MAKING YOUR BOOK GO VIRAL

 

There's a fate worse than not having your book noticed.

It's having your book go viral.  Yes.  Sounds strange but there it is.

Harper Lee and Bill Watterson both found that out.  What do you do for an encore?

With every book we write we go back to zero for the next one. 
No single creative success can be sustained. 

That’s why you can’t create solely for profit or praise. In the end, the thrill never lasts.

If you want to be an artist, there has to be something more than fame that sustains you.

I can hear you: 

LET ME WORRY ABOUT THE ENCORE.  

TELL ME HOW TO DO IT THE FIRST TIME!

All right:


1.) FILL THE CURIOSITY GAP

During World War II researchers in Britain and the U.S. studied how rumors could be weaponized. 

They discovered that when something happened (like a big noise) and there was no "official" explanation for it, rumors proliferated in this information void. 

There are still areas where there isn't much real information or data available. 

Find out what people want to know more about and give it to them. 


2.) DON'T BE THE WHITE RABBIT

Be timely.   

 Is there some new trend you hear being talked about around you? Be the first to write about what's happening, then emphasis the urgent and timely nature of your content. 


3.) PROVOKE CONVERSATION

 When asked about WORD OF MOUTH , people often cite conversation as a primary motivator. 

Contradicting commonly held wisdom will typically lead to people starting discussions about your book,

 as will including open-ended questions within your storyline and implying real-world applications of concepts you've covered. 


 4.) Viral books are often “high concept.” 

 (rather than character-driven, even though they introduce great characters),

with exceptional execution across all the story basics.


5.)  They also deliver something else, almost without exception:  

they seize the inherent compelling power of underlying story physics in ways that exceeds the competition.

These two realms of story –

compelling concept, 

with exceptionally strong underlying essences, is what gets you into the viral game.


YAWN! 

Right?  Isn't that what everyone does?

Not really. 

They don’t address these as goals.  


Some authors just write their story, write it well, let it evolve organically, and hope somebody out there gets it.  


This may get them published, but it doesn’t usually get them on Oprah Winfrey.

 The viral book is driven by hero empathy, 

while delivering a vicarious ride.

  It isn’t the plot, and it isn’t character.  

No, this is about the reader.

  It’s about the reader transporting themselves into this world… going on this ride… feeling it… wanting to be the hero…

wishing it was them… 

The reader completely engaging in this journey 

on a personal level.

I hope this helps in some small way.