Linda, who is your target audience and why?
First subjective answer: Who’ll ever read my stories.
Second logical answer: I write for the general market (ABA) with a Christian worldview, not excluding CBA houses open to edgy SF/Fantasy-Romance. And I mean edgy with a sharp blade.
And here’s why: “Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized–whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ–but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempt to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!” 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23 The Message
So who’s your target audience and why do you write for them?
Loved to hear your comments.
Linda Wichman 
I stumbled on your book Legend of The Emerald Rose at a Christian thrift store and finished it today. I really enjoyed it. I am a 62 year old Christian who is very prolific. Aside from the over 10,000 mostly secular songs that have been written there is a non published fantasy book based in Hollywood as well as over 2200 fantasy world which will ( God willing ) have books based in. And yes, there are Christian missionaries in those worlds. Much of what I write is edgy but there is certainly a Christian message there. I have felt led to do the believing that it is a variant of what John Wesley said. He mentioned “Why should the devil have the best music?” To which I might add “Why should the devil have the best fantasy?” Keep me in prayer for God to guide me, for Him to be glorified and for souls to be saved with our writings.
God bless you,
CH ( Cynthia ) Summers
Oh, Cynthia! I’m so glad you like Legend of the Emerald Rose! Meeting like-minded writers is such a treat! We each need to pray for each other and for all writers who are compelled to reach the lost in this very lost world. I agree with Wesley and you, about music and fantasy! I love the arts and Rock and Roll! God gave us imaginations and the gift of words; a sin if we don’t use them. Hope to talk to you via email and encourage each other. Have a blessed Christmas!
I think this is such an important question for every writer to ask themselves, not just for Christian writers.But for Christian writers, once you've got it down to either CBA or ABA, then what segment of that readership are you writing for.Good article!!!
I love this post! I set out to write a Non-Christian book. I wanted to entertain, provide an escape, not preach. But as I wrote, my faith crept in. Just a little, mind you, but enough to where I thought I should target CBA. The problem is, I'm a little edgy, so I'm not sure where I will fit in. We shall see with time… 🙂
Maureen, darling! Since I'm one of your fav readers, I think your romantic adventures and your 'God stuff' rocks!
Alan, I get Ray Bradbury Star Trek)yes! Not sure about O'Connor. I'll check him out.
Great question, Linda! How will we find our audience if we can't define who that audience is?My audience is primarily women, which is why I always include a romance. But since I like a bit of adventure with my angst, men don't quite gag when reading my books. :-)I've had non-Christians read my books, too, but they usually say things like "This is a good book if you can get past all the God-stuff."I'm grateful for all my readers, but I just love it when someone likes my stuff "in spite of…" whatever.
This seems like a healthy question for any writer to spend time thinking about. For me, I'd say primarily Christians, but it would have to be niche Christians–those with a true taste for that "edgy with a sharp blade" you described. If you "get" both Flannery O'Connor and Ray Bradbury, you're in my target audience!
My target audience is the same as yours! Whoever will read my books. I've had readers from 12 years and up.