could potentially discuss on our podcast.

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I decided to write a feature article about the rise of ghost/paranormal encounters in the modern age, and whether social media has an effect on people willing to share their stories. I have also included ghost encounter stories from people online, in the ghost section of Reddit, in order to display human interest and real-life interviews.

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The Rise of Ghost Encounters: Exploring the World of Paranormal Experiences

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in reports of ghost encounters and paranormal experiences around the world. From haunted houses to mysterious apparitions, the realm of the supernatural seems to be capturing the imagination of more and more people. What is driving this surge in ghostly encounters, and what do these experiences reveal about the boundaries between the seen and the unseen?

Real-life accounts of ghostly encounters offer a fascinating glimpse into the mysterious world of the paranormal. One such story comes from Sarah, a young woman from a small town in the Midwest. Sarah recalls a chilling experience in which she awoke in the middle of the night to find a shadowy figure standing at the foot of her bed, its eyes glowing with an otherworldly light. Frozen in fear, Sarah watched as the figure slowly dissipated into thin air, leaving behind an eerie chill that lingered long after it had vanished.

Another compelling tale comes from Mark, a seasoned paranormal investigator who has dedicated his life to exploring the unknown. During a recent investigation at an abandoned asylum, Mark and his team captured chilling EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) recordings of ghostly whispers and unexplained noises that seemed to defy all rational explanation. As they combed through the evidence, they were left with more questions than answers, revealing the depth of mystery that surrounds the world of the paranormal.

But what is driving this rise in ghost encounters and paranormal experiences? Some experts believe that advancements in technology and social media have made it easier for people to share their stories and connect with others who have had similar experiences. The internet is filled with forums and websites dedicated to the paranormal, where individuals can seek validation and support for their encounters with the supernatural.

Psychologists suggest that the increase in ghostly encounters may also be linked to heightened levels of stress and anxiety in the modern world. As people grapple with uncertainty and upheaval, they may be more susceptible to experiencing paranormal phenomena as a way of processing their emotions and fears.

Regardless of the reasons behind this surge in ghost encounters, one thing is clear: the world of the paranormal continues to captivate and intrigue us, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the unknown. As more and more people come forward with their stories of ghostly encounters and unexplained phenomena, the boundaries between the seen and the unseen blur, inviting us to question the nature of reality and the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding.

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Evaluation

This week's sessions revolved around knowing your audience. I have since come to understand that knowing your audience when writing something is important, as it allows you to cater your work to a specific audience, therefore promoting interaction with the audience that you hope to reach.

This was never something that I usually looked out for when writing something, and I would often struggle with articulating who my writing was targeted to and what specific writing style/genre it would be classed as. Since these sessions, I now understand how knowing your audience is not only important for your readers, but for you as a writer as it allows your writing to become sharper and more confident when you have a clear view of who you want to read your writing.

An exercise that particularly helped me during these sessions was looking at industry examples of writing and analysing the themes and writing styles in order to determine their target audience. At first I found this task slightly challenging as I wasn't confident in naming one specific audience for a book, although once I incorporated techniques such as zooming into the text and reading like a writer, it became much easier to complete this exercise and I found it very helpful.

Overall, these sessions effectively helped me to understand the importance of knowing your audience and how it can positively impact my own work.

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Reading like a writer

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What does reading like a writer mean?

 

• Could any of those techniques be of use in your own work? You want to know how the techniques used by the writer add or detract from the experience of reading the text.

• Is the text long or short, and why? Does the writer use any basic literary techniques such as similes, metaphors, or alliteration? Why and to what effect? What show and not tell techniques do they use? Why and to what effect? Are the sentences short or long? Is the text rife with description or does it lack a sense of place? What kinds of words does the writer use?

• Why is there white space between sections? Are there flashbacks? Are the sentences rhythmic? What is the "voice" of the piece, and how is that voice achieved?

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What should you pay attention to finding?

• Ideas are the heart of the piece — what the writer is writing about and what the writer chooses to reveal about it. How does the writer reveal the main idea? What types of details does the writer use? How does the writer achieve his or her purpose?

•  Organization. Organization refers to the order of ideas and the way the writer moves from one to the next. What kinds of leads does the writer use and how do they pull us in and make us want to read more?

       What kinds of endings does the writer use and how do they work to make the writing feel finished and to               give us something important to think about? How does the writer handle transitions? How does the writer control pacing?

• Voice. Voice is the expression of the writer's individual personality through words. How does the writer demonstrate passion for the topic? How does the writer reveal emotions? How does the writer put personality into the piece?​

• Word Choice. Word Choice refers to writer's selection of particular words and phrases to express ideas. What techniques (simile, metaphor, strong verbs, etc.) does the writer use to make the word choice more specific, more memorable, and more effective?

• Sentence Fluency. Sentence Fluency is the rhythm and flow of the language as we read it aloud. What kinds of sentence constructions does the writer use? How does the writer vary the beginnings and lengths of sentences? How does the writer use "sound" effects like alliteration, rhyme, and rhythm?

•  Conventions. Conventions are the ways we agree to use punctuation, spelling, grammar, and other things that make writing consistent and easy to read. How does the writer use conventions to make the writing easy to read and more meaningful? Does the author use conventions in unusual ways that are successful?

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Reading like a Writer practice

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The Secret History - Donna Tartt

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Evaluation

During this week's sessions, we learned about the art of reading like a writer, and how it can build our knowledge of crafting and writing skills by recognising them in published work.

I felt more confident in my skills in reading like a writer than I did in knowing your audience, as I felt like it revolved around analysis and understanding why a writer used such words, etc. However, after going through this week's session, I realised that there was a lot of skills that I was not aware of. These included analysing texts that I was not used to reading and broadening my knowledge of reading like a writer.

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