Blogger: Janet Kobobel Grant
I saw an author at a writers conference who was walking around in a daze as she thought about all the demands on writers to successfully publish today–both self-pub and traditional pub.
Here’s what her mind was circling around. She must:
- Maintain a presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and/or Pinterest.
- Work to build a significant platform on at least one of these social media sites.
- Needs to sustain a blog or begin a podcast.
- Figure out Facebook Live because word has it that’s an effective tool in marketing one’s book.
- And launch teams are requisite nowadays, too. So those people need to be gathered together, given instructions on how to get the word out about a new book, and offer them special attention as their reward for helping with publicizing a new release.
- Not to mention that the author wants to find communities for writers online.
- And oh, yes, writing needs to be squeezed in their somewhere.
Let’s take a deep breath and realize that the faster paced and more plugged in our world becomes, the more we long to linger, to slow down. A number of books have been written by people who chose to find ways for their families to become detached from their technological gizmos.
Those books are a reflection of an important concept to remember:
For every trend, there is a counter-trend.
When mass market books first burst onto the scene, readers rushed to buy these handy, fit-in-your-pocketbook reads. At the same time, a love for a beautifully bound book that was luscious just to hold also arose.
While we’ve all developed thumb dexterity via texting, we all treasure receiving a carefully selected greeting card with a handwritten note when it appears in our mailbox.
Middle-grade and teen readers are foregoing digital devices for physical books. Screen fatigue makes them long for turning crisp pages and holding a book. And audio books are the hottest sellers nowadays because people want to “read” a book wherever they are–but not so much off of their phones.
A novel idea
I see that the more we feel enslaved to technology, the more we long for ways to stop the madness. What else does that translate to for the writer to be mindful of?
I think novels are especially popular because they are long stories that take us away from the hit-or-miss connections of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Rather than scrolling through posts, novels explore human connections that go deeper. And they portray individuals’ interiors in ways we can never gauge as we stride through life with our earbuds blocking out bird calls and people’s voices.
Another counter trend…and a longed for counter trend
I also think our desire for a deeper look into another life is one of the reasons memoir and narrative nonfiction continue to be popular.
Many are turning to reading nonfiction books that reflect the reader’s view of the world. We seem to have lost the art of having a civil discourse with someone we disagree with; so we’re huddling around with like-minded people online, in real life, and in the books we read. Wouldn’t it be grand if a counter-trend of seeking out books by those who aren’t like-minded occurred? Or if we read about being civil with each other and then actually lived out the insights we gained?
What other trends do you see? Can you spy counter-trends? How could you apply this concept to your book idea?
TWEETABLES
Looking for a book idea? Remember, for every trend there’s a counter-trend. Click to tweet.
Writers, missed out on a trend? Sometimes success is found in walking away from it. Click to tweet.
All I can do is put the words together, and release them into the ether. I’m going further and further up the blue, and it doesn’t look like there is a return ticket. And there’s almost nothing left to give.
* If the world finds me, great, but I’ve done my very best, Nor representation, nor contracts, nor fame, nor money will ever outshine the warmth of the former atheist who now prays for me daily. That trend of one made my life worthwhile.
Prayer, yes Andrew, that is something we never want to give up. God bless the former atheist who has been trending daily in your life. That is something we all desire forever, someone who sincerely cares, and when they say they pray, you know they mean it.
Your words are never lost, they are published in heaven, and held in the great libraries there.
Blessings and prayers,
Betsy
Many, many thanks, Betsy.
I believe people are wondering where God is in all the human suffering we see, and in the broken hearts and damaged minds of many they are desperately looking for someone who understands, and has experienced similar circumstances, but has found healing, and can explain it in a way clearly to them. Someone, that when they write or talk you know they’ve been there, the dark places, the painful places, the places where hope has long gone, and only an aching desperation for some kind of relief expresses itself in many degrees of self soothing, those of destruction like drugs, alcohol, cutting, illicit sex, or others more acceptable to society like shopping, workaholism, nonstop education, over indulgence and the like. It’s all the same, bandages that eventually fall off, or get dirty and become a source of further infection and pain. People want to know that there really is a God who does care, and how to access a real relationship with Him. They want to know from a patient like them how to heal. Academic books can’t do it. People who have suffered in other ways, such as physical illnesses, can not understand the depth of the illnesses and pain in the mind. It is not the same, especially if abuse has been involved. My book, “Losing My Mind, Finding God’s,” is a story, a memior, not of a super athlete, famous singer, actor or politician. It’s not about a Fortune 500 person of interest, or anyone else well-known. It is written by a common, ordinary, individual who knows what it is like to suffer, but who has discovered the love and healing extended to her by an uncommon God that is extraordinary in His mercy and compassion.
