So what, exactly, is commercial? And, does one have to give up writing beautifully in order to achieve it?
I’ll answer the first question last. In a nutshell, no. Commercial does not deny beautiful writing – it may curtail it to some extent, but it doesn’t deny it. And I’ll come back to this.
As for what is commercial – all one needs to do is look at the big successes – think of The Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter, The Twilight series, The Hunger Games. Commercial, by any other name, is a best-seller, and if the supermarkets and big chain bookstores are driving what is to be published then there’s a pretty clear recipe.
1. Create a story with a big universal theme to which everyone can relate.
2. Work with archetypes and stick to the basic plots – Quest, Adventure, Pursuit, Rescue, Escape, Revenge, The Riddle, Rivalry, Underdog, Temptation, Metamorphosis, Transformation, Maturation, Love, Forbidden Love, Sacrifice, Discovery Wretched Excess, Ascension, Descension.
3. Have a strong hook.
4. Keep it pacy and/or gripping, make every chapter ending a cliff hanger or a critical question.
5. Ensure the stakes are high.
6. Ensure the characters are relatable and engaging.
7. Write so that everyone “gets it” – make sure the story is easily readable.
8. Pull at heart strings, make the reader gasp, make the reader shiver. Engage the readers’ senses. Involve the reader.
So, coming back to writing well, focusing on craft and creating beautiful books. I don’t believe the commercial has to be to the total exclusion of literary. Sure, the truly literary book may never have mass appeal, but there is absolutely no reason why a commercial book can’t be beautifully crafted, well-written, full of artistic “magic”. I believe the trick lies in marrying a commercially appealing theme with quality writing, vivid words (you know, that show not tell thing), a distinctive voice, and a strong hook. All the things that, as writers, we are constantly told to do.
And if all that still fails, and you’ve written a quiet and beautiful book, which the likes of Tesco wouldn’t touch, then I do believe that another space is opening up for writers: e-publishing ventures led by respected names in the book industry – because that’s where the difference between self-publishing and quality e-publishing lies – in the gatekeeping. If there’s truly no space for writers of quality fiction within traditional publishing (and I don’t entirely buy that, I just think the goal posts have moved that much further), then it’s time for writers to band together and create their own destinies. The truth, however, remains in this reality – you still need to have a good hook, a high stake and a compelling tale in order to sell your story to anyone.
It’s not time to be discouraged. It’s time to up our game and to think laterally.
Glass half full, remember?
15 comments:
So, does the tortoise (in the clip) represent the trad. publishing industry we have to continue our journey without?
Thanks for a positive post, Nicky!
Good post Nicky, as ever. I think you are right in many ways but I still want agents, editors, publishers and buyers to be brave and follow their gut instinct when they come across something which on paper may look 'commercial' but they have a feeling about it. I have concerns about self epublishing is that there are no gatekeepers which is where I think your idea of almost a 'cooperative' epublishing group might come into play.Certainly something worth watching
yes ma-am - shaking off extra cat hairs, polishing whiskers, pricking up ears and listening to the market...hmmm...maybe but I like paper books and I want to be a "real" author!
Lesley, nope, the Turtle simply suggests that one thinks beyond the obvious and the conventional :-)
Ness, I'm not talking about self-publishing in the sense that we've seen previously - note, I didn't even call it self-publishing - I called e-publishing - because what's evolving here are two different things - one which is gatekeepered and one which is not, one which includes editing skills, one which may not. If the publishing world is going to be driven by "commercial" then surely it's up to writers to position themselves differently, to find other opportunities which may still grant them the "approva" of the industry, but in a slightly different way.
catdownunder - a simple fact to consider - sales of ebooks are soaring. And, being published via an e-book platform which is gatekeepered doesn't make anyone less of a "real" author. The trouble with the concept of "real" authors is that is smacks of elitism - and it's the very elitism that prevents writers from taking their destinies into their own hands.
Did you read Lucy Coats blog post in which she said:"With Kindle sales through the roof, and e-books overtaking print books by a considerable margin, technology is careering ahead, sometimes leaving publishers behind and floundering in the tailwind of its rise. Many more already established authors will learn to 'Kindle' their books this year - some self-publishing out of frustration and some providing 'add-ons' to existing traditionally published work in the form of stories or novellas."
Now, about those cat hairs... ;-)
Excellent post Nicky. The future is very exciting for authors who are ready to take on the technology. Katherine and I are epublishing Florence and the Meanies very shortly after a lot of feedback and positive rejections mostly saying - I'm not sure the book buyers will buy this but the children would find it very funny and it's well written.
