Blogger: Mary Keeley
Location: Books & Such Midwest office, Illinois
Because our impressions of the way people in other generations think and feel are influenced by our own generational experience, it helps to start with some raw data and build from there. For novelists, the time and effort you invest upfront to understand your audience will pay off later as you develop your characters because you’ll be armed with information as to how they think. What your individual characters think is left to your creativity.
But in both fiction and nonfiction, identifying characteristics of a generation doesn’t translate directly to their hot topics. They help us to understand why a generation is what it is. But issues and events that impact a generation’s immediate future or oppose their generationally-formed values may provide the best clues to a group’s current hot topics.
Because of who they are, Boomers, who are knowledgeable of our country’s history, are likely to respond to political and world events—and make those their hot topics; GenXers, the latch-key kids who don’t trust authority, may respond to social and relational issues; and Millennials’ hot topics might center on Internet issues, issues directly affecting their children, or non-Christian spirituality.
Fiction authors, your audience might very well extend beyond one generation. Great! That provides multiplied opportunities for realistic conflict between your protagonist and hero or other characters that will keep readers turning the pages. Nonfiction authors benefit equally from this kind of investigation because the better you know your audience, the better able you’ll be to develop the points of your message in a way that your audience will grasp and connect with, and to successfully communicate sound, redemptive solutions or courses of action.
Thanks to all of you who contributed to a great discussion this week about characteristics of each generation. Exploring them further will sharpen your focus. And you’ve noted that individual family background, events, and crises build in additional twists and variations to the general characteristics regardless of the generation one grows up in. Lots of creative food for thought!
To round out our week, I’d like to ask you, just for fun, to look around on the Internet to find sites that you think reflect the generation you see as your target audience. Let us know what you find.
Cheryl Malandrinos
Thanks so much for the engaging articles and all the great discussions that came about as a result. It’s definitely been an enlightening week in many ways.
One thing I do is go to public places where my target audience is and watch them interact with each other. Since I write for young people, that means I spend time at the mall, the roller skating rink, in our schools, and at events surrounded by kids.
My book is a retelling of the Christmas story from the POV of a 5-year-old shepherd. It’s also targeted to kids in the 4 – 8 range, so Veggie Tales, PBS, Nick Jr. and similiar sites reflect that generation.
My middle grade novel WIP is an historical, so perhaps girls who enjoy the American Girl site would be interested.
Right now, two of my children are GenYers, and the other was born in 2003, so I’m not sure where she will fall. Are they calling them Generation Z or the Global Generation or something else?
If I were to write fiction for adults, I would target my generation, so perhaps sites like Family Circle, Woman’s Day, Love Inspired books, and others would be appropriate.
Thanks again for a wonderful week.
Cynthia Herron
I enjoy doing what Cheryl mentioned above. I try to frequent places where ages in my target group might typically hang out. Since my lead characters are usually in their late 20’s to mid 30’s, I might watch that age group interact at church functions, area coffee shops, various sporting events, and yes, even the malls!
I usually write about small town life with the above ages in mind. Country Living, Country Woman, Woman’s Day, and Midwest Living have been helpful. Local newspaper sites are also beneficial because they can offer even more current info on what’s happening in their “neck of the woods.”
Thank you, Mary, for “growing” us this week!
Kate Barker
Mary, thank you for providing a spring-board for great interaction and brainstorming ideas.
The internet, whether researching generational characteristics or a target audience, is an invaluable tool. I have found Facebook, with friends in multiple generational categories, helpful. Comments on books, music or films they find interesting can be filed away for future reference. Twitter doesn’t allow time for anything but a quick comment..however linking to blog content or a Facebook page generates more in depth connection.
I think face to face interaction cannot be surpassed, though. It’s helpful to know real people with real feelings, thoughts and issues.
Expanding our circle of acquaintances broadens our sphere of influence too…and it’s fun!
Happy Weekend!
Mary Keeley
Thanks Cheryl, Cynthia, and Kate for contributions to the great discussion through the week. You shared valuable insights!
Caroline
I agree with Kate on the power of face-to-face discussions. When researching a specific topic, I like to have discussions with people from various backgrounds – differing past experiences in faith, various ages, different family structures, various views on work and education. All of these opinions provide deeper insight into how a topic affects us in our faith.
My current WIP is geared towards believers searching for deeper faith and perhaps struggling with how to serve. Because different ages might find this topic interesting, I’m looking more into faith paths and needs. Internet sites focusing on authentic, deepening faith are helpful here. A couple examples are pastor/organization blogs, devotion sites, biblical study blogs like Scripture Dig, and “living faith in daily life” sites like (in)courage.
Mary, your series this week has been truly interesting and helps us remember to seek ways to reach out to readers of different generations. Thank you!
Larry Carney
This has truly been an informative and delightful conversation! To watch as great writers and people of faith grapple with the question of how to best reach all people with the love of the Lord is inspiring.
Kate already mentioned the best sites which reflect the attitudes of those I seek to reach with my writing, so guess I can’t really contribute there 🙂
Though I guess I can add YouTube; it is a source of insight towards the trends and hot topics of this generation.