Writing for “Everyone” Is the Fastest Way to Stay Invisible

The authors who sell the most are those who know exactly who they’re talking to. Here’s how you can too.

One of the hardest lessons for new authors to learn is this: your book isn’t for everyone.

And that’s a good thing.

The moment you stop trying to please every possible reader, something powerful happens: your writing sharpens, your message deepens, and your marketing becomes infinitely more effective. You start speaking directly to the people who will see themselves in your story, rather than shouting out and hoping someone listens.

Every week, more than 70,000 books are published on Amazon. That’s 70,000 new titles competing for attention. So how do you make yours stand out? Not by being louder, flashier, or cheaper; but by being clearer. Clarity about who your book is for helps every part of your publishing journey fall into place: your title, cover design, description, and even the way you talk about it online.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by marketing advice: “be everywhere,” “target everyone,” “just post more”, you’re not alone. Most authors start backwards. They try to promote before they’ve defined who they’re promoting to. But when you know your ideal reader: their goals, frustrations, desires, and habits, you stop guessing. You write copy that connects, choose categories that convert, and build a community that genuinely cares.

Think about your favourite books. Chances are, they didn’t try to appeal to the masses. They spoke to you. They made you feel seen. That’s exactly what you want your readers to experience.

So before you plan your next post, ad, or book launch, pause and ask yourself:
Who am I really writing for?

It might just be the most important question you ever answer as an author.

To help you uncover that clarity, I’ve created a simple guide — the Ideal Reader Profile Worksheet. It will help you define exactly who your book is for, so every decision you make — from your cover to your launch strategy — speaks directly to the readers who’ll love your work most.

Get it for free (or pay what you like).

To your book’s success,
Fleur

Part of The Substack Bookstore Ecosystem

This post is from my newsletter, Author Growth, part of The Substack Bookstore ecosystem — Substack’s most trusted hub for indie authors.

Together, our sister publications support every step of your author journey:

• The Substack Bookstore – The heart of our ecosystem. List your book for free and get increased visibility with our subscriber base of 2.5k+ authors and readers. Discover and support independent authors, and see how every Bestseller Tier author campaign reached Amazon category bestseller status since the Bookstore launched.

• The Online Writing Club – Created by Kristina God, this is your accountability hub for building writing habits, publishing consistently, and thriving on Substack.

• Free Books First – Readers get early access to free and discounted indie books before they hit the charts. Authors get access to 2k+ readers to request Beta and ARC reviews.

• Editorial Reviews – Connect with vetted reviewers and earn powerful blurbs to boost your book’s credibility and conversions.

Every publication in The Substack Bookstore Ecosystem exists to help indie authors get seen, sell more books, and build lasting visibility.