How do you create a story that appeals to every demographic? (Omnipandering)

[therosesword]

I don't think about appealing to anyone, at all. Doesn't matter their age, gender, race, whatever. I rarely describe a character. I tell the story that comes to me and let it loose in the world. One of my stories (which has been optioned for a screenplay) has no women in it. Well, the cat is female, and there is mention of one. Other than that, none. That's not how the story presented itself to me and, as I said, I don't write with an eye to whom the story might attract. When I was approached by the option folks they did ask me about making the lead female and I said no. Entirely different story.

As far as number of main characters I use as many as are needed to tell the story. The rest of what you asked about doesn't even occur to me. I don't actively think about those things.

I'm a straight female with a great love for martial arts movies and good old fashioned adventure and mystery and I'm not an exception amongst my peers.

Interesting thread.

Write hard, write true

[domisotto]

You are better off researching a decent niche that is strongly supportive of writers who produce for it. Niche content is where it is today, and, most particularly on the net, because we fill in what doesn’t go on mainstream, good or bad.

The creative work consumers on the net are going to be female rather than male, with the exception of some sites like Royal Road that actively fights for that niche.

Once you have your audience in mind, speak to them, and if you are lucky, you will pick up some other demo on the way.

In terms of male gaze, either remove it or shine it on both male and female characters equally.

[Removed]

I'm not sure what the question is here? I don't particularly get the connection with the following sentence as well? Are you asking if those kind of stories are appealing to straight women solely? :o

Sorry for my English (ESL) =x I was just giving an example, I mean stuff like shoujo / josei, and shounen / seinen are demographics, and their intended audience have certain expectations (that rarely cross demographics) like the innocent girl falling for a handsome bad boy in shoujo, or the never-give-up boy and their (handsome) rival fighting to be the ninja president or something in battle shounen lol.

[Removed]

When I was approached by the option folks they did ask me about making the lead female and I said no. Entirely different story.

They probably tried to make your work appeal to reverse harem fans, like so many otome games, and supernatural romance novels do.

[therosesword]

cute, no,. no romance, about an assassin hired to take out one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I don't write romance

[paracosmosfiction]

I understand wanting to appeal to a large demographic. The problem I've always had with those shounen/seinen styles of writing is that they're made for one, and precisely one demographic. My work is based off an Anime and it incorporates a lot of the themes you've mentioned. But I still try to put my own creative spin on it. Now, that means going against the gradient, but I personally find it also makes my story more interesting.

I guess what I'm saying is, it's okay to want to have your cake and eat it too. You can still write something that's original and creative that appeals to a large fan base without trying to purposefully pander to as many people as possible.

[Removed]

The creative work consumers on the net are going to be female rather than male, with the exception of some sites like Royal Road that actively fights for that niche.

Once you have your audience in mind, speak to them, and if you are lucky, you will pick up some other demo on the way.

In terms of male gaze, either remove it or shine it on both male and female characters equally.

You're right, most consumers are female, and that's for almost all media (maybe not for videogames, and movies?) My main target audience is teenage girls, and young women that like romance I want to get rid of male gaze, but since my goal was omnipandering, I assumed that I'd to include it, anyways, thank you

[Removed]

I guess what I'm saying is, it's okay to want to have your cake and eat it too. You can still write something that's original and creative that appeals to a large fan base without trying to purposefully pander to as many people as possible.

Thank you for your answer, your project sounds interesting asf, and I'd this idea of omnipandering, because some animes do it to some extent, like you have battle, romance, beautiful girls, and handsome guys haha xD

[ble]

Using manga categories as examples (shounen, shoujo, seinen, josei, etc), I don't think there's a single manga that will cater to everyone. Not everyone will like fights to the death, or thrillers, or romance.

For example, I make a girl's love comic set in space (despite my main influences being shonen and seinen mangas lol...but i'm making a shoujo ai) I have no clue what the demographic of my comic is, but some people seem to like it.

[Removed]

cute, no,. no romance, about an assassin hired to take out one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. I don't write romance

I know, I was talking about the option folks, they tried to make your work more appealing for girls/women that like reverse harem, the main character is a girl, and everyone else is a hot guy lol.

[joannekwan]

In short, you can't appeal to every demographic.

Even if you make something that is in a hot category, like contemporary romance, you will find people that don't enjoy certain tropes you may use.

[Removed]

For example, I make a girl's love comic set in space (despite my main influences being shonen and seinen mangas lol...but i'm making a shoujo ai) I have no clue what the demographic of my comic is, but some people seem to like it.

Interesting, maybe your category is Battle Shoujo AI haha xD thank you~ <3

[paracosmosfiction]

Why thank you! I love taking quirky tropes like that and adding a different spin on them. I'm not saying that anime can't appeal to huge varieties of people, they absolutely one hundred percent can. Honestly, my favorite animes (and really any media at all) are the ones that feel like they have a little something for everyone in them. Or at the very least, they make that attempt.

I try to emulate that with my writing. I'm not going to try and include every element under the sun that will appeal to everyone. But I love having enough variety in my writing to where it feels inclusive. Like a big party where everyone is invited. Not everyone will show up. But they've all got the invitation regardless.

[Removed]

In short, you can't appeal to every demographic.

I guess that's only possible in games then =/ I mean the routes / side versions. xD

[joannekwan]

Haha that's a way to look at it! Still, someone might not like the overall story, certain story branches, the overall art style, and so forth.
So really, you can't please everyone.

[therosesword]

I know you were and the answer is still no. The men in the story are all older, no young hot guys. The youngest guy in the story is around 55. And if they used a female she would have to be at least 50. The first draft I've seen so far is sticking close to the story.

[Removed]

Honestly, my favorite animes (and really any media at all) are the ones that feel like they have a little something for everyone in them. Or at the very least, they make that attempt.

I try to emulate that with my writing. I'm not going to try and include every element under the sun that will appeal to everyone. But I love having enough variety in my writing to where it feels inclusive. Like a big party where everyone is invited. Not everyone will show up. But they've all got the invitation regardless.

I love your take, maybe your solution is the best path to take, since omni is impractical or impossible, I don't know why, but critical role came to mind. xD

[Removed]

I know you were and the answer is still no. The men in the story are all older, no young hot guys. The youngest guy in the story is around 55. And if they used a female she would have to be at least 50. The first draft I've seen so far is sticking close to the story.

You act like older guys, and young women isn't a niche in romance written for, and by women, lol, just kidding~ xD

[paracosmosfiction]

I'm flattered by the sentiment. But I cannot stress this enough. Whatever your original vision is for your art. Stay true to that! Too many people try to put themselves in a box by simply trying to do what everyone else is doing. Don't just try to be popular. Be you! Do your thing, and don't stress out too much about what everyone else is doing. If my words inspire you, great! Use that! But only in such a way that fits with your vision.

Whatever you're creating, just make sure you're still creating something that is you.

[therosesword]

you don't know the story and soooo we'll leave it however you want to take it