Trying to reach readers 35 and older — any advice?

[dyoonstory]

Hi,

I’m deliberately looking for readers 35 and older — and I’ll explain why.

People who grew up in the 80s and 90s were shaped by massive social and political shifts. Systems changed. Ideologies collapsed. The information landscape transformed completely within one lifetime.
That context affects how we read political sci-fi.

My story, Rings of Tursun, deals with power structures, catastrophe, manipulation, and the illusion of control. And I want to test myself on readers who carry that generational memory — readers who have experienced systemic instability firsthand.

It’s important for me to see whether the themes resonate with people who share that formative context.

So I’m curious:
– Are there many 35+ readers here?
– How do you usually discover new stories?
– Do you browse, search, or mostly follow recommendations?
– And how important is the cover for you when deciding to click?

Trying to test alignment.

If you’re 35+, I’d genuinely appreciate your perspective.

[kyupol]

Im 35+ (in my 40s lol )

And ill tell you oftentimes when I was growing up, turns out what I've seen is different from what I've been told. Felt betrayed on multiple fronts. Betrayed by mainstream religion, culture, political parties, etc.

---

Anyway to answer your other questions..

1) I usually discover new stories either on promo threads here or on discord, reddit, Facebook, etc.

2) I generally follow recommendations but sometimes I search myself.

3) the cover? If I see it looks catchy enough, or has impressive non Ai generated art (trust me I can tell Ai generated usually a mile away), or has an attractive FL I can have a crush on...

Additionally, I prefer stories that are "real" and "raw". And I quickly lose interest the moment I sense that the author is detached from reality one way or another. Hard to explain how, but I'll eventually sense it.

[Lensing]

I was a teenager in the 80s. 2026 feels more like systemetic instability to me than 1988

I discover new stories by checking out the stories of people I interact with on the forum.
I muted the promotion topics though because it´s too many of them which are all the same
and people flood them.

I browse search with keywords and don´t follow recommendations.

The cover is semi important when I decide to read it. Very important for a comic,
not important for a written story. It can be super simple or just the title.

[dyoonstory]

That part about “seeing something different from what you were told” really hits.

I think that fracture shapes how we read stories about power and systems.

And yes — seasoned readers definitely sense when something isn’t real or grounded. That’s exactly why I want to test myself on this audience.

Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

[dyoonstory]

“2026 feels more like systemic instability than 1988” — fair point.

I’d say 2026 is objectively more unstable — it just doesn’t always feel that way. We’re constantly immersed in the information flow, and it doesn’t let us surface and see that not only the river is moving, but the landscape itself is shifting. We focus on the waves of news, not on whether the ground is eroding. The instability is there — it’s just blurred by speed and constant input.

Interesting about muting promo threads. That actually helps me understand the platform better.

And good note on covers — especially the difference between comics and prose.

Appreciate the insight.

[tiff524]

1) Over 35+ reader. I was in college in 1988. 2026 is the future that we have now. It definitely isn't what we were sold in the 80s on what the future would be. It is like history repeating itself without reading anything from the last century. Kind of feel like a dinosaur sometimes since I do remember the "1900s".

And I really think 1988 was more calm, and seemed more stable because our news was fed to us by the networks. There was only cable and network appointment TV to receive everything. Stranger Things was a nice trip back to the 80s. I had dreams of being in malls again and high school just from watching the episodes. But I remember "Ren and Stimpy" in the early 90s, being cutting edge. I volunteered and worked in college radio in the late 80s and 90s. Alternative music was happening, in fact, pop music splintered with hip hop taking off and alternative music was formatted onto some radio stations. I really related to the last season of Stranger Things because of the radio station. That brought back more memories too.

2) I usually discover new stories from message boards, FB, now Tapas, or any other platforms I happen to write on. I was reading on Wattpad a lot too. Sometimes recommendations on the Zon when I'm doing searches. But also, some word of mouth and by Late Night Talk Shows (which apparently is a dying format.)

3) I browse/scroll IG a lot, FB and X/Twitter along with Blue Sky. Recently just got onto UpScrolled, but all I'm finding there are guys following me for some reason. All calling me beautiful. It's weird and hitting on me. A girl can't get a break. LOL

4) Cover is important, because it tells me what kind of story it is. Also, if there is a character on the front, I tend to connect better. Only text covers are easier to scroll by.

I hope that helps.

[dyoonstory]

That line about the future not being what we were “sold” in the 80s really resonates.

I agree the media landscape shapes how instability feels. Back then the networks filtered reality for us. Now the information stream is constant — and that changes perception, even if the underlying shifts are just as significant.

