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Have you ever tried to pitch a book and felt like you were throwing spaghetti at the wall? Or maybe you've described your audience as "everyone who needs hope" and wondered why agents and publishers weren't biting?
Here's the truth that might sting a little: if your book is for everyone, it's really for no one.
In this episode, Kathi Lipp and Tenneil Register dive deep into the concept of audience clarity—the foundational work that must happen before you ever pitch your book. They share practical questions and exercises that will help you stop spinning and start writing with laser focus.
What You'll Learn in This Episode
Why clarity about your audience matters more than a clever pitch
The powerful advice that changed everything: "Write the book you needed five years ago"
Three clarifying questions to define what your reader truly needs
The "Three Real People" exercise that brings your audience to life
How to craft your "I Help" statement to focus your message
Why narrowing your audience actually increases your chances of getting published
Key Takeaways
Clarity comes before the pitch. If your pitch feels vague, it's not because you're a bad writer—it's because you're trying to write to everyone. The work of defining your specific audience is the foundation everything else builds upon.
Your audience needs you to be specific. When you know exactly who you're writing to, what problem you're solving, and why you're the person to solve it, your message becomes infinitely more powerful.
Real transformation comes from real connection. When you can point to actual people whose lives have changed because of your message, you have the proof that your book needs to exist.
Your Homework
Complete this statement: I help [blank] who are [blank] to [blank] so that they can [blank].
Your first attempt might not be perfect—and that's okay. The goal is to get specific enough that you could pick your reader out of a crowd.
Have you ever tried to pitch a book and felt like you were throwing spaghetti at the wall? Or maybe you've described your audience as "everyone who needs hope" and wondered why agents and publishers weren't biting?
Here's the truth that might sting a little: if your book is for everyone, it's really for no one.
In this episode, Kathi Lipp and Tenneil Register dive deep into the concept of audience clarity—the foundational work that must happen before you ever pitch your book. They share practical questions and exercises that will help you stop spinning and start writing with laser focus.
Clarity comes before the pitch. If your pitch feels vague, it's not because you're a bad writer—it's because you're trying to write to everyone. The work of defining your specific audience is the foundation everything else builds upon.
Your audience needs you to be specific. When you know exactly who you're writing to, what problem you're solving, and why you're the person to solve it, your message becomes infinitely more powerful.
Real transformation comes from real connection. When you can point to actual people whose lives have changed because of your message, you have the proof that your book needs to exist.
Complete this statement: I help [blank] who are [blank] to [blank] so that they can [blank].
Your first attempt might not be perfect—and that's okay. The goal is to get specific enough that you could pick your reader out of a crowd.
Welcome to The Writing at the Red House Podcast where we gather at the table to break bread and tell tales with some of our favorite writers and speakers. Our heart is to equip and encourage men and women to be the communicators God has created them to be.