| Nine Characteristics That May Surprise You. | | | | differentiation. They closely watch trends in the |
| In writing "The Making of a Bestseller: Success | | | | literary marketplace. They understand what it is |
| Stories From Authors and the Editors, Agents and | | | | about their books that readers respond favorably to. |
| Behind Them," (Dearborn Trade, 2005), we wanted | | | | They take a strategic approach to their careers and |
| to find out what separates the publishing industry | | | | they realize that much more goes into being a |
| elite, the bestselling authors, from all the thousands | | | | successful author than the writing itself. Carly Phillips |
| and thousands of writers who aspire to someday | | | | big break came when Kelly Ripa recommended "The |
| make the bestseller lists. We interviewed 24 of | | | | Bachelor" on The Kelly & Regis show. It wasn't just |
| today's most popular authors, some of whom have | | | | luck that landed her the recommendation, but a |
| endured on the bestseller lists for decades. As a | | | | concerted effort on her part and her publicist's part. |
| group, these authors have sold more than half a | | | | 6. Fans Are An Important Asset |
| billion books. It turns out that writing talent is not the | | | | Bestselling authors listen closely to what their readers |
| only separating factor; in fact it may not even be the | | | | say, and try very hard to meet or exceed their fans' |
| most important factor. | | | | expectations, but they do not necessarily pay close |
| Find out what you as a writer may have in common | | | | attention to what reviewers or book critics say. |
| with bestselling authors like Nicholas Sparks, Catherine | | | | They don't even necessarily expect good reviews. |
| Coulter and Susan Elizabeth Phillips and what you can | | | | Word of mouth support from readers and |
| learn from them. | | | | booksellers is more important to them than reviews. |
| 1. Perseverance Is Key | | | | Linda Fairstein, the author of "Entombed" and the |
| Nearly all bestselling authors faced the same struggles | | | | Alexandra Cooper series, loves book signings. At her |
| early in their careers that less successful, even | | | | level of success she doesn't have to do them but |
| unpublished authors, face. Immediate success is rare. | | | | she loves talking to her readers. |
| One distinction of bestselling authors is that they do | | | | 7. The More Success The More Pressure |
| not get as discouraged by lack of early success. | | | | Bestselling authors face more pressure as they get |
| They persevere. Their desire to succeed is enormous. | | | | more successful. As they rise to the top, there are |
| Bestselling authors often have to demonstrate the | | | | increasing demands on their time. Top authors lead |
| patience and stamina to write a number of books | | | | three very different lives. First, the quiet, solitary |
| before achieving notable success. | | | | scholarly life of being a writer. Then participating in |
| 2. They Write, And Write And Write | | | | the team effort within the publishing house to make |
| The productivity, the writing output, of bestselling | | | | the book the best book it can be. This involves |
| authors is much greater than the average writer's. | | | | learning how to take advice from and collaborate |
| They have the discipline to get up each day and | | | | with the professionals within the publishing house. |
| produce high quality work. They don't wait for the | | | | Finally, the author must participate in the very public |
| muse to tap them on the shoulder. Some authors' | | | | life of trying to sell books to the mass audience. |
| literary production is phenomenal, such as Catherine | | | | They have to master all three lives if they intend to |
| Coulter, who wrote "Point Blank," she has produced | | | | continue to achieve bestseller status. Susan Elizabeth |
| over fifty bestsellers so far in her career. | | | | Phillips worked for a month without a day off when |
| 3. They Like To Write And Write And Write | | | | "Ain't She Sweet" was released. |
| They would rather write than do anything else. It's | | | | 8. They're Grateful |
| not just that successful authors are more disciplined, | | | | Bestselling authors are keenly aware how fortunate |
| though that is part of it; they simply enjoy writing | | | | they are to have arrived at the top of their |
| more than other writers do. Many aspiring authors | | | | profession. They sincerely appreciate their loyal |
| enjoy the idea of writing, not the hard work itself. | | | | readers. They recognize that they have been chosen |
| Bestselling authors seem to thrive on the hard work, | | | | to receive a strikingly rare, special distinction by a |
| and they work much harder than we might suppose. | | | | bustling, competitive marketplace. The success, fame |
| Iris Johansen, author of "Countdown," writes two | | | | and financial rewards that have come to them are |
| books a year, not because she has to but because | | | | often beyond the most extravagant dreams they |
| she couldn't not do it. Writing is her passion. | | | | had when they first sat down to write a book. |
| 4. Promotion Is Constant | | | | Christopher Paolini credits the support of the |
| Bestselling authors never stop promoting their books, | | | | teachers, librarians, booksellers and fans, for the |
| no matter how successful they get. Many still market | | | | success of his first book, "Eragon". |
| at the grass roots level, not just through national TV | | | | 9. There Is No Single Profile For A Bestselling Author |
| or radio interviews. They take the time to visit and | | | | Bestselling authors are seldom the top graduates |
| meet individual bookstore managers at both chain | | | | from prestigious university writing programs. Writing |
| stores and independents. They never relax and | | | | may have been a second or third career for them, |
| believe they have "made it." After ten bestsellers, | | | | and the publishing industry values authors who bring |
| including "The Notebook," Nicholas Sparks still tours | | | | life experience to their work, in fiction or nonfiction. |
| with every new book. | | | | Bestselling authors span all age groups, many |
| 5. Marketing Is Critical | | | | different professions and varied educational |
| Even if they have never taken a business course in | | | | backgrounds. There is no single profile for what a |
| college, they have an innate sense of marketing | | | | bestselling author looks like. |
| concepts such as brand building and product | | | | |