Writing to Two Audiences at Once: When Your Book Doesn't Fit the One-Reader Rule

Have you ever felt stuck trying to narrow down your target reader? What if your book naturally speaks to two very different audiences? In this episode of Writing at the Red House, Kathi Lipp sits down with bestselling author and acquisitions editor Jennifer Dukes Lee to explore what happens when you break the "one ideal reader" rule. Jennifer opens up about the challenge she faced while writing her latest book, How to Love Your Morning. On one hand, she was writing to productivity-loving morning people who wanted to level up their routines. On the other, she was reaching out to those who dread mornings and have convinced themselves they could never change. How do you write—and market—a book that speaks to both? What You'll Learn in This Episode Why Jennifer chose to acknowledge both audiences on the very first page of her book How to identify when your book genuinely serves two different reader groups The three-pronged social media strategy Jennifer uses to reach both audiences What a "negative carousel" is and how it connects with reluctant readers Why neutral content (like famous people's morning routines) attracts everyone How this strategy can apply to other book topics beyond morning routines Key Takeaways for Writers Jennifer's approach challenges the conventional wisdom that every book must have one narrowly defined reader. While she still narrowed her audience to women, she discovered that by being transparent about who she was writing to—and creating targeted marketing for each group—she could serve both audiences well. For writers struggling with the "who is this for?" question, this episode offers permission to think creatively about your audience while still being strategic in your marketing approach. Whether you're in the book proposal stage or knee-deep in promotion, Jennifer's insights will help you think differently about reaching the readers who need your message most.