Stories are great and powerful, but only when aimed at the right audience. You wouldn’t want to tell the story of your worst date ever to a room full of kindergartners, nor would you want to share your childhood dream to a group of attorneys.
Who you are talking to matters. Whether you’re writing a novel, a memoir, a sales page, or a blog post, your audience shapes everything.
It determines what stories you tell, what tone you adopt, and what words you include or avoid. It affects your choice of metaphors, rhythms, and references (no Gen X callbacks for a Gen Z audience).
Even the structure of your piece is influenced by who you’re trying to reach. So why do so many writers overlook the biggest question: “Who is this for?”
Why Audience Matters
If I were telling a story to a group of six-year-olds, I’d frame it very differently than I would if I were speaking to a room full of neuroscientists.
Same story. Same storyteller. But different audience. And that changes everything.
Knowing your audience helps you:
- Choose the right words (do they need simple language or would they prefer nuance?)
- Establish the right tone (formal? personal? playful?)
- Create connection (shared values, emotion, understanding)
- Build trust (do they feel seen, understood, respected?)
- Inspire action (what do they need to hear? It’s not always about what you want to say.)
You can be the most brilliant writer in the world, but if your reader feels like you’re not speaking to them, they won’t listen.
The Psychology of Audience
Understanding your reader isn’t about manipulation. It’s about empathy.
And that’s where the science comes in.
When you understand the psychology and neuroscience of how people receive information (how they make meaning, filter, or decide what to ignore), then you can write in a way that acknowledges those differences.
And the key is that this doesn’t just apply to marketing. It applies to everything we write, no matter how complex or simple.
Storytelling helps with connection…but connection requires understanding.
What This Means for You—and Me
Over the years, my own audience has evolved.
I started by writing for writers, giving back to the community of which I’d been a part for so long. But then a couple of years ago, I started shifting toward entrepreneurs and content creators who wanted to write. In business terms, I was niching down. Or so I thought.
Now, I’m realizing that my niche is and always has been story. And what I share and teach (and coach) focuses on writing, the craft of storytelling, and the neuroscience that rules it all.
It’s for anyone who wants to write, no matter what they are writing. It could be a case study for work or marketing for your business. Maybe it’s a novel or screenplay or a bit of creative nonfiction.
As I always say, “The forms may change, story never does.” And I stand by that. Only the level of complexity adjusts.
But as I’ve been stepping back and taking another look at the online component of my business, I realized that I don’t know exactly who’s reading my work anymore.
So I’m doing what any good writer would do when they feel uncertain: I’m asking.
Without an audience in mind, even the most beautiful writing can fall flat. I need to know who is here and what you want. That way I can adjust my topics and offerings to match those needs. So…
Please tell me who you are (really).
Pop in the comments and let me know whether you’re:
- Writing fiction
- Building your freelance writing business
- Struggling with content for your brand
- Toiling away on work pieces
- Writing nonfiction, or
- Crafting screenplays or scripts
…I want to know.
Your input will help me shape what I create next—from blog posts to email lessons to full-blown courses.
Want to help more? If you use the form below, you will be sent an opportunity to ask me anything on Voxer (on December 4, 2025). This is a free exclusive for anyone who responds to the official poll. It also comes with a short 3-email series on why your writing might not be landing. Both are exclusives to those who respond to the poll.
Thank you for being here. Remember: Writing isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it.
I can’t wait to find out more about all of you.