Like authors such as Aphra Behn and William Wordsworth, Cavendish described her intended audience, writing purpose and philosophy in prefaces, prologues, epilogues and epistles. Her several epistle dedications for "Poems and Fancies" were often justifications for writing at a time when women writers were not encouraged and in terms of her subject choice. She used them to instruct readers in how they should read and respond to her poetry, most often by inviting praise from supporters and requesting silence from those who did not like her work. Cavendish commonly used the epistles to admit and excuse potential weaknesses in her writing. They were directed at specific audiences and varied accordingly.