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Industry Truth 18 of 30

The "Trend" Chase: Yesterday's News

Tales From A Harrogate Caravan

At a Glance

  • • Focus: The argument that chasing trends guarantees an author will arrive with yesterday's book.
  • • Includes: Trends, market timing, comparable titles, and the lag between writing and publishing.
  • • Who it's for: Authors told to write something more like what is selling now.
A person chasing a fading, flickering light.

The Industry Way

The industry is obsessed with the "next big thing." If vampires were popular last year, they demand more vampires. If a specific type of dystopian YA hits the charts, they commission a dozen clones. They are constantly chasing trends that have already peaked, trying to predict the market while ignoring the actual substance of the work. You are told to change your story to fit a trend that will be dead by the time your book is published.

Someone building a fire that lasts.

Tales From A Harrogate Caravan Way

Don't care if it's trendy. Send it, we publish it.

The Full Story

Because publishers operate on long lead times, they are perpetually one step behind the market. They spend millions trying to replicate a success that has already passed, which is why the bookstore shelves are filled with "me-too" books that don't sell. This creates an environment where authors are encouraged to stifle their own unique interests in favor of whatever is currently viral. It’s a race to the bottom that rewards derivative content. We prioritize depth over virality.

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