So really we have no option but to go down the epub route with the books that publishers don't want but it doesn't mean we cant also write and sell them the books they do want does it?
I most authors will do both.
I think! I think most authors will do both.
I think you may be right - one things for sure, not every book can be a best seller and, while we can have a pretty good idea of what makes a good book, I think it's nigh on impossible to predict what will make a best seller - ( Twilight???? When God Was A rabbit??)
This whole nonsense about only wanting 'commercial' entertainments is, quite frankly, a bit silly. It makes me come over all Monty Python - now who'd have thought that would become commercial?
Great post, Nicky. As you know, I agree with pretty much everything you've said here. The idea of a "real author" is going to be shifting over the coming years, as is the idea of a "traditional publisher." But with that glass-half-full perspective, there are great opportunities out there. Traditional publishers will still produce some wonderful, literary books (I agree with you about the goal posts shifting). But there will also be more e-published books that make a real impact. You've got Amanda Hocking, who is firmly on the commercial side based on your helpful categories. But I think there will many other, more surprising, successes. I say, bring it on! Or does that strange sports analogy work here? You know what I mean....
Great post Nicky and I agree, if our work doesn't fit the 'commercial' bracket then we need to look around for opportunities where it does fit. As Kathy says, the idea of only having commercial entertainment is a bit silly - not everyone wants to shop in 'Tesco'.
Interesting post hon! What I find frustrating is not the 'is it commercial' cause I think if something is good then it will find an audience...what annoys me is that publishers do the 'Ok, so The Da Vinci Code was popular we need to find another Da Vinci Code' and a whole host of similar stories spring up...I don't want to read another Da Vinci Code (if you ask me one was more than enough!) I want something new and interesting! I think the publishing industry need to stop and think...if they enjoyed the manuscript then others will too...and they need to stop putting things into pigeon holes. Five years ago my Dad's book was turned down for not being commercial enough and for not being marketable...its now a best seller and the second in his trilogy looks like its going to do even better (18th on the Best seller list within 3 days of its launch!). Publishers need to stop looking for the next 'insert popular book here' and just publish good books!
C x
If literary fiction had a hard time finding readers in print form, it could have an even harder time in ebooks, which get even less attention (apart from a small handful). At least in the old days a publisher might use the profits from a bestseller to promote something more literary. Today, ebooks can disappear down a black hole.
But maybe that's why you're advocating moving towards more commercial fiction?
Maureen, I'm really looking forward to hearing more about your adventures in epublishing - and I think you're right, most authors will end up going both routes.
Well, yes, exactly, Kathy! I think one can take a call as to what sort of book has appeal but it's never entirely predictable as to whether it really will be a success or become a bestseller.
Laura we live in "interesting times" and times of change always present opportunities. The bold have already ventured forth, and from their endeavours the rest of us can learn and take the decisions relevant to our own goals and careers. Never say die, eh?! :-)
Well, exactly so, Bekki! Not everyone can or wants to write commercial fiction and if publishers and booksellers turn their backs on quieter or literary books, then there have to be other avenues to follow - and that's were epublishing comes to the fore.
Carol, I think your dad's story ties right into what Kathy was saying - how can anyone predict a bestseller or reject a book because all they are looking for is the best seller. Those publishers who rejected your dad's book must be kicking themselves - in the same way that those publishers who turned down Harry Potter must have done the same. The focus on commercial only is just too limiting - and begs the question as to the long term social impact - specifically on readers.
Glen, I think you may be missing my point. I'm not advocating moving to more commercial fiction, I'm considering what is perceived to make something commercial, what booksellers are looking for and what writers are to do if they are writing something that may not be considered commercial. I'm also suggesting that commercial and literary can make for a happy marriage - it doesn't have to be either or. Ultimately, I'm suggesting that writers have to think laterally and look for and at all the opportunities in a changing market.
yes, Nicky, I think that many really well written books are also commercial. I always think Terry Pratchett does pretty well - although his plots sometimes leave a bit to be desired!
Some of these "successes" are quite good, others make me wonder what readers could see in them. But I think that, while many follow the recipe, success depends enormously on luck as well as on clever and relentless advertising.
Thank you for the reminder about the glass half full... :-)
xoxoxo
Sorry, this is me coming late to a post again. I was speaking to an internet guru who specializes in online gaming, expressing a fear that quality will suffer because the new online world means everybody is publishing. He wasn't bothered. He says these cycles happen all the time. The drop in quality will raise the demand for quality.
I myself aspire to write a commercial book. It would be nice to make a living.
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