Should writers take into account the appeal to their target audience before publishing or starting a new project?

Whether or not writers should take into account the appeal to their target audience before publishing or starting a new project is a complex question with no easy answer. There are strong arguments to be made on both sides.

Arguments for considering the target audience:

Increased chances of success: By understanding your target audience's interests, needs, and expectations, you can tailor your writing to resonate with them, increasing the likelihood of your work being well-received and achieving your goals (whether that's sales, critical acclaim, or simply connecting with readers).

More effective communication: When you write directly to your target audience, you can use language, references, and themes that they will understand and appreciate. This can make your writing more clear, engaging, and impactful.

Stronger emotional connection: By understanding your audience's values, beliefs, and experiences, you can create characters and stories that they can relate to on an emotional level. This can lead to a more powerful and satisfying reading experience.

Arguments against considering the target audience:

Stifling creativity: Focusing too much on what you think your audience wants can stifle your creativity and prevent you from writing something truly original or groundbreaking.

Inauthenticity: Writing solely for the purpose of pleasing an audience can feel inauthentic and disingenuous. This can come across in your writing and turn readers off.

Limiting your reach: If you're too focused on a specific audience, you may miss out on connecting with other readers who might enjoy your work but don't fit neatly into your target demographic.

Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to consider your target audience is up to you as the writer. There is no right or wrong answer, and the best approach may vary depending on the specific project.

Here are some additional factors to consider:

The genre you're writing in: Some genres, such as commercial fiction, are more audience-driven than others, such as literary fiction.

Your own goals: Are you primarily concerned with selling your work, or are you more interested in artistic expression?

Your level of experience: If you're a new writer, it may be helpful to consider your target audience more carefully in order to increase your chances of success. As you gain experience, you may feel more comfortable taking creative risks and writing for yourself.

No matter what you decide, it's important to be aware of your audience and how your writing might be perceived by them. Even if you don't set out to write specifically for a certain group of people, it's always helpful to understand who you're hoping to reach with your work.