FREE KINDLE FOR PC

FREE KINDLE FOR PC
So you can read my books

Tuesday, March 2, 2021

The MAGIC FORMULA for Writing a BESTSELLER_IWSG post

 

You might think the above image suggests that formula includes sexiness, mystery, and ... 

cats.

Midnight made me include that last.

But while the BESTSELLERS of the last 100 years may have included those, 

what they ALL possessed was a hotly contested SOCIAL ISSUE of its day ...

RACE, SEX, POLITICS, ALIENATION ...

Some large, unresolved, deep-seated nation-wide conflict in the minds of those who don't ordinarily read.

Even more important, those bestsellers focused on 

fractured families, outsiders, iconoclasts who go their own way irregardless of the outrage from those around them.


And above it all is  
THE DREAM


Be it the AMERICAN DREAM, the DREAM DEFERRED, the DREAM PERVERTED, the DREAM LOST, the DREAM INVADED.


It is some form of that DREAM which drives the protagonist ever onward or downward to an unknown destination.


We Americans are innately suspicious of institutions, public or private, and 

of strangers professing only good for us.

After all, the hand reaching out to feed us may actually be intent on feeding upon us.


Focusing on the mind is all very well and good, 

but the thing all bestselling authors possessed was the ability 

to connect to the heart and to the innate needs of the readers who read their books and then urged their friends to read them as well.

LAST THOUGHT ... 
FIRST LINE


SCARAMOUCHE:

"He was born with the gift of laughter and the knowledge that the world was mad."


IT JUST SEEMED THE THING TO DO:

"The rape was the best thing that happened to her."


THE OUTSIDER:

"Mother died today. Or maybe yesterday; I can't be sure."


1984:

"It was a bright, cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."



An arresting first line is crucial to grabbing readers and urging them to turn the page to find out what happens next.

May your next book be a BESTSELLER.

7 comments:

  1. The story must connect and universally.
    Those that tapped into those social issues will get cancelled like Dr. Seuss?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was going to write of the New McCarthyism, Cancel Culture ... but we writers are writing behind enemy lines. When the mob goes for Dr. Seuss, you know the culture has gone insane. :-(

      Delete
  2. In all humility, I my initial thought of writing was I wanted to write the Great American novel. I've always been ambitious. Now I just write. If any gets published, that will be icing on the cake. An old school chum said to me, Writing is good. Authorship, eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As a former English teacher, Ann, I, too, strive to write in layers so that readers can grow with what I write and see deeper if that capacity resides within them. Like you, I write to entertain myself, hoping that others exist who like what I like. ;-)

      Delete
  3. That's why during my characterization sessions with students I really emphasize the character's dreams and goals as they are what fuel the story.

    ReplyDelete
  4. And writing about what is happening to everyone is so natural and organic. Tension just slides around the page and hooks us hard.

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    ReplyDelete