Do you often wonder how successful writers find a topic that sells? So you have a book or an article idea, do you know if it has legs? Here is how you sell everything you write:
Stroke of luck: No once can deny luck as a key factor in getting started and being successful as a freelance writer. With luck on your side, whisper a silent prayer heavenwards and send in your article for publication! Of course, luck needs to be teamed with talent to make it work.
Identifying hot topics: Check out the bestseller lists and browse through magazines to identify the hot button topics. Chances are you will spot a trend – like vampire stories are doing very well now. Conservation and “going green” are topics that you come across in all magazines. Some publishing houses choose to do follow up titles and join the bandwagon of the hottest selling ideas. You can make hay while the sun shines and grab such opportunities.
Celebrity involvement: As we are all aware, celebrities add pizzazz to almost anything. This includes writing. You can consider authorised and unauthorised biographies of celebrities. Better still, if you can get a celebrity to co-author a book with you, it has more chances of being picked up by a publisher. Blurbs and endorsements from experts on your books or articles also attract publishers.
Holes in the market: Recognising holes in the market allows you to come up with ideas that will sell. Can you create an argument that there is a real demand or a real trend for write-ups on say, gardening or physical fitness? Alternatively, can you establish a demand for write-ups based on regional requirements, such as swine flu or malaria prevention? This will go a long way in giving your idea its much-needed legs. You can analyse your competition and identify areas they are falling short. The value addition you can offer over competition will be a key differentiating factor is selling what you write.
Compelling presentation: A well-drafted query letter or book proposal elicits the interest of the editor. It makes the editor curious to know more and he thirsts to know the rest of your idea. If you can articulate your idea in an attention-grabbing yet succinct style, you are half way there!
Having considered how to sell what you write, it is essential to understand what causes an idea to fail. As with any form of market saturation, how do you make a case for one more book of the same genre? Similarly, an idea that is an improper fit for the publisher makes it difficult to sell your work – like a women’s health article to a finance related magazine! Choose a publishing house that matches your area of expertise. Position your work and the intended target audience to be able to effectively sell your writing. Finally, remember, there is no such thing as a bad idea – it is just a good idea that is not backed up by skill and motivation. For example, if fiction is probably not your forte- identify your writing strength and make it work!
The challenge is to constantly read and keep yourself abreast of what’s new and what sells.
- Vidya Prabhakar
Please Note: Chillibreeze does not endorse techniques or views mentioned in the articles here. The articles listed here are provided as reference material for writers as a support service.
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