| The business of books is big business with 172,000 | | | | indicate that as an author becomes more successful, |
| new titles released in 2005 and sales in the United | | | | has built a fan base and has had previous bestsellers, |
| States of about $40 billion. But what makes a book | | | | reviews decline in importance. |
| successful? Are there any common characteristics | | | | *Timeliness of Topic is of the Essence* |
| that can spur on sales? As part of the research for | | | | Old news is bad news when it comes to the subject |
| "The Making of a Bestseller" Dee Power and Brian Hill, | | | | of a book's topic. Common sense dictates that there |
| the authors, surveyed over 100 editors and agents | | | | isn't much interest in topics that have already been |
| to answer those questions. | | | | hashed over by the daily news media. Since book |
| *Previous Success is the Key Indicator of Future | | | | production takes from six to 12 months, it's an |
| Success * | | | | amazing feat to get a book on a hot topic out to |
| Editors and agents are in agreement that an author's | | | | the market at just the right time. |
| previous bestselling book is the key factor in | | | | *Word of Mouth and Fan Base* |
| determining future success. | | | | Readers telling other readers about a fabulous book |
| *Quality of Writing is Paramount* | | | | they've just read has a tremendous impact on |
| For writers yet to produce a bestseller, comfort can | | | | success. Book buzz is priceless in the publishing |
| be taken in that both agents and editors rank quality | | | | industry. Authors on the upward sales track take |
| of writing highly. Great writing wins out. However, | | | | their fans seriously. |
| there are no hard and fast criteria about what | | | | *What's Not As Important* |
| constitutes "great writing." It comes down to | | | | Reviews have already been mentioned as not having |
| subjective judgments made by individuals. Book | | | | as great an effect on success. Promotional efforts |
| reviewers may argue that a successful book by the | | | | whether those of the publishing house or the |
| very virtue of its sale's success can not be | | | | author's, fall toward the lesser end of the scale in |
| considered great writing. | | | | importance as well. Advertising doesn't seem to be |
| *Reviews, Whether Good or Bad, Don't Count* | | | | as important either. |
| And speaking of reviews, the survey participants | | | | *Money Doesn't Count* |
| discounted the importance of reviews to nearly last | | | | Contrary to popular belief, or perhaps it's just wishful |
| place in sparking sales of a book. This contradicts the | | | | thinking on the part of the author, the size of the |
| advice given to "new" authors that it is critical they | | | | advance paid isn't a significant factor to success. |
| get their books reviewed. These results could also | | | | |