@2025 The Author’s Writer
What is a sensitivity reader. Do you need one?
Yes. You might be thinking. That’s why you’re a participant in an active reader’s group. (If you’re not, consider joining mine.)
Regardless of how good of a writer you are, you still need to share your manuscript in progress with more than just other writers. You also need to share your manuscript with prospective readers from your target audience, as well as those who are experts in the subject matter you are writing about.
When I was writing my first YA novel, Evergreen, I joined a group of falconers on Facebook because one of my main characters was a hawk.
Yes, I had done my research on hawks and raising hawks, but I also needed to run this by someone who actually handles hawks on a daily basis. A professional.
I spent a lot of time reading posts and comments. When I felt I was ready, I introduced myself, explaining that I was writing a fiction book that featured a hawk. I politely asked if anyone would care to read and comment on the chapters where the hawk was featured.
My post got a lot of likes, but only one person responded.
But that’s all I needed. That one person made all the difference after he read and reviewed my chapters.
He was an expert falconer from the UK.
We emailed a bit back and forth, and then, when I felt he would be able to help, I emailed him the chapters and waited for a response.
It didn’t take him long to reply. His comments were supportive, but he was also slightly agitated by my use of the term “baby bird,” even though the reference came from the lips of a teenage fictional character.
He suggested I use the term “eyeass,” which I certainly didn’t think was going to work with my young adult readers. They most likely never heard of the term and also might think it meant something other than it was.
So, we negotiated and agreed upon referring to the young hawk as a “youngling” or a “nestling.”
I would have never realized the nuances if I didn’t seek and ask.
If I didn’t, I would have made a lot of falconers angry with me for referring to a young hawk as a “baby bird.”
Little details like this that can make or break a story. We must also admit when we’re not experts and seek out others who are and are willing to assist.
Reader response is so critical when you’re writing for others.
When I first became a ghostwriter, I soon realized that I needed to be filter for clients who didn’t know that what they wanted to write was offensive, too personal, or not even necessary. I was their barrier, their buffer, so to speak, stopping them from writing something embarrassing or condescending.
When we write our own books, even if we are great writers, we still need filter because we become so close to our stories that we can’t see how they can be misinterpreted or misread.
We don’t realize that certain words may resonate with others in ways we didn’t intend.
We can choose to live in a bubble. But, when we’re writing for others, we cannot write in a bubble.
Hi. I’m Wendy, The Author’s Writer. I write my own books and I help others fix their manuscripts in process. What are you writing about? How can I help you finish as a success? Let’s talk. Schedule your free 30-minute consultation call by clicking the purple “Schedule Here” link.
