Publishing trends don't matter, actually.

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Here's why I'm writing what I want with zero considerations to editor wishlists and publishing industry "what's hot" takes this year.
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31 янв 2024

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Комментарии : 55

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Here's the Author on the Road series I mentioned! ru-vid.com/group/PL613wpmkDoLcY8HGPfGZBcpoUns7hzAcT

@edsonvieiraa 5 месяцев назад

I always believed in that golden rule that you have to be true to yourself when you write. You are the one person who has to like it and be pleased with what you write. The best stories are probably written by authors who have this in mind.

@h.a.s.7336 5 месяцев назад

The trends are frustrating. I have a STEAM project that is an 1800 word picture storybook, but the industry is sooo narrow on what it will accept now in terms of word counts. I've had elementary teachers read it and be exited about it. They all say it flows well and fast... And the well-credentialed marine zoologist who inspired and fact-checked the project LOVES the book! But I've had 40 agents reject it. I can't help but wonder if it's due to this immovable word count adherence. But ONE MORNING IN MAINE or THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS books and so many more famous books are 2500 words! It's really depressing... Alas, the trends matter when it comes to something like this.

@PaulRWorthington 5 месяцев назад

Whenever I get overwhelmed with the complexities and seriousness of my big honkin' series, I let my mind wander and come up with ideas for my much-less-intricate adventure story that I hope will be less taxing and more fun to write.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

That's exactly why I love working on two ideas at once! One is a break from the other :)

@therealannataylor 5 месяцев назад

I love when I hear that other authors are not chasing trends. I have always wanted to write the truest story to me and not let others dictate what I want to write and what the story should be. Everybody chasing trends has made me feel self-conscious about the stories that I like to write, and the stories that I like to tell, but this is very validating. Everything is evergreen!

@austinauthor846 4 месяца назад

Worst comes to worst you could always trunk the book, and have it in your back pocket for when the trend becomes hot again. I always find value in a novel that is finished versus one that isn't. Great video.

@reginaduke7451 5 месяцев назад

As always, your video is helpful and encouraging. I decided (after my accident) that I need to write what's fun to write, period. Being indie published, I don't have to worry about queries, and although I do hope to write a fourteenth Colorado Billionaires romance, at the moment, I feel it's more important to have fun again. I hope all is well with you! And I know your book will find a publisher, because that's what Michelle does. 🥰🥰🥰

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thanks so much, Regina! Having fun with this really is important. I know a few too many great authors who stopped writing because it turned into a soul-suck. And I really appreciate your faith in me!! :)

@Laura_DiNunno 5 месяцев назад

I can relate so much to this. Needed to hear another soul say it out loud. Thank you.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Anytime! Thanks so much for watching, Laura! :)

@alwaysapirateroninace443 5 месяцев назад

Be the trend instead!

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Exactly! :)

@starklingspars8956 5 месяцев назад

The trend thing feels so unfair at times. Like anything in life there is a season, I reckon. It's hard being in limbo not knowing which season you're in as a writer. I think maybe writers like control, so create worlds they can control, then the polar opposite experience is trying to get a book out into the world after it's written. Like you, I'm afraid I said something "Duh" obvious above. But sometimes there's a deeper understanding of a concept or way of looking of things, like you said that makes you feel like you only just understood it. I think your book idea / audience was noble. Hopefully someone gets what you were doing. ❤

@calcasieuparish1210 5 месяцев назад

Thank you for putting this out this video into the world. Short version is that it helps to know that some of the things that I'm thinking and feeling, others are also dealing with. The dreaded 'maybe I should...' and insert the stuff that I don't like and really don't want to write because it's just not... It's like going and spending time with a group of people that you feel miserable around and they don't add anything to your life. But for some really mixed up reasoning a person comes to the conclusion that the time spent there would be 'good for them' or 'profitable'. Yes, I have 'known that trying to write in certain genre or in a particular way wasn't going to work well for me. But there was still the thought: Okay, maybe I'm just not doing it 'right' and this time will be different. It's not and it won't be because it's like diving back into a uncomfortable to toxic situation and thinking that because you managed at one point? This is somewhat rambling because my train of thought is actually a mountain goat with an eternally curious streak. So... thank you. This helped in ways that I'm not even going to try to explain. Just know that you made a difference. Take care.

