Write a book in 48 hours. Sounds easier than it is.
The process taken was simple, or so I thought. Just write a silly story, find an illustrator and be published in 48 hours. Now I don’t know about you, but I’m a little more picky about my writing.
The first hurdle: Come up with an idea.
If you know me I never lack for creative ideas. I see a dried leaf on the hood of a car and can weave an intricate murder mystery. My mind is such a web of ideas that it is hindering.
The videos first recommendation was to find “trending” books. Personally, I don’t like recommending people write trends since they change so frequently. So unless you already have a topic in mind, the first hurdle you’ll have to overcome is “What’s your story about?”
Looking for trends
The video “instructs” the listener to go to Amazon and see what is popular and trendy. Since this is to be a children’s book, I checked out the PAID top 100 lists, bestsellers in categories, and highest number of ratings. I only viewed the PAID because FREE books have a skewed ranking — the more downloads don’t necessarily mean more readers nor fans of your writing.
I also looked at “trending” book cover designs. I looked through the top selling of all types of books to see what was the prevalent “trending cover design”. When it comes to the cover, you want to catch the readers eye and here’s where a trend is useful. After all you can always change the cover design as the trends change.
Follow the bouncing trend
One example of trending cover design is based on the popular best-selling book Diary of a Wimpy Kid. there are literally dozens of books that sport similar designs. Some have their own flair, such as Dork Diaries, others simply copy the design. We’ll talk more on Cover Design in Part 4, Book Cover Design (again, to trend or not to trend)
Trending stories: With the best-selling Wimpy Kid, it’s about “an exciting and innovatively illustrated new series narrated by an unforgettable kid every family can relate to.” Jeffy Kinney chose humor to convey a boys awkward years. Dork Diaries is another best-selling book with more than 13 million copies in print worldwide. Dork Diaries uses a similar theme but from the girl’s point of view about the pressures of growing up.
A successful trend follower will take the “best” from these best-selling formulas and blend their own story into a book that sells.
A Quick Word on Writing Trends
While it may seem enticing to write on what is currently a hot topic, you need to be sure that your book is published before the trend fades. That is easier said than done. I’m not saying you can’t write a book that part of a trend, just understand that trends can change very VERY quickly and your timing needs to be perfect.
The number one rule of marketing is to ensure you have a great product- a product that the market wants and is craving. For many authors, this leads them into dangerous waters…writing to the trends. You see what is hot and so jump on the bandwagon. Unfortunately, this could be one of the worst decisions you can make – choosing a book topic based on what is selling now.
If you plan to submit your book to a publisher, then you’ll have to send your finished, polished manuscript to an agent, who, in turn will sift through the pile of other submissions and then eventually consider your book for promotion. However, by the time your book is considered, the trend may be pasé.
On the positive (?) side, let’s say you plan to self-publish AND write your book in 48 hours AND publish at the height of a trend, then what? If your book is well written AND you are able to garner your target audience’s attention THEN you may reap some benefit from your hard work.
You’ve heard this before: your best tactic for your next book is to write about what you know, what moves you and forget about trends. Your passion will show in your writing and you’ll develop a following that will crave your writing — trend or no-trend.
THE JOURNEY
Follow us on our journey through the Fiverr Project. We’ll detail the obstacles, time, costs, frustrations, and everything in between on creating a “best-selling” book.
- To Trend or Not to Trend
- Writing Your Story
- What to look for when Choosing the Illustrator (technique to match your story – cost to match your budget; usage rights)
- Book Cover Design (again, to trend or not to trend)
- Publication (ebook and print)
- Final Breakdown (cost and time)
- The Missing elements
