Trends, Trends, Trends

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When you are writing a book, you spend the majority of your time holding your breath and praying that a book similar to yours doesn’t come out, or worse, make a big splash with a “significant” book deal. When you secure an agent and they shop your book to editors, you will probably hear the common refrain of “Sorry but we have a similar title already on our roster.” But there is a light at the end of this doppleganger tunnel. When you begin your publicity campaign having similar books published at the same time will only help your chances of getting noticed.

Editors and producers are always looking for trends in publishing. A trend is defined as a prevailing tendency or inclination, a general movement, a current style or preference, a line of development. Being part of a trend shows that you are part of a universal feeling that is currently gaining momentum. You should be able to reference at least three titles in order to declare something a “trend.”

Recent trends in publishing include books on gun violence in America (How to Be Safe, Only Child, If We Had Known, Oliver Loving), auto-fiction (Karl Ove Knausgaard, Rachel Cusk, Sheila Heti, Edward St Aubyn), and marriage vacations (The Break, The Intermission, Marriage Vacation, The Arrangement).

For an author, having a book with a similar premise or theme that releases within the same six-month time period is incredibly beneficial and will help your publicity efforts immensely.

When you are beginning to brainstorm your publicity plans, keep an eye out for upcoming releases. You can search on Amazon under publication date, Good Reads or in trade publications like Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus that post reviews a few months before a book is released.

Keep your finger on the pulse of publishing and stay alert to trends and themes that are reminiscent of your work.