Love the college radio detail, by the way. That era of alternative music felt like something genuinely forming in real time.

Your notes on discovery and covers are very helpful — especially the point about connecting to a character on the front.

And yes… the “girl can’t get a break” part made me smile. The internet remains undefeated

Appreciate you sharing all that.

      p.s. A bit off-topic — if you don’t mind me asking as one woman to another —

Do you feel that there is currently increasing social pressure on women — an attempt to roll back achievements in women’s rights?

Do you have the sense that patriarchy is attempting a kind of comeback or reassertion right now?

I often hear concerns about this from women in my own circle — but my circle is fairly specific. Does this resonate with your experience, or does it feel different where you are?

[NickRowler]

I am 35 and I don't remember much about the politics of the 90s because most of my media consumption was targeted at kids.

I do remember that the internet was emerging and there was a push to teach computer skills to children starting at a young age. There was also a strange Tron-like vision of the World Wide Web that was pushed in media.

[tiff524]

So, to answer your question about increasing social pressure on women, to rollback women's rights, yes. There is some blowback happening right now. Though, I was a child in the 70s. I remember seeing women on TV like "That Girl" and "The Mary Tyler Moore" show as role models. Oh, and Charlie's Angels.

Also, for diversity, there was "Good Times" and "The Jefferson's" in the 70s. I had the opportunity to tell Jimmy Walker that he was a 70s icon when he was doing a comedy show in San Diego. Seeing African-American families on TV helped bring them into our living room, into our families. In the 1900s, actors were the influencers at the time. We'd try to be like them. Yes, I also grew up on the Brady Bunch and the Partridge Family. Hollywood had a lot of influence back then.

Now with social media, that grip on society that Hollywood and entertainment executives used to have has switched to the social media companies that collect data and sell us as a product now. It is interesting to see how the world has changed. I knew the future would be different, but just not how. Also, the 80s was a direct reflex to try to suppress the freedom of the 70s for women. So, it's not the only time it has happened. It goes back and forth. This is probably the most extreme that it has been.

I asked my Mom if the uprising and protests back in the late 60s and early 70s was as bad as now. We're talking the President Nixon years and watergate. She said it is worse. There seemed to be morals associated with people actually being embarassed and trying to hide things still. It's all out in the open now. And it really goes back and forth in waves like this. I even remembered it being talked about with waves of Liberal movements vs. conservative movements, with everyone still being civil. Things have polarized more, and I totally blame the algos in soclal media that puts everyone into a bubble by their interests. You don't see the other side anymore.

I mean, in the 70s and 80s, if you didn't like something, you changed the channel. But there wasn't a full out attack that it couldn't exist. It was like, you don't like something, you don't have to watch it. But It could be now, there is so much coming at us, it's hard to ignore all the avenues we get bombarded with stuff. And SMART phones changed a lot too. In the 00s, everyone used laptops, My Space, message boards, and phones took simple pictures, texted, and didn't have as much video capacity. SMART phones changed everything.

Sorry, got on a soap box for a bit. I'll step down now. But you asked. So, there you go.

[dyoonstory]

Thank you for such a thoughtful and layered reply.

I really appreciate how you framed it in historical waves — especially connecting the 70s, the 80s backlash, and what’s happening now. The media shift you described — from network influence to algorithmic bubbles — is such an important part of the picture.

thank you for taking the time to write all that. It means a lot.

[Furipon]

Really Interesting topic and discussions happening here, thought I'd jump in. ^^
I was born 1988 in Sweden so that makes me 37 going on 38. So I was a kid during the 90's and I were sort of a tom boy because I was into computers and gaming rather than going to parties, had most male friends going into my teens and university etc, had internet early and we had Macintosh in the household from 1986 to 2016. So I was on the early internet a lot, forums, local Swedish ones, safe places, going on the BIG internet, like .com websites where only for "adults" and for info gathering or finding international fics (started with Tomb Raider fan fics back then by some reason??)
As an aspiring artist I moved on into being "semi-big" on Deviantart. That place was wonderful, only nice constructive feedback, genuine friendships forming and a sort of collective, let's improve our game by collaboration.

