Some of our Stories To Tell workshops on how to create memoir and family history books begin with a “Dedication Page” exercise. We ask participants:

• Who is your book for?
• Why are they special to you?

The exercise makes participants think about the people who will read their books. Understanding the audience for your book can sharpen its focus and make it much more engaging.

If you say you’re writing for a “general audience” or “society” or “everybody,” the tone of your book may be flat and formal. But if you decide that you are telling a story to a particular person or a specific group of people you will use a particular way of speaking or voice. You would tell a story differently if the audience was your grandmother than if it was you boss or your bridge club or your daughter’s fourth grade class. Knowing the audience for your book will allow you to adopt the appropriate tone, vocabulary and degree of informality.

Different audiences have different frames of reference. Your grandchildren may require some explanation of things like phonographs, typewriters or polio. A military veteran writing for other veterans may assume that they have experiences similar to his. In a tribute for a person who is retiring you will emphasize accomplishments and positive traits with less focus on personal life. Awareness of audience will help you decide what your readers will want and need to know and to shape your book accordingly.