It strikes me that uncivil public discourse might be a good thing; when masks are removed and true feelings shown, one sees one’s enemies, and the contempt in which one is truly held.
* As Christians, it’s so often assumed that our love and tolerance is approval, and when we draw that line we’re excoriated as hypocrites and worse. Bring the hate; by its fire we can see the faces of the haters.
* And yeah, we’ll love and pray for them anyway, hot coals upon their pointy little heads.
Hi Andrew, yes, I agree it can get frustrsti g being judged as someone we AREN’T, but I remind myself that Jesus said it would be this way. They may wear masks, Christians should not. I certainly had many to remove when I first came to Christ, but I have refused to replace my own face by a mask. My face is who God made me to be through all these forty plus years. God’s Word says, “If our eye is single, our whole body will be full of light.” As Chrstians, when we set our eyes on our Savior, completely, not here and there or when it’s convenient, light, His Light, will fill our bodies. We are reminded in scripture, That we will be known by our love. And, we are told, that it is the kindness of God that leads men to repentance. Men and women can be filled with the vilest of things, but the Father say, where sin abounds, grace abounds more.
I have had to forgive so many for their ungodly choices, choices that were very, very wrong, and very, very painful and destructive not just as a child, but as a adult and Christian. To stand in the love of God, composed, and in peace, is one of the greatest lessons, and one of the hardest a Christian must learn.
But, I can totally understand about having feelings you bring forth.
* The goal of my book is change–abiding with Christ while living in the world. As I read your thoughts, Janet, I had a flash of insight: a book on living beyond our cultural traditions may not be best served by a traditional roll out.
* So dear Lord God, what’s the non-traditional plan? What does a prayer-powered book launch look like? Amen.
Yea for your insight, Shirlee!
Like Shirlee, I’ve questioned whether my works and goals fit successful commercial trends and conform to the advice for traditional publishing success. I realized they don’t.
*I’ll paraphrase some advice I’ve seen several places: don’t make readers uncomfortable or bored by too much emphasis on the spiritual struggle. While my novels are filled with adventure and romantic friendships, they are really about the spiritual transformation of a lost soul triggered by the love and forgiveness of one they once might have called an enemy. The goal: to encourage a believer to go deeper in the faith and to inspire a nonbeliever to ponder why people choose Jesus when the price of following him might seem too high.
*So maybe I fit Janet’s counter trend of looking deep into a life and trying to understand the choices made, even the ones that might cost everything. That resonates with at least some of the people who’ve read the books and taken the time to write a review. It might never sell enough for a traditional publisher to take the risk, but it’s what I’m called to write.
One Christmas, someone gave me a paperweight (remember those?) that read, “Write your story.” Every day those words burned into my brain until I realized that’s exactly what I was supposed to do.
* Instead, I wrote a book that was reincarnated too many times as I chased after genre trends. I finally had to abandon that book because it had turned into someone else’s story, not mine.
* Since you mentioned Facebook, it’s a good idea to periodically search for “new Facebook algorithm.” The latest came out in October and made several changes that could affect how you interact with your readers. Here’s a link to several posts with recommendations: http://bit.ly/2zkrSYo
* It seems even Facebook has difficulty staying ahead of the trends!
Fascinating. Thanks for the link!
Thanks Angie, I’ll check that out.
Glad for counter-trends! Another trend (counter-trend?) is in the area of meditation, contemplation, and peaceful stillness. People are wanting ways to rejuvenate and refresh their inner self. I think it’s a reaction and also a need. Spiritually speaking, this offers an opportunity for the writer of contemplative nonfiction to reach more readers with substantive spiritual material. I’m thankful for this shift towards the ministry of the interior self.
That’s a good observation, Norma. Thanks for sharing it.
Excellent observations, Janet. I can tell you neither of my girls read on their devices; they do everything else on them, but don’t use them to read.
There is a current trend toward Bible based films, so it definitely feels like Norma said that people are searching. How can we not considering the news these days. Feels like the end times more and more.
Ah, I would love a counter trend of civil discussion. So nice! Yes, my sons love hold in your hand books, but they do enjoy borrowing my Nook on occasion as well. I only buy them paper books … but they are all in one room and their bookshelves are getting packed!
I’m not sure if working for our county library provides me with a good pulse on current trends Janet, but I do see a lot of audio books come through our check stand. I find that patrons like to take them along on road trips. I’ve adopted this “trend” myself, whether I’m taking a long trip or scooting across town to run an errand. It increases my reading time and keeps me learning even on days that don’t provide me with time to sit and read.
Joanne, I used to borrow audiobooks from the library all the time. I’ve fallen out of the habit, but, yes, I got a lot more “reading” done that way! I think a lot of readers feel the same way. It’s a great way to multi-task and makes driving a lot more engaging.