Well just read through the reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million and like - most places.
Since I write mainly Young Adult and Middle Grade, I make it my business to drum up local beta reader groups within the age range. My cousins, nieces, nephews, friend's kids, my daughters book club and local schools have beta read some of my work.
I make this effort because they are my intended audience. However, when I read my numourous reviews (of which I may add I'm extremely grateful for by reviewers on the online websites or even magazines who've reviewed my books) the reviews are from the point of view of adults.
SO REMEMBER when writing Middle Grade, Picture Books, or even Young Adult ... that you have two audiences. You have the youth in which you have to keep engaged, interested, excited about your story, and the adults that review your book from an adult prospective with a less forgiving view point on plot, purpose, message, and direction of story.
8 comments:
This is a great point, LM. Whenever I write a review for a YA or MG book, I try to find a way to apply it to the tween/teen life. Why would a tween/teen want to read said book? I try and answer questions like that.
Love this post.
Excellent post. I am getting ready to release my first YA novel in August. I will definitely pursue this age group in our area. Helps that I'm friends with the teen librarian in our town ;-)
Nice post! I do think it's a good idea to get beta readers in your target age group when writing, if you can, because they really ARE your audience. That doesn't mean adults won't read them and judge them too, so you want them to be written WELL of course. haha
-Lauren
I know it's just that I wish more teens who are meant to read the books would be able to review them online. But that's why I do so many tour stops in person since it's the only way to get their feedback.
I loved this post, LM. Maybe we should start a group on YALitChat that encourages teen reviews. What do you think?
Stopped by to say thanks for commenting on the blog. I think you make an important point here.
Very true
What an excellent post! I write MG and one of the difficult things is that many MG readers don't usually post reviews. In order to hear from our audience my co-author has read our book to three of her classes (well, one only heard 8 chapters) and then we got their feedback. She told them they were a test group for an author, but not that she was one of the authors. Their feedback was so valuable and meaningful. Since then- we have been trying to get our book out to as many schools and kids as we can to hear their thoughts. :) Kids and adults are definitely two different audiences!
~Jess
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