Monday, March 31, 2014

I'M EXPECTING!

Recently, I was told by my editor…
That when a person buys a book…
There’s an expectation…
And it's up to the author
To meet the readers expectation.
And of course the reader has an expectation
Because doesn’t everything we buy…
Come with an expectation?
Say for instance Jello…
If I buy Jello and make it
I expect it to, well, gel. Or is it Jel?
If I buy eggs…
I expect when I crack the shells…
To find eggs inside.
So why hadn’t I thought about expectations…
When I was writing my manuscript?
But in my defense…
It wasn’t like I was trying
To short circuit the author's expectations  
I enjoyed every word I wrote in the story 
Ah, and there’s the rub…
“I” was enjoying writing the story.
And what’s wrong with you that, you might ask?
Nothing, if I was the only one going to read my book.
My editor also pointed out that the reader
When reading my book
Might have a dialog in their head
That goes something like this…
“Why doesn’t she leave her putz of a husband?
Will she ever kiss the hero?
Why is there all this backstory? I’m not dumb!
Why is this chapter even in the book?
Or, huh? 
I thought I was reading a romance…
And now it's switched to contemporary? C’mon!”
And I’m not saying that the reader…
Would have a bitch session with other readers…
But in the reader’s mind these objections…
Might make them put my book down…
And use it as a coaster for their coffee cup.
Or worse - never buy from me again1
So?
My question to you, dear writer is this…
Do you picture your reader when you write?
How do you do it?
And do you have someone in particular?

Always,
Em-Musing

P.S. Coming soon—with soon being a relative concept—I will be providing details on my upcoming Writer’s Retreat.