Beowulf Sheehan oftens takes photographs of writers. He wrote an article for Literary Hub about what he learned from taking pictures of that cadre.

Sheehan mentions advice he got from fellow photographer Nigel Parry:

 “With each shoot, make the picture the client needs and, if you can, the picture you want.”

That is wise advice in many circumstances.

In particular, authors should do the same with the books they write.

Figure out what the reader needs and, if you can, write the book you want.