Who am I writing for?

The other week I was able to have lunch with a man who's worked in the publishing world for around 40 years. It was a good time, chatting in general as well as what he had to say about my writing ambitions.

There was one question he asked which I find hard to answer - and it doesn't really bother me that I don't know the answer, but what worries me is that publishers WANT there to be an answer, and the fact that maybe I'm not doing something right along the requesting side of things by not telling them who the book is for.

The question was "Who is the book written for?", or "Who did you write the book for?"

Having come away from that time, and thinking, it occurred to me that I don't think an artist picks up his brush and works the paint onto the new canvas thinking about who exactly they are painting it for - in fact, I'm not sure they are even thinking about anyone, just what they have to paint, knowing that the finished article, their goal, is to be enjoyed because it's finished.

Same with a composer - they hear the music, and write what they hear. I'm not sure if their starting point could ever be with who they are writing the music for?

It's a creative process - and I know it might sound weak, but that's how it works for me. Just like an inspired artist or composer, my ideas come to me almost complete, the main points and titles do anyway, and its from here that I write, not with my audience in mind, but with the knowledge that if I can write as I see, and do a good job at it, thereby doing justice to the thought that appeared in my mind, then the finished product will be something that is there to be enjoyed - whether they be young adult men or retired women.

So does there need to be a 'target' market? I fear the world says yes....I guess only time will tell with my work really.