by SHAH HUSAIN

Aspiring writers often ask me what makes a book succeed in the marketplace – but even more importantly, what excites a publisher. It’s almost impossible to pinpoint the answer precisely, but talking about this with publishers and editors over the years, I’ve come up with a list of the elements which come up over and over again in discussions about successful books.

1. Catching the zeitgeist, the true spirit of the moment.
2. Engaging with deeply emotional issues such as abuse, rape, illness, from a personal angle.
3. Creating empathy and making readers truly care for the character.
4. Unconventional structure that will surprise and lift your book out of the ordinary.
5. A fresh point of view and original content.
6. A unique voice that suits the content.
7. Visual, imaginative language and descriptions.
8. Universal appeal.
9. Material with which readers can identify.
10. Drawing the reader into an unknown world in an authentic way.

Readers who have heard some of these comments before but wish to explore them further are welcome to contact me with questions on shah@narrativesltd.com.

Please see our other articles:

The Next Big Thing: A Brief Guide To The Publishing Industry
and The Submission Process For Aspiring Novelists

Getting an Idea for a Book

Print on Demand Publishers

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