embodiment: a new personification of a familiar idea; “the embodiment of hope”; “the incarnation of evil”; “the very avatar of cunning” – definition from wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn.
In copywriting circles, “avatar” is used to add significance to clear definition of your ideal reader.
But whatever you call it, you must know who you are writing for. And generic definitions, like “middle-aged women,” are not really sufficient. You must have a very clear picture in your mind: For example, Helen Brown; 47; divorced, two grown daughters, one married; works as PR director for a Silicon Valley startup; annual income $93,000; no mortgage, as a result of the divorce; drives a 4-year-old Prius. Concerns: Finding a companion; being overweight; an upcoming mammogram; her unemployed unmarried daughter; and so on.
You get the idea: A very detailed picture of who you are writing for will make it easier to write. Because if you know Helen, you are writing to her, not just for her.
What is Helen’s greatest need? Her greatest pain? Greatest fear? Find a magazine picture of “Helen” and hang it up where you can see it.
Having a detailed “avatar”–or ideal reader–will greatly focus your writing. Your compassion and love will come out. You won’t wonder what to write; it will come out of you automatically.
[...] I’ve written about having an “avatar” in mind when you are writing your book. And I try to do that as well. Within the past few days, I was twice surprised by people, who turned out to have backgrounds, interests, and experiences I would never have imagined. [...]