@thenewbirdsymphonyorchestr3271 5 месяцев назад

Hi Michelle! Love your videos, I'm a gay author of color with a debut pb out by Hachette this upcoming December. I can definitely relate to so many of these videos, but especially this one. I'm currently in the process of looking for another lit agent for my other children's book projects but it's been a process to say the least. According to QT, only 17 lit agents are interested in pb text authors. I'm sure there are more but this is just plugging in the number for that specific category. Fewer seem interested in MG high fantasy these days. Seems these numbers are only dwindling. I'm puzzled sometimes, because I've interviewed parents at bookstores, and they've literally SAID the only MG books they will buy for their children are high fantasy ones like the Gregor series. And I've seen parents on Twitter who posted that the only PB they will buy for their children are rhyming picture books. Yet, agents and publishers act like these "won't sell," it's crazy to me! I'm really hoping people like you and me will be able to "change" the industry and convince then that originality/creativity IS the driving force behind "marketable" and "sellable" books... Perhaps one day indeed. Anyway, thank you for all you do, from another traditionally published author!

@pietruszkapietruszkowa9713 5 месяцев назад

Michelle, I'm so excited for you and your fantasy project! :D I hope you'll have all the fun and feel no pressure and it'll be amazing adventure :)

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thank you!!! :D

@Hannahacarmona 4 месяца назад

100% feel this! Both my kids are reluctant readers and publishing needs to catch up.

@byronlopezellington8839 5 месяцев назад

Great video, Michelle! I've suspected for a while now that publishing trends are so flimsy and difficult to play to that it really doesn't matter. Good luck on your projects! I'm currently writing the first draft of a middle grade science fantasy about, uh, genocide/religious persecution, so I guess we'll see how that goes in the publishing world eventually 😅

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Thanks so much, Byron! Well gosh, that sounds like a light breezy topic for a novel ;)

@byronlopezellington8839 5 месяцев назад

@@MichelleSchustermanAuthorYep, middle grade especially! Hopefully I can present it in a MG-enough way lol

@yatharthsinghchauhan9161 5 месяцев назад

I am a discovery writer. Although I write in Historical and Fantasy genres with a darker tone yet I am writing a pulpy novel with a touch of humour, as a palate cleanser. And I love the process😊

@Avionne_Parris 5 месяцев назад

Great video, Michelle! I've believed for a long time that writing and publishing trends come and go in a continuous cycle but classics remain timeless forever (kinda like fashion). I remember Dragon Balloon which you started drafting during April Camp Nano 2021 and Nil Versus The Pocket Universe which started drafting in July of that same year. Can't wait :) All my WIPs are not trendy at all but rather what I wanna write: 4 plus sized girls meet at fat camp in the 90s forging a friendship that would span 15 years and beyond; if Gossip Girl were anime; a Kpop idol discovers his music is portals to other worlds, and a teen demon hunter must learn to balance her newly inherited powers with ordinary life (if Buffy the Vampire Slayer were black and Caribbean). Have a great weekend, Michelle! Hi Rosa :)

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

You have a way better memory than I do!! :D And wow, those are such great pitches! Hope you have a great weekend too, Avi :)

@nikkismith2858 5 месяцев назад

I like the fat camp idea!!

@nikkismith2858 5 месяцев назад

Would the k-pop be on trend? It seems like K-pop is still popular

@Avionne_Parris 5 месяцев назад

@@nikkismith2858 Yeah, I guess so. But the crux of the story isn't kpop and my story doesn't follow the traditional kpop fiction format.

@WendyLuWrites 3 месяца назад

Just want to say that all of your WIPs sound so good! I would read them!!

