Vampires are yesterday.
Zombies are on their way out, if not gone already.
Dystopian is still hitting shelves, but for how long?
And suicide is the new popular theme in YA these days.
Trends come and go. It’s not difficult to track them, particularly in publishing. Scan the new releases book shelf at your local book shop and read book blurbs. You will find the trends.
Publishing news and book reviews are a good source too.
The information is out there. The problem is that the information is dated when it reaches would-be writers. The trend began when the writers sat down to write the books, years before.
In short, you have already missed the trend, or at best, caught it on the downward edge. There is no way you can catch up when you consider what needs to happen next to publish a book that follows the trend:
1. Come up with a viable idea that matches the noticed trend.
2. Write said idea into a novel.
3. Edit and review the book into something that can sell.
4. Shop the finished book.
5. Sign with an agent.
6. Let him or her shop the novel.
7. Sign a contract.
8. Re-edit the novel.
9. Enter the publishing channel, which means marketing, book cover design, printing, and everything else required to get your book to the shelf.
By the time you go through these steps, you will be years behind the trend.
So what do you do?
Write about what you love. It’s that simple, and that hard.
Write the story that is inside you that won’t leave you or your dreams alone–the one that haunts you, whose characters stick to you no matter how you try to shake them.
Yes, marketing trends matter, but story matters more. Always. Tell a good story and the market will adjust. Maybe you will launch a new trend. Who knows?
What’s important is that you write a story that is well written, strong and moves your audience. Forget about sales and think about the reader.