After our discussion on Thursday, I've been thinking a lot about the Ideal Reader and the conversation we had regarding them. I've also been thinking a lot about the kind of work that I've been producing this year, and I'm wondering about the relationship between the two. Does the kind of work we produce change based on our audience?
Obviously, in a broad sense, yes. That question on its own could be discussed at length, and could be taken a myriad of ways. But, I'm thinking mostly in the sense of personal, creative work-- the stuff that's flowing from brain to page without a due date or assignment sheet accompanying it.
From what I can remember, my Ideal Reader(s) has always been my dad, who reads everything I write through rose-colored glasses and seems to think I'm going to land a book deal by the time I graduate. (Ha, good one, Dad.) For a while, it was nice to have that unconditional support, knowing that someone believed in the underdeveloped, immature work I was producing. But, as I've grown older and started writing more consistently across many genres, I'm realizing that he's my Ideal Reader for my finished work, the polished, final copy that I want him to read to reaffirm my pride in it. (Man, how selfish does that sound?) For the drafting process, the brainstorming and note taking and scribbling sessions, I think I look to my peers or mentors that also identify themselves as writers. I need someone to look at my writing with a critical eye and ask me questions that force me to explain, or to go back and reevaluate what I need to do to move forward.
That brings me to another question-- can we have multiple Ideal Readers, depending on the work we produce and the stage of the process we are in? I know that the people I turn to provide good insight no matter what genre I'm working in, but as far as the stage of the writing process, I tend to think of different people. Is that fair, though? Am I placing too much responsibility on my reader? Is their role simply to read, or to provide suggestions, or to provide their reactions-- three very different obligations to me as a writer?
I'm also fascinated by the fact that King's Ideal Reader is his wife, Tabby. I am intrigued by the fact that one's partner could be their IR-- would that closeness create conflict, or would it produce a healthy space for both critique and support, considering they are both novelists? I find it really endearing when he talks about wanting to make her laugh, and describing her laugh on that personal, familiar level-- I totally identify with that feeling, and I think it's the biggest success to make the people closest to you react the way you want them to. So, maybe it could work to have that kind of intimacy in your IR, but I don't think it would work for everyone.
I guess the broader implications of these questions is that I am ultimately writing for someone that isn't me, meaning that I want people to read my writing, meaning that I should be thinking more about potential audiences and publication outlets for my writing. That's exciting/terrifying! And while I don't agree with everything King wrote, I am grateful that this idea came up, because it's made me reevaluate my own writing in terms of audience.
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