by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Family and friends will sometimes lightly tell me they’re sure that I’m going to pen a bestseller. I respond, just as lightly, that I don’t write those types of books. I’m writing genre fiction to appeal specifically to readers of my subgenre. Any bestseller status is in the confines of that subgenre.
Bestsellers, obviously, appeal to a broader audience. I’m not sure if I’ll ever even try to write something meant to be that commercially successful. But that’s not to say I’m not interested in hearing how to get there.
I received a free copy of The Bestseller Code as a thank you from St. Martin’s publicist for promoting a contest on Twitter.
At the time, the buzz over the book hadn’t yet revved up as it has now. There have been discussions sparked (and perhaps a bit of controversy) over the algorithms the authors Jodie Archer and Matthew L. Jockers ran to find common threads in today’s blockbusters, regardless of genre.
From the book description:
“The Bestseller Code” offers a new theory for why Fifty Shades of Grey sold so well. It sheds light on the current craze for dark heroines. It reveals which themes tend to sell best. And all with fascinating supporting data taken from a five-year study of twenty thousand novels.”
Generally, I do enjoy reading publishing-related data if it’s easy to understand. I liked the way the data was presented to readers as a narrative.
This is not a how-to book. If you’re looking for a formula to follow for commercial success? The book doesn’t lay that out for you.
That’s not to say that The Bestseller Code doesn’t have interesting insights. I tend to mark up non-fiction books with a pen. I found that most of my marking-up occurred in chapter two. One topic covered in those pages was theme.
The authors found that themes were very simple for bestsellers. Archer and Jockers used John Grisham and Danielle Steel as examples. Grisham’s theme is the legal system and Steel’s involve ‘domestic life’ or ‘time spent inside the home.’
As a side note, this was a different way for me to view theme. As an English major, I tend to think of themes as something like ‘coming of age,’ or ‘man against nature,’ or ‘lost love.’ I’m usually thinking about a lesson of sorts. The ‘legal system’ or ‘domestic life’ themes seemed more of what I think of as hooks. The authors labeled them themes or ‘signature topics.’
According to authors Archer and Jockers, “The authors are known for their signature topic and fans expect them to deliver it.” Grisham and Steel spend 1/3 of all the paragraphs of all their books on these themes and the other 2/3 to “introduce the tangential topics that make each new book seem a little different.”
This made me wonder if new authors were overthinking it and trying to accomplish too much. The authors tended to agree that they may. They spoke to an agent and a writer and stated:
“Both told us that they had, through a series of painful rejections from publishing houses, come to the theory that new writers start out too ambitious. They said such writers tend to favor telling a complex situation from all angles…writers are observers, and it is natural for them to want to share all that they have observed…”
The authors go on to state that not only does the ‘signature theme’ factor make books popular with readers, it also helps with author branding.
The book gave me food for thought and a closer look at what makes a bestseller tick.
What kind of themes do your books focus on? How simple are your story motifs (and even, the plots themselves)? What do you think about data as a way to tweak our books to make them appeal more widely to readers and publishers?
And a note: if you’re in the Charlotte, NC area, join me from 12–3:30 tomorrow, Oct. 8, at the Statesville Library in Iredell County for the inaugural Indie Author Day event!
Are new writers too ambitious with their stories? Insights from 'The Bestseller Code': Click To Tweet
I tell the story I would want to read, knowing that the world of readers is so large that I am bound to resonate with someone. I created a linked world of different protagonists involved in a common war they had no inkling they were involved in, much like THE AVENGERS until they meet one another.
My readers know they will find snappy dialogue, funny one-liners, haunted beauty, and a world of myth come to life. Hopefully, there are enough like-minded dreamers out there who want read that.
I think rather than being too ambitious, new writers tend to over-think their tales. If they focus on having fun with their tale, then the reader will have fun, too. Reader, not readers. I believe the best tales are written as if they were being spoken to just one person by the flickering light of a campfire as if to take a fearful mind off the sounds in the night by focusing it on a tale of riveting interest.
Thanks for having me on your blog Monday!! Roland
Roland–True, and I think most of us write that way. And we write to please regular readers of our chosen genre (who will have their own story expectations).
I’m starting to think there’s a whole bunch of overthinking going on!
Thanks so much for the great guest post on Monday and for your terrific interaction with the commenters!
Hi Elizabeth – it does sound as though the ‘themed series’ is the way to go … building blocks towards one hopes a take-off to the skies of success, before conquering the world as some do … eg Harry Potter, Agatha Christie with her various characters … and you are definitely on that road …
Roland has great points above … and I am looking forward to reading your mystery that I won via Roland’s entry … I’m having a few challenges at the moment but the Kindle will out and I’ll get to read … thanks to you both – cheers Hilary
Hilary–Themes, on a small scale like within a subgenre, do definitely tend to pull in readers. It was interesting to read how they might work on a broader scale for a very wide audience.
