Mind Your
Own Business: What We Can Learn from Bestsellers We Don't
Love
By Stephanie
Bond
First and foremost,
you're a reader. So when a book is released to great buzz,
you take notice. The reviewers rave, the book makes all
the bestseller lists, and the author clinches a new deal
for megabucks. So even though your to-be-read pile is
mountainous, you buy the book and force yourself to read
past a rather slow beginning. Halfway through, you keep
reading because you think the book simply has to get better.
You finish reading it on principle rather than for pleasure.
And then you're
perturbed -- not only was the story unremarkable, it was
rather dull. And poorly written. And to top it off, the
ending was vague and depressing. So why is this author
garnering accolades and impressive advances?
My former agent,
Ruth Kagle, and I once had a long conversation about bestsellers
that confounded, and she gave me an invaluable piece of
advice: Even if you don't personally care for a book that
sells well, study it to identify the universal element
that spoke to such a large number of readers. Okay, maybe
it's simply the endorsement of a popular talk-show host,
but for now, let's set aside that particular component.
Something about that book pushed a button for a lot of
people, so ask yourself:
Even if the main character is unlikable, is she unforgettable?
Even if the writing is simple, is it honest?
Even if the premise is trite, is it a situation that readers
relate to?
Even if the plot is predictable, is the subject matter
dominating the media?
And don't discount
the bones of the book, which can help place a large print
run into the distribution channel: Is the title compelling?
Is the cover fabulous? Is the back cover copy riveting?
Was the book released at a special price point? Has an
established and influential author provided a glowing
cover quote?
Sometimes several
elements work in tandem to push a book onto a bestseller
list. And sometimes a successful book simply defies explanation
-- who can predict what kind of book will capture the
fancy of a collective imagination?
It's my own
opinion, though, that when it comes to judging books,
we writers are simply harder to impress than the average
reader. We forget that readers don't care about sloppy
mechanics or trite plots or uninspired writing as long
as the character and story take flight. The lesson for
the rest of us: our first priority is to tell a good story;
our second priority is to tell a good story well. Master
both fundamentals, and it's only a matter of time until
you'll be making your own tracks up that bestseller list.
So the next
time you're tempted to dismiss a disappointing bestseller,
move past your writerly prejudices and examine the book
as objectively as possible. Even if you extract only a
kernel of wisdom you can apply to your work-in-progress,
you will share in that writer's success.
Stephanie
Bond writes romantic comedies for St. Martin's Press (Got
Your Number, 10/2001 and I Think I Love You, 7/2002).
For more writing tips, visit http://www.stephaniebond.com/.
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