No one has a formula for writing a best selling book. However, there are certain rules of thumb that make it more likely that your manuscript will translate into top sales.
1) Write from research. Every author should research what is selling and what is not selling. Not that this should determine which genre is selected. (Whichever genre you love to read most is probably the genre you should write). Nor should statistics about what is selling today determine what you write. In a year, the publishing world could be topsy-turvy. But, a solid understanding of the highs and lows that naturally occur in publishing will give you an edge when it comes to developing and marketing your book.
2) Know your competition. Develop familiarity with the top selling books in your chosen field. This knowledge paves the way to success by educating you in what readers buy and in what ideas/concepts are stale or fresh. Since editors usually want a new angle on the tried and true, this information prompts you to find a fresh hook for your book.
3) Create a catchy title. Regardless of rumor, this is much more important than cover art. A catchy title stops the potential reader in his or her tracks and motivates them to pull your book off the shelf and open to the first chapter. The good news is that there are more literate buyers on the book market today than ever before. The bad news is that they are much more sophisticated and demanding when it comes to what they read. (This applies to editors, as well).
4) Tell a fascinating tale. Evaluate your favorite books to determine what this includes, or review the basics in “Stealing Fire From the Gods.” Make sure your story is better than the episode of the latest sitcom. Today, even commercials tell a tale, and most of them are polished and motivating. Your story must be better than a Geico ad to get consideration by an editor at a publishing house.
5) Just do it. Start writing. Spend the time you would normally spend doing laundry, fixing dinner or watching TV at the computer. So what if you walk around in a sweaty T-shirt, yank your dinner out of the microwave or miss that episode of Boston Legal? We can’t do everything. Time is limited. Make sure that you write for at least five-minutes, today and every day!
6) Make the first chapter “pop!” If your writing is “hot” in the first chapter, it’s more likely to continue at this high level throughout the manuscript. This applies to both fiction and non-fiction writing. First chapters act like magnets, pulling readers into the storyline. The day is long gone when either fact or fiction can be slapped down on a page without polish or panache.
7) Finish the book. Your talent may rival that of Dean Koontz, but no one will know or care if they can’t read your work. Too many of us fail because we don’t finish. Trust me…you are far more likely to get a contract offer for an unpolished manuscript than for an unwritten idea.
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