Thanks for coming by and congrats on the win!
I keep coming back to something I said in an interview once: “I write rock and roll.”
I like writing with simple ideas and themes, playing with plot elements that people expect. Some of the setting ideas I’ve come up with can be complex, but the basic ideas are all very straightforward.
“Man remembers past lives.”
“Young noble tries to save her mother.”
This is because I think all storytelling is, at its heart, simple. I definitely think newer writers can get too caught up trying to have complex character arcs or metaphors, and forget to enjoy the story for its own sake.
Paul–I like that. :)
And simple is what seems to resonate with people. I guess because it’s not trying to accomplish too much–it’s an in-depth look at one particular area of life that provides insight through fiction. Maybe that’s what makes it more relatable?
Exactly. When I was looking for a way to describe what it is I write, since I move through various Sci-Fi and Fantasy sub-genres, I knew I needed something simple and evocative so readers would know what to expect from me.
So I came up with “Stories to show that monsters can be beaten.”
Paul–I like that! And, clearly, good thinking on your part.
Thanks!
I never thought of them as signature topics but I do expect a Grisham book to be about the law and a trial. The same way I know Linda Fairstein’s books will deal with a case involving violence against women and/or children. Interesting topic to ponder, especially if you’re a writer.
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Mason–The times when Grisham has veered off from his theme (Painted House comes to mind), he doesn’t seem to sell nearly as well. Interesting topic, for sure, and food for thought.
Is space a theme?
Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to be a best seller outside my genre either.
Alex–According to those guys? Definitely.
I guess we’d have to step outside of our normal sphere to have a crack at it. And we’re already branded in our subgenres.
That’s a really interesting way to look at a theme.
Our Indie was cancelled due to the approaching hurricane.
Diane–That stinks that it was cancelled. I haven’t gotten any notification that ours is effected (although…boy! Will it be rainy. Wondering what turnout will be like).
Hi Elizabeth–this has been a frequent topic of discussion at Chez Meg: simplifying my plots. Not to go simplistic, still tell an interesting story, but pulling back a little from the edge of the rabbit hole. Part of getting better at the craft, of developing as a writer, I guess. And I’m going to do it for those reasons–not that hitting the best-seller lists wouldn’t be a kick ;)
I think it’s a great idea.
What’s more, you can extend those complications into future storylines for future books (especially character-related subplots).
I’m reminded of the time I was hanging out with some other trad-published cozy mystery writers. They were remarking on the tremendous success of a fellow cozy writer and kept saying: “But her plots are so simple! The mystery is so simple!” They were simple. But they also really resonated with readers! A good lesson for me (I’ve had some convoluted stories in the past, myself).
Dick Francis = horse racing.
Rex Stout = Nero Wolfe’s household and its operations.
Raymond Chandler = the dark underbelly of Lost Angeles (see what I did there?)
Each story by each of them spun a mystery, flying off in all directions, anchored to their signature topic.
It’s another version of “write what you know.” I love this marvelous article by Mark McGuinness at Lateral Action:
http://lateralaction.com/articles/be-original/
It’s called Don’t Try to Be Original and includes the phrase I’m chanting to myself over and over: Your obvious is your talent.
Dick Francis was a jockey. Stout invented a banking system that changed modern banking and raised orchids, thousands of them, and Chandler, well, Chandler lived all the bad habits his characters had, and loved the dark underbelly of LA. Each brought what they knew to their writing to create their signature topic.
I guess it’s time to make Phil Brennan’s “signature topic” more evident, eh?
Joel–Nice phrase!
And Chandler definitely wrote what he knew, for the readers’ benefit! Terrific stories.
Great topic, Elizabeth! As a mystery writer, overthinking is an occupational hazard (I’m sure you’d agree!). We’re trying to keep the reader guessing. That being said, having a straightforward take-away regarding what the protag is dealing with and how she arcs is absolutely essential for me. I’m always looking back to that to make sure the story doesn’t get away from me!
Good luck at Indie Author Day! Our local libraries heard about it too late to make plans for this year, but I’m hoping for next year.
Kathy–Good point…I think in our genre, it’s more a matter of subplots related to character development, etc. The puzzle itself really has to be fairly complex.
Hope your library can put it together next year! I’m looking forward to it tomorrow. :)
Sorry I’m a bit late to the party here, Elizabeth. This does sound like an interesting read, with solid insights. I’m actually glad to hear it’s not a ‘how to’ sort of a book, since I don’t think there’s one formula to achieve ‘best seller’ status. Besides, I agree with you that it all depends, really, on what one’s goal is in writing – what sort of things one writes. Thanks for sharing!
Margot–I’d think it would be somewhat dishonest for an author to claim that there *is* a formula, so I was glad not to see it here. You’re so right: goals are key. Is a writer writing to please themselves? Their family? Or are they using their talent for income with an eye to commercial appeal? There’s no one right way.
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