Don’t Try To Be Trendy With Your Nonfiction Book

We all have something that makes us cringe. For some, it’s the word moist. 

For me, at least professionally, it’s this:

What are some of the insights and trends happening in publishing right now?

I hate this question because regardless of the answer: You’re too late. And that’s true no matter who you are or what position you’re in. 

That’s partly because of timelines. Traditional publishing takes two to three years from deal to finished book, and building up an audience even longer than that. So, by the time you figure out what the trend is, the world has likely moved on before you actually catch up.

But the bigger argument against chasing trends, in my opinion, is that you don’t want to be the copycat because it’s a bad position to be in. 

Consider this example from country music. 

Earlier this year, Cody Johnson released a song called “Dirt Cheap.” (I dare you to watch this video and not get a little emotional.) This song topped out at #14 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, and ended up on my personal playlists since I first heard it.

More recently, I heard a song called “This is My Dirt” by Justin Moore, released in November. 

The song’s lyrics are different but the story and message is exactly the same. And because the release happened so close to “Dirt Cheap,” “This is My Dirt” only reached #23 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

Justin Moore’s song performed worse than it might have otherwise because it was seen as a copycat. Even if that wasn’t his intention.

Point is, people can sniff out when you’re trying to chase a trend. 

Just like people know the difference between authenticity and a cash grab. 

Even though most of us can’t articulate that, exactly.

That’s why it’s so important to be authentic. That will help you build the platform you’re meant to build, get the book deal you’re meant to get, and ultimately write the book you’re meant to write.