Many international writers are eager to break into the American market, but to do so successfully requires a steep learning curve and patience. The biggest challenge is for writers looking to have their books published in translation, evident in the that fact that only 3 percent of US publications are works of translations. The rapid rise of online content is making the American market far easier to access logistically; however, writers often struggle to understand American readers’ preferences and expectations.
Many writers write for local audiences that expect plenty of context and rich, descriptive information to frame the delivery of their overall point. In contrast, the American audience is becoming more demanding in its desire for direct and quick delivery, especially for online content. Information should be delivered without excessive introduction. Writing eloquently-introduced paragraphs and providing rich context and background can feel rewarding as a writer, but in a world where little of us have the time to read at all, the reader’s response is often “what’s your point?”
The American Market tends to trust writing that is simple and delivers its message clearly, while still being diplomatic, tactful and conscious of equality. Writing that is overly formal or old-fashioned creates skepticism, and for non-American writers this can be a tough balance to strike. For international writers, this adjustment can feel like learning to write as you speak a little more, and in a less traditionally literary style. Consumers of online content in the US tend to value useful information written clearly more than anything else. Mastering this type of writing and doing it justice can ironically be far more challenging than using an arson of elaborate prose.
Despite these learning curves, many writers successfully write for an American audience, and exposure to American culture from living in the United States is by far the best and the easiest way to understand readers’ expectations and preferences. The differences in spelling, style and punctuation are all fairly simple to grasp; it’s often cutting out the excess that’s the tricky part.