Today, I am looking for a place with the old internet feel. I want natural conversations to happen, genuine interest in character, fandoming around OC's and that type of thing. Sadly, every platform so far except maybe AO3 is about monetizing on your book, locking "good" or sellable content behind paywalls. This creates this wall between content creator and reader which I don't like. But that's been going on in the fandom / creator world online since the shift from forums/tumblr to twitter/patreon, like around the mid 2010's.
Tried Wattpad and AO3 from recommendation of an avid reader friend of mine, but it feels just dead, noisy and crowded with content.
Liking Tapas the best so far, still got that feel that you can bump your story with engagement and promoting on forums etc, instead of just having a big following on social media. That I approve

What I notice here on Tapas though (I'm still very new here) is that hardly any readers comment?? I got 3 comments so far on 57 chapters but a fairly high engagement. 2 out of those are from a person I know personally. My chapters don’t get many likes either.

Back in 2010 on Deviant art, usually 10 views converted into one like. In my head. 30 or so into one comment. I still use that as a metric for if people actually like and are passionate about what you’re doing.

As of today I got nothing, it leaves me in this weird state of talking into an empty room, a one way conversation when I’m actually this social introvert that crave’s one on one interactions.

Is it because doom scrolling apps forces people into patterns of fast food consumption and stopping to think what you actually just read and commenting breaks the flow of that. Or are people just that shy and don’t want to seem opinionated? Can’t wrap my head around it!

Regarding covers. YEP it matters a lot to me. ( I read 70% novels 30% comics)
I’m very biased to the quality of the cover in terms of:
Selling the mood of your work, hints at what type of genre, easy reading vs complex darker themes and characters. It doesn’t need to be the best quality, just catch my attention or hook me into the unique selling point of the story.
But usually on the community page the quality is all over the place, 90% anime covers on the paywall page, and I’m not into that so I usually just ignore those that look “plastic”, assuming they’re full of tropes and I’ve read enough tropes in my youth, I’m on the hunt for something more rule breaking and interesting, unique and Inspiring!

This became a weird philosophical rant. But anyway. Interesting topic! I got so much to say about feminism, this incel culture and anti woke thing spreading like poison on the internets and among kids, but that would stray too much from the OP’s original query.

I tried not to digress too much, but I probably did.

[Dashio_Sumeragi]

I am 40+ so I definitly belong to this category and also kinda an introvert. And I too grew up with those old school forums and glad Tapas has one.

@Furipon don´t worry, you´re not the only one with the "empty room" and "too fast world" feeling. I also miss just to talk to people around my age and also about creative stuff.
You´re on the hunt for something more rule breaking and different? Could you be a bit more specific, please? What do you like? Maybe I can help...?

[annascarlson]

I'm born 1989 and grew up during the 90's. I definately feel like this time is more unstable than what I grew up in.

I write mostly here on tapas but also read.
I find things through promo threads or interacting on the forums to check out what they've written. One of my favorites is the thread where you only write one sentence from your latest episode.

I think the cover is important, if people have not put any effort into it then I don't feel compelled to read.
Also if the first episode is slow or starts with just writing about the world, then I'm out pretty quickly.

[Furipon]

Oh, I guess what I meant with rule breaking is basically playing around with tropes and formulas but making unexpected twists, intentionally messing with collective biases. Love that sort of thing.
Oh I'd love to hear some reading tips from you. I need to read way more novels than I do atm.
Character driven stories where the characters feel relatable through tropes but but still feel real and plausable and not like caricatures. I like all genres, queer or straight romance, non romance, fantasy, Realism, drama. But character driven before plot driven I guess. XD
Can't be more specific than that.

[Dashio_Sumeragi]

Well that was actually very specific. I left you a PM.

[GamerPrincessXI]

I'm not 35 yet, 34......... Am I apart of the club or do I gotta wait a year?

[Horie]

I'm 36 and both a reader and a comic artist. I usually search online for story recommendations, whether comics or books (I'm a big fan of dystopian stories).
I won't lie, I also check out the cover first, because I think it's a big part of the experience (a lot of people are using AI these days; needless to say, that's a big NO), and then I immediately look at the artwork.
Personally, I can't get into a serious-themed story if the drawings are too cartoonish or simplified, because I can't connect them with the story and it makes it hard to get in the right mood, but that's just my personal taste, and it's very subjective.

I love graphic novels, but I haven't been able to find much to read recently, because even when the stories seem interesting, the art in the comics produced where I live is usually too childish in style.
Also, I feel like things have become too monothematic, which is why I consume a lot of older media.
Again, this is just my take.

I'd be very curious to read your story! Seems really interesting.

[Ordinaryaverageguy]

Personally, I think the politics & social unrest of one's past have little influence on what they want to read. It may color how they like/dislike the world a story presents, but who reads a story mainly for its socio-political background? I believe characters and the situations they personally experience, and how experiences change them, are still the keys to grabbing a reader. Of course, YMMV.