Becoming a published author is no cakewalk. Here’s what works and what doesn’t in the publishing business.
In their book The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of The Blockbuster Novel, authors Jodie Archer and Matthew L Jockers claim to have cracked the code that guarantees a bestseller. What the Stanford scholars call their “bestseller-ometer” is an analysis of themes, plots, characters and settings that work. But, can sticking to a formula guarantee that you’ll get published, leave alone pen a bestseller? Experts tell you what publishers look for.
Manuscripts that stand out
Mita Kapur, founder of Jaipur-based literary consultancy Siyahi, says that she puts herself in the reader’s shoes when going over manuscripts. “I ask myself whether I would pick that book up.” For Kanishka Gupta, who heads New Delhi-based Writer’s Side, “the subject and quality of writing take precedence.” Lubaina Bandukwala is the founder of a new literature festival for children and young adults and she formerly worked as an editor for a prominent publishing house. Bandukwala adds, “I look for books in fiction that have a strong story and those that are told in an interesting voice, one that will resonate with readers. In nonfiction, I look for a unique approach and a strong, individualistic voice, preferably on contemporary topics.”
Sculpt a strong hero
Gupta says, “A powerful connect between reader and protagonist is the defining quality of a bestseller. The main character must be someone the readers can relate with, and it would help if he or she is intriguing and inspiring.”
Pick your theme
“Romance, erotica, misery-lit and politics work well in the fiction genre while celebrity memoirs and books on self-help by famed gurus fare well in the non-fiction genre among Indian readers,” shares Kanishka Gupta. “Controversy and topicality can boost the sales figures of books on politics tremendously. The success of Sanjaya Baru’s The Accidental Prime Minister and Natwar Singh’s One Life Is Not Enough confirms this. Tamil Nadu’s late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s biography by Vaasanthi has been selling like hot cakes after Amma’s demise.”
Novelty is vital, Gupta feels. “Yasser Usman’s Rekha: the Untold Story cashes in on the tremendous curiosity about the reclusive star’s personal life and the fact that she has not been written about before. Yasser also adopted a breezy, anecdotal style of writing, which works well here, but wouldn’t for say, a heavy semi-academic tome that analysed Indian films.” Mita Kapur adds that politics, historical fiction, mythology and Bollywood are popular themes. Bandukwala, on the other hand, observes, “Mythology and religion work well when it comes to children’s books. Works like Gita for Kids by Roopa Pai and Arshia Sattar’s Ramayana for Kids, Anita Nair’s Muezza and Baby Jaan, which is a welcome addition to Islamic lore, are prime examples.”
“Commercial fiction has become even bigger,” Gupta says, “and there’s a demand for what I call the ‘celebrity book’, i.e., books written by top film stars or much-loved athletes or lifestyle books written by fitness trainers, nutritionists and counsellors who’re associated with such celebrities. Non-fiction is a hot seller, but, within this category, books on travel, sports, wildlife and ecology unfortunately do not fare as well.”
Language matters
“The wealth of our literature comes from our regional languages, and we have a solid market for these books,” says Kapur. “Regional language writers are, typically, culturally empathetic and deeply entrenched in the traditions of the region. This gives their narratives a unique edge. That said, in mainstream publishing, there is a greater demand for works in English. Language is not just a tool or medium of expression, it’s a tool to convey nuance. A clever writer can use language as an artist would the paints on his palette.”
Gupta believes that simple language appeals to a wider readership. He says, “If the aim is to write a book that has mass appeal, it’s important to recognise that the masses aren’t lovers of prose.”
SOURCE: http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/health-lifestyle/How-to-get-published/articleshow/56338861.cms
In their book The Bestseller Code: Anatomy of The Blockbuster Novel, authors Jodie Archer and Matthew L Jockers claim to have cracked the code that guarantees a bestseller. What the Stanford scholars call their “bestseller-ometer” is an analysis of themes, plots, characters and settings that work. But, can sticking to a formula guarantee that you’ll get published, leave alone pen a bestseller? Experts tell you what publishers look for.
Manuscripts that stand out
Mita Kapur, founder of Jaipur-based literary consultancy Siyahi, says that she puts herself in the reader’s shoes when going over manuscripts. “I ask myself whether I would pick that book up.” For Kanishka Gupta, who heads New Delhi-based Writer’s Side, “the subject and quality of writing take precedence.” Lubaina Bandukwala is the founder of a new literature festival for children and young adults and she formerly worked as an editor for a prominent publishing house. Bandukwala adds, “I look for books in fiction that have a strong story and those that are told in an interesting voice, one that will resonate with readers. In nonfiction, I look for a unique approach and a strong, individualistic voice, preferably on contemporary topics.”
Sculpt a strong hero
Gupta says, “A powerful connect between reader and protagonist is the defining quality of a bestseller. The main character must be someone the readers can relate with, and it would help if he or she is intriguing and inspiring.”
Pick your theme
“Romance, erotica, misery-lit and politics work well in the fiction genre while celebrity memoirs and books on self-help by famed gurus fare well in the non-fiction genre among Indian readers,” shares Kanishka Gupta. “Controversy and topicality can boost the sales figures of books on politics tremendously. The success of Sanjaya Baru’s The Accidental Prime Minister and Natwar Singh’s One Life Is Not Enough confirms this. Tamil Nadu’s late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s biography by Vaasanthi has been selling like hot cakes after Amma’s demise.”
Novelty is vital, Gupta feels. “Yasser Usman’s Rekha: the Untold Story cashes in on the tremendous curiosity about the reclusive star’s personal life and the fact that she has not been written about before. Yasser also adopted a breezy, anecdotal style of writing, which works well here, but wouldn’t for say, a heavy semi-academic tome that analysed Indian films.” Mita Kapur adds that politics, historical fiction, mythology and Bollywood are popular themes. Bandukwala, on the other hand, observes, “Mythology and religion work well when it comes to children’s books. Works like Gita for Kids by Roopa Pai and Arshia Sattar’s Ramayana for Kids, Anita Nair’s Muezza and Baby Jaan, which is a welcome addition to Islamic lore, are prime examples.”
“Commercial fiction has become even bigger,” Gupta says, “and there’s a demand for what I call the ‘celebrity book’, i.e., books written by top film stars or much-loved athletes or lifestyle books written by fitness trainers, nutritionists and counsellors who’re associated with such celebrities. Non-fiction is a hot seller, but, within this category, books on travel, sports, wildlife and ecology unfortunately do not fare as well.”
Language matters
“The wealth of our literature comes from our regional languages, and we have a solid market for these books,” says Kapur. “Regional language writers are, typically, culturally empathetic and deeply entrenched in the traditions of the region. This gives their narratives a unique edge. That said, in mainstream publishing, there is a greater demand for works in English. Language is not just a tool or medium of expression, it’s a tool to convey nuance. A clever writer can use language as an artist would the paints on his palette.”
Gupta believes that simple language appeals to a wider readership. He says, “If the aim is to write a book that has mass appeal, it’s important to recognise that the masses aren’t lovers of prose.”
SOURCE: http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/others/health-lifestyle/How-to-get-published/articleshow/56338861.cms
