WOW! Women On Writing Blog: how to have a bestselling novel

Saturday, January 25, 2014

A copy of "Success with Style" research
Photo credit | Elizabeth K Humphrey

I’m embarking on a new novel and my writer’s antenna is now up to any mention of a best-selling novel.

I want one of those.

Before I get there, I know I need quite a few things:

Conflict…and lots of it!
A realistic protagonist who also provides an element of escapism
An antagonist who gives my protagonist reasons to fret
A fabulous setting and, of course,
The language of a best seller

I can hear you asking: What is best-selling language? A Grammar Girl post last week mentioned a published study that used an algorithm to study styles used to produce commercial success. The results produced suggestions of words that might produce more success than others. Researchers culled the books…and words…from the Project Gutenberg to study the style of these publishing winners.

The study, in itself, is a fascinating bit of research. For example, within adventure books, books using the word recognized apparently fared better than those works using words with a more emotional tone. But this also got me thinking--and considering--how a writer might implement such a list. And I decided to return to the list of what my novel needs and add one more item. In order for my book to move into the stratosphere of a best seller:

It needs to find its readers

The report suggests words or parts of speech from successful works, but it doesn’t tell me how to put them together to reach my audience. That’s up to me. That's for me to figure out and put word after word after word to convey something to my readers that connects with them.

So, if the next time you sit at your desk ready to write, are you looking for an external list of words to plug in? Or are you choosing the words that come from within you? Are you selecting words that resonate from your own years of experience? Or even from your character taking over the plot and fighting with her nemesis?

Sure, writers study books on craft and workshop their writing. But using an algorithm to determine a best seller seems far removed from my heart that I pour out on the page, day after day.

The study is interesting, but I’m going to let my characters tell their own story in their own words. best seller or not.

Elizabeth King Humphrey is a writer and editor living in North Carolina. Her writing credits include the Idiot’s Guide: Gluten-Free Eating (Alpha, 2014).

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21 Key Traits of Best-Selling Fiction

Saturday, June 14, 2008

by Annette Fix

There are certain things readers want when they invest their precious time reading a novel. So many things compete for their leisure time and attention: family and friends, other activities like watching television and movies, participating in sports, tending hobbies, and traveling. It takes something special to make a novel stand out and propel it onto the bestseller lists.

But what is the key to making your book a bestseller?

Give readers what they want.

So, what do they want? And how do you go about giving it to them? Fortunately, James V. Smith Jr., the author of The Writer's Little Helper, has the answers and provides a comprehensive list to help you unlock the secrets of successful fiction. He explains how you can start by analyzing and understanding the 21 key traits that exist in current bestselling fiction:

Appeal to the intellect. To you, the writer, these keys refer to how you research, organize, and structure your story. These are the large-scale mechanics of a novel.

Utility (writing about things that people will use in their lives)
Information (facts people must have to place your writing in context)
Substance (the relative value or weight in any piece of writing)
Focus (the power to bring an issue into clear view)
Logic (a coherent system for making your points)

Appeal to the emotions. These are ways you engage the reader to create buzz. Do these things right, and people will talk about your novel, selling it to others.

A sense of connection (the power of personal involvement)
A compelling style (writing in a way that engages)
A sense of humor (wit or at least irony)
Simplicity (clarity and focus on a single idea)
Entertainment (the power to get people to enjoy what you write)
A fast pace (the ability to make your writing feel like a quick read)
Imagery (the power to create pictures with words)
Creativity (the ability to invent)
Excitement (writing with energy that infects a reader with your own enthusiasm)

Appeal to the soul. With these traits, you examine whether your writing matters, whether it lasts, whether it elevates you to the next level as a novelist.