Yesterday I was in the future. Wait, I mean in the future, I zipped back to yesterday. Or was it tomorrow that I…never mind. It doesn’t matter. Bottom line is what’s important here and here’s the bottom line: I know what book trends are going to be hot in three years. Yes, you heard me. (Really? Did you just hear me right now? Like in an audible voice? Because that’s either the coolest thing ever or a sign that you should schedule an emergency appointment with your psychiatrist.)
While I was in the future, I did a little historical research. All because I love each and every one of you like Stephen King’s literary agent loves Stephen King. In other words, a lot (pending your decision to utilize my editorial services for a perfectly fair fee considering how famous you’ll be someday thanks to all the information I’m providing).
The following seven trends are going to be huge. I’m talking Dan J.K. Meyer Brown Stephenie Rawlings huge. You have just enough time to complete a novel in one of these genres so that it will be ready for the literary agent of your choice to sell to the highest bidder.
At great risk, I’ve included the actual title of the trendsetting novel for each genre to make it even easier for you to succeed. I have not, however, listed the authors. Did I see the authors’ names? Yes I did. But I don’t want to mess with the future any more than I already have. You know how this time travel stuff works. It’s delicate and wonky and there’s always a chance of the universe folding in on itself. I don’t know about you, but I’m not quite ready to be folded out of existence.
Okay. So here they are. Pick one and write it. And remember, if you need editorial help from a sharp editor (who has already seen the finished book), just email me.
Future Fiction Trends
1. Science friction fiction – Read that again, carefully. This genre is devoted entirely to stories about scientific things that rub against each other. This might seem an impossible challenge, but you’ll be happy to know “scientific things” includes hot scientists. You do the math.
Future Bestseller: Iris and the Spectrometer of Doom (Mostly it’s about the Spectrometer. Iris is just there for eye candy. And for rubbing up against things.)
2. Hamish love stories – I know. I had to do a double-take on this one, too. In case it’s not clear, these are love stories featuring a protagonist named “Hamish.” And that’s all you need to know.
Future Bestseller: Gwen’s Eggs and Hamish (No, not those eggs. It’s not about procreation. Gwen is a breakfast cook at Denny’s. A really good cook.)
3. Plant fiction – Think Charlotte’s Web, except with talking plants. Most of the books in this genre apparently are set in the jungle, though the chart-topping bestseller listed below was obviously set in a backyard garden. So if you’re the lucky author of this one… sorry about that.
Future Bestseller: Rutabaga’s Lament (NYT review: “A literary, vegetarian masterpiece of Dickensian brilliance!”)
4. Gaimaniacal fiction – This one threw me at first. Any guesses? Yep. It’s a genre of paranormal novels in which every character is a creative interpretation of real-life author Neil Gaiman. (This is because Neil is a fantastic author and a tremendous human being and everyone likes him. Plus, he just responded to a Tweet in which I mentioned referencing him in this blogpost and it is quite possible that in so responding, he triggered the very event that will result in the future Gaimaniacal fiction phenomenon described here. Makes your head spin, doesn’t it?)
Future Bestseller: Neil Before Me (It’s really quite amazing. Did you write it? Can I have your autograph before Neil sees this on the front table at Borders?)
5. Historical fiction: 1970’s – This might seem like the easiest of the bunch, but there’s one little detail you should know: every chapter has to feature a detailed description of orange shag carpet. The noted book below did this with subtle grace, by the way. If you’re the author, I salute you. (And you owe me a box of Kleenex.)
Future Bestseller: Shag ‘n Me (This was huge in Britain – first day sales of 500K. But then they read the book and discovered it was about carpeting. That’s when it took off in America. Go figure.)
6. Adverbial mysteries – Save those adverbs. You’re gonna need ’em for this genre. Basically, it’s a mystery genre – but each page is packed with a plethora of adverbs. I guess people like adverbs in the future.
Future Bestseller: Beautifully, Seriously Killed Dead (I know. That’s a terrible title. Don’t shoot me, I’m just the messenger. And who can argue with 3 million units sold? Well, you could, stupidly.
7. Neurotica – I don’t have to describe this genre do I? Good. Because I’m not sure I could do it well enough to satisfy the critics who will spend upwards of three months obsessing over an accurate definition before ultimately decrying the genre as meaningless, purposeless soul-sucking crap.
Future Bestseller: Does Distress Make Me Look Fat? (I’m not going to tell you any more about this one.)
Well, there you have it. Enjoy writing your bestsellers. And let me know how I can help.
Until next time…
Comments
10 responses to “Fiction Trends of the Future!”
I kind of like the plant fiction idea. I actually wrote a story about a tree when I was 10. Maybe I can flesh that out into a novel. I’ve never eaten a rutabaga, so I don’t know if I could write about one. I guess I should try one and see.
Please heed Nicole’s advice, re: rutabaga. Unless… you are the future author of Rutabaga’s Lament, in which case you should probably try one. Honestly? I think the “lament” part will flow naturally out of your experience.
Ok. You’re hilarious. I personally think that science friction fiction would suit me just fine.
Reading a novel in the SFF genre is sort of like being shocked out of a peaceful reverie by static electricity.
Jana, take my word for it: you don’t want to eat a rutabega. Really.
Um, Stephen, I think you must have returned to the here and now when you glimpsed the “Neurotica” genre. It’s alive and well even in the CBA. Uh-huh, it is. In fiction and in non-fiction . . .
You’re right about the current state of the neurotica genre. However, in three years it will have it’s own section in Barnes & Noble. Right between the Romance and Self-Help sections.
Wow… if I wrote fiction I’d be in luck with this list.
“I’m talking Dan J.K. Meyer Brown Stephenie Rawlings huge.”
That hilarious statement reminds me of something an editor (and for the life of me I can’t remember which one) said at my last writers conference: “I’m not looking for much, but if you have something along the lines of The Purpose Driven Shack, let’s talk.”
I tried to write The Purpose Driven Shack, but my book came out more like The Prayer Jabez Left Behind. And it turns out, that particular prayer of his wasn’t so best-sellerish.
Oh my gosh. I was just noodling around on a proposal about a deadly rutabega that rubs against a parsnip in a futuristic garden (set–where else?–in Hamish, Scotland!)
I’m already remembering you when I get famous.
Well, good luck with that proposal. I see how it lines up with your other two published works. First there was a story about a demon who was a little bit peeved about the creation of humankind on a planet we tend to call Earth. Then there was that novel about Eve and some dude being tossed out of The Garden that was the centerpiece of Earth. It makes perfect sense that you’d take your reader right into the earth itself for the third part of the trilogy. But Hamish, Scotland? You made that up just to get a laugh, didn’t you.
Nicely played.