I have pondered this issue in my mind for quite a while now: if your dream job is full time writing, you clearly want to write a book that would sell on a mass scale, which means hitting the mainstreem bull's eye. But there are various types of mainstreem, some are better quality, some worse. The recipe for success may be to write something mainstreem with an intelectual, original flavour to it, so that it would present something new, never seen before, with a fresh take on things, world, life. At at the same time it should addresses large audience. I think I have an idea that could fit into this description, but that is, of course, my subjective assessment -- the reality will tell, if I ever get published. Now, do YOU think you have such idea ? Can you imagine YOUR story being published, with all the posters in bookstores and prop cartboards saying "Now _____ motion picture coming!" ? Do you think your idea has the potential to come into being ?
I have a manuscript that I know will entertain the masses and make a great movie, but I'm a misanthrope and don't want to do anything to make others happy. Sorry, world.
You can't p;an for a bestselling book. All you can do is write a book well, and submit to publishers who are capable of giving your book the kind of exposure required to give you a shot at a bestseller. The story idea is a miniscule element in determining whether your book will succeed. How well you execute the idea into am engaging read matters the most.
You know what I thought of when I read this thread? Claude Monet. "Hey, Claude, do you have an idea for a best-selling painting?" "Yep, haystacks." "Haystacks? You mean the piles of grass in that field over there?" "Absolutely." "Yeah, I don't think anyone is gonna want to buy something like that."
A ridiculous question which of course deserved ridiculous answers. I would also add myself to the list a replies. I have a plot which I believe is unique and may even make me some money one day. Keeping myself motivated and holding onto my creativity is the challenge I deal with daily. The majority of us want to see our writing in print (I fantasise staring at Waterstones bookshop window, smiling at the piles of my novel on display)what I think is a better question: do you process the drive to finish your (perceived) best selling novel ? The general public who buy books are a fickle lot - who knows what they're looking for
I prefer to imagine empty window displays and shelves where once my heaps of books sat, lots of happy readers filing out the door with signed copies of my hardbacks, reading them down the road!
I don't agree. It's both with a little luck of the draw thrown in. I've seen some excellent writing from unpublished writers and some crap that was published, so not all the potential best sellers even get to the broader public. I think that changes with self publishing becoming easier. But then one has the sea to compete with. It may take longer than one's lifetime for your best seller to make it to shore. I have a great story to tell. At this point all that matters is I think it's great. I'm not sure I could spend so much time in my story world if it wasn't a bestseller as I would judge one. Not because I need it to succeed, that would be cake icing. But because I have to enjoy reading it to write it.
Yes, my question was not of the "wow-so-original" sort, but I wanted to know what you guys think of your own ideas; one tends to overrate own creations and ideas - that's the pitfall I'm trying to avoid.
The same applies to Philip K. Dick or Orwell. What I appreciate the most in those authors is their perseverance and the will to write despite negative or zero feedback. I find this very honorable. Both were driven by the love for writing and probably didn't know their titles would be bestsellers.
...better put. And, well, I do hope I can process it, obviously it's a life-long quest that I embaked on in an early age and am working my way through it (life, consequently).
True, I myself have read many very positive reviews of books that ended in bookstore outlets, 'cos they didn't make it, people didn't buy them.
I think that if you focus on the pattern the bestselling books follow, you can introduce it in your book too, and so make it more possible for it to become one. But I definitely agree about the job done well on my part, that's beyond doubt. And the "how" issue surely counts. I think the "how" counts most.