@fedouamansouri3318 4 месяца назад

I have just discovered your channel, and I am so happy I have. I have been watching your videos and they are, you are, so inspiring. As I am an aspiring (meaning freaked out) author, your writing advice feels so encouraging in a workable, actionable kind of way. I feel I am closer to hit the pen and paper now, and I am grateful for that. Your talking about branding and authenticity hit home with me. I thought I was the only one who is absolutely exhausted of how the world turned into. That said, there is this thing that I find nice about YT videos, though, that I don't necessarily think it falls under the authenticity discussion; I am talking about aesthetics. Look, I am no American and I don't know whether what I'm about to say is just cultural, but in my culture when we are to receive someone at home, we try to look our best and make our house as tidy as it can be. We consider this to be part of hospitality, not bragging (real-life branding) or anything like that. So, if I'm being honest, I don't mind an easy on the eye sight while I am listening to my favorite RU-vidrs, even though I am an authenticity freak. Thank you so so very much! And please do not stop posting writing vlogs. Best of luck, Lady Last-Woman-Standing! 😄

@storydtechtiverobertjones464 5 месяцев назад

Hi Michelle…catching up on your shorts when this video popped up. This is a great subject. One that has incited me to rant for a minute or two. As far as the world of entertainment goes, they follow their own kind of algorithm, which is always based on sales figures. And what sells, as you know, changes from year to year, and even minute by minute depending on what’s climbing the ladder of numbers and percentages. In my estimation, editors rarely (if ever) know what sells, and they sure as hell don’t know what people want to read/watch/consume. A so-called “smart editor” is someone who has managed to navigate that algorithmic pattern. Which is just as often by accident as it an intention-if not more so. I’ve even had editors who actually told me what they were looking for. And when I managed to adapt to a certain style, or trend, once it was deemed over they moved on and I had to find work with another editor, or a different company. Because they seemed to have forgotten I adapted my work to that style as per their request. And now that I was known for it, as they say, you’re only as good as your last job. Therein lies the danger of following trends, IMHO. If we choose to ride that wave, we are often having to prove ourselves all over again once that trend becomes passé. This can actually become a career breaker for some folks depending on circumstance, what’s going on in the industry and even sometimes a passing comment that’s not favorable from one editor to another about those no longer viable people they’ve had to turn lose in the small world of publishing. Made even smaller sometimes depending on which corner of it we find ourselves in (insert primal scream here). It always ends with us attempting to get back to squares and recapture the joy of creating for ourselves.

@NancyChen53 5 месяцев назад

So basically editors don't know the trends themselves. It's a shame how much of a crapshoot the publishing industry is and how little the gatekeepers actually know about what readers want. Sure, there are some genres that will always work, but seems like trends come and go too fast even for editors to keep up with. Maybe editors should think less about trends and focus on quality of the book instead.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

That's the part I'm not sure about. It could just be that the 10 or so editors who passed on my book aren't aware of that trend, or they ARE, but it's not for their list. That said, I agree - we'd all be better off focusing on story quality.

@ladyursala 5 месяцев назад

No. Editors take their personal interests, hobbies, fantasies, and preferences, call them “trends,” and demand that writers include this in their stories. They have no idea what readers are actually hungry for and make it up as they go along.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

They actually get their info from their house's sales/marketing teams, who do have access to reader data. Editors do absolutely also look for projects that fit their personal tastes, but those aren't trends. @@ladyursala

@oldguyinstanton 4 месяца назад

This video gives me hope for my in-progress YA science fiction novel which is breaking a lot of the apparent rules for first novels, SF novels, and YA novels.

@floragraves5167 5 месяцев назад

Gothic stories have always been hot. I notice Tor has a soft spot for them and they are amazing stories.

@JoeyPaulOnline 5 месяцев назад

I've just started two new projects for drafting and going back to an older one for revisions/editing as it goes to the editor April 1st!

