Writing What's Hot

The number one topic at any writers conference that I have ever attended is, "What's selling?" By that the writers mean, "What's hot?" This question applies to not only what kind of books are readers snapping up. Writers are also looking at what kind of books seem to be hot with editors and agents. For years the answer has always included that old sage advice: Don't chase trends, write the book that means something to you because trends change fast. By the time you try writing a book in a hot genre it may have gone cold. This is quite true. With a few exceptions the book business moves slow. About 99% of the books you're reading now were finished a year ago. Some might have been started a year before that. Obviously this means there is plenty of time for a new "in" genre to be sweeping the book world. Change happens, and when it comes to trends it can happen fast. I'm not saying you shouldn't write what's selling big time right now, just know the risk you're taking.

But as with all sage advice there are always examples to argue against it. Plenty of authors have had success jumping on a popular trend. Most of the time these authors had either written such a book and had the manuscript ready to send out or already making the rounds. Or these authors had contacts with editors, had been published before and could write fast. Sometimes the hot trend becomes pretty enduring, and along comes an author who writes a totally fresh take on a what has become a crowded same old-same old genre.

What is even better though is to be the author who STARTS the hot trend. Examples: E. Lynn Harris made his name writing books about the secret lives of black men living in the closet. Ann Rice created Lestat and thus spawned almost two decades of sexy vampires. Terry McMillan's Waiting To Exhale kicked off the boom in African-American women's fictions, especially the "girlfriends" chicklit type novel.

So for what it's worth here is my advice:

• Examine your story/plot/characters. Look for ways to make them stand out from the pack. A new twist on even a hot genre can catch the eye of an agent or editor.


• Write your book even if it's very different. You could be the next popular author everyone is copying! That's right, you could start a new hot trend. Sweet, huh?


• Forget the trends and write your own book. Then decide how others will categorize it. Trust me when you start sending it to agents or editors they will want to know. Like it or not that's how the book world works.

I just read an article about hot trends in Canadian publishing. A lot of what is said applies to US publishing as well. Thrillers are hot here, too. That's what I keep hearing. Also I hear thrillers or suspense with a dark tone are selling well. Do you have a well written manuscript that fits these genres? You have a good chance of selling it.

Of course you won't sell if you haven't finished your book. You definitely won't sell if you aren't sending it out. I'm always surprised at the number of writers who don't do either, but keep seeking advice on "what's hot".