On Writing Fanfic Part 2 - Your Audience and You

ETA: Flocked to prevent confusion. Open post is on LJ.

Last time, I harangued you endlessly about researching your canon. Rejoice, for that is the last you'll hear about research (for a while, mwahahaha). This time, I'm going to touch on something I don't really think that I've seen much meta on: the audience.

When I say "audience", I mean "reader" for the most part, though most of this applies across multiple media formats, from fanvids to podfic. Thus, inclusive language is all for the good. (It usually is.) Fanfic, like any other form of story telling, is rooted in communication. You (the Writer) have this awesome/crazy idea in your head, and you want to share it. That's writing, in a nutshell.
( Write for Yourself (Too) )

( Communicate Tenderly, My Love )

( Audience Research Requirements: None )

( The Bane of the Wiki )

There is absolutely nothing you can do that will keep every reader reading, and end with every reader happy. But trying to keep an eye on your fic from the reader's perspective can help a great deal. You know what you're trying to say—remember that, and be willing to adjust your methods when the message might not be coming across as clearly as you'd like.

That's it for this piece. Next time: On Shipping, where I'll cover the varied types, how to handle it and exactly what makes it all so damned shiny.