@kanashiiookami6537 5 месяцев назад

As you know, I never write to trend (why bother when i only recently wanted to try querying, eh) and that's great for getting loads of stories written because I'm just writing what i want to read. Problem now is that after opening to queries in the new year agents i wanted either left their agencies; got full enough client lists that they're now "by referral only"; or are no longer interested in ANY of the genres or content I write. (Several saying "absolutely NO [genre/content]" in their MSWL, or politely "would not be the best fit for [genre/content]") So my query list has dwindled drastically and the ones that are still on there haven't maintained their websites or MSWLs and I can't check them out on Twitter because you're locked out if you don't have an account. (And sadly Threads and Insta are slow to catch on in the agent/publishing world) So it's up in the air whether they're the right fit anymore. Who would've thought so much could change in just a year? Anyway, glad to hear from you again. (Though RU-vid was slow in giving me the notification. Almost 24 hours later) Hope you're doing well and still loving van life. And I hope the weekend is stress free for you all. Best of luck with your work!💜

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Gosh, that is a lot of change in a year! But I suppose the bright side is that a year from now, things might have changed just as much for the better? Maybe someone out there is working on a brilliant agent finding database right now and it's close to release! Hope you have a great weekend, K!

@MargaretPinard 5 месяцев назад

Reframe, rather than Pivot, Hmmmm.... I like it!

@AuthorJCCarpenter 5 месяцев назад

Thank you so much for this video Michelle! It is so refreshing to have an author say it's okay to not chase the trends. If I can't tell the story that I want to tell, then is there really a point? I can't tell you how much I appreciate you stating what should be the obvious. Everything is Evergreen! I love that! Looks like you're having an amazing adventure. Take care of yourself Michelle! ❤❤

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

Great to hear from you, JC!! Thanks for watching and I hope you're doing awesome!!

@fantastical-whimsical5937 5 месяцев назад

I've been writing about 3 fantasy books since I was 17, I'm 23 now, but I've found that the past year that my motivation flopped, and I legit have spent the past 6 months sitting in front of my computer, and nothing comes out, my mind is a jumble. I used to up until the third story, love writing, and creating, and my stories were created by me, for me, with those like me in mind. But since the large sphere of tiktok taking over, I feel like no one will take my stories on because they aren't sexy, they aren't 'spicy', they are about a fantasy story with characters, and queer identity, without it being an adult book, its queer audience was for as a teenager at the time, so I feel frustration that I can't get past the trends now, I feel like the trends consumed me, and I can't enjoy my processes anymore, and I'm too scared to go back to my previous works, because I don't want to put another six months looking over it for the same response of 'it's good, I like it, but it's not what I'm after'. Bascially I feel like social media like tiktok has ruined my writing, my enjoyment, and make me stress over never getting my work across. Thank you for writing this, I really needed it, I just hope I can also flip out of the rut, and DO SOMETHING, either a new project or going back to the complete maniscupts.

@Sue-pn7mq 5 месяцев назад

Your project sounds amazing and I’m glad you’re having fun with it ❤

@TheDarqProject13 5 месяцев назад

I've got similar reasons for continuing with some projects that were in fear-based-stasis for far too long.

@zanemarion7211 5 месяцев назад

Trends change all the time. Never go by what they want. If you are not enjoying writing the book it will not be enjoyable at all. Write what you want.

@kaymarpee 5 месяцев назад

Love this insight ty!

@winkletter 5 месяцев назад

What's so hard about writing to trends? Just figure out what kids, parents, teachers, librarians, and publishers all will want next year, and write a book that ticks all those boxes.

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

It's easy! 😅

@b.t.3406 4 месяца назад

Good luck with your submissions. It’s such a complex subject and too often editors and agents misread the market. Just talk to J.K. Rowling about rejections.

@ramonarobot 5 месяцев назад

Video/topic request: what do you think about writers using chatgpt to get ideas for plots? Do you think it’s like cheating in a way, especially when we bypass writer’s block and get solutions from chatgpt? 😬🙈🙈🙈

@MichelleSchustermanAuthor 5 месяцев назад

That's a great topic! Short answer: I don't think it's cheating - I mean, I'm one of lots of writers who have been using name generators and the like for years - BUT I'm not going to use AI in any way while there's little to no regulation in regards to copyright.

@ramonarobot 5 месяцев назад

@@MichelleSchustermanAuthor thanks for sharing ❤️