The secret DNA behind bestsellers

Is it possible to predict whether a book will sell well? Former publisher Jodie Archer and Matthew L Jockers, of Stanford University’s Literary Lab, built an algorithm to find outYour program can identify, from scanning 20,000 books, ones which made the New York Times bestseller lists with 80% accuracy, and one of your key discoveries was that the topics covered in a novel – marriage, work, technology – are more important than its genre in terms of predicting its success. Why?JA: If you look at a bestseller list, you might think it was very diverse in genre – a Stephen King alongside a Jojo Moyes. But certain topics were strong indicators of a bestseller, regardless of genre. “Human closeness” came out on top. This doesn’t mean romance – it could be talking with someone you are intimate with or shopping with a parent. It may be to do with pacing – when Dan Brown knows he has to slow his pace down a little bit and let the characters reflect before a big chase scene in the Vatican, his characters talk it out. John Grisham does it perfectly because in all the legal machinations and suspense and back stabbing, there are always scenes where a lawyer gets a bottle of red wine and a Chinese takeaway and sits on the couch with his female counterpart and they chew the cud for a bit. It is almost the opposite of a formulaic how-to; make a boy meet a girl, make them fall out. Related: Bestselling books 2015: Fifty Shades still on top Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #john grisham #chinese takeaway #fifty shades

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The secret DNA behind bestsellers'


The secret DNA behind bestsellers

Is it possible to predict whether a book will sell well? Former publisher Jodie Archer and Matthew L Jockers, of Stanford University’s Literary Lab, built an algorithm to find outYour program can identify, from scanning 20,000 books, ones which made the New York Times bestseller lists with 80%... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john grisham #chinese takeaway #fifty shades


I didn’t get the credit for my bestselling book: the secret life of the celebrity ghost writer

There’s nothing quite like finding six new releases on display in a bookstore – all of which you’ve written, and none of which has your name on itA few years back, a long-held dream of mine came true: a book I wrote became a runaway hit.You’ve probably read the book. You’ve definitely seen the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2024-03-11 14:00:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling book #ve written #years back #secret life #runaway hit #bookstore


July Religion Bestsellers: Inspiring Advice and Stories with Secrets

Encouragement in turbulent times leads the nonfiction list, while fiction readers escape to romance -- and mystery. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nonfiction list


Digital Bestseller Lists: Secret Family is a winning formula

Ali Mercer’s His Secret Family climbed two places to swipe the Bookstat E-Book number one for the first time, for the week ending 22nd February. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-02-27 20:21:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #winning formula #ali mercer #e-book


NYRF 2019: Secrets of Bestselling Translations

Three agents and an editor shared the strategies for creating global bestsellers at the New York Rights Fair on Wednesday, explaining how they nurtured international blockbusters with partial translations, synopses, and word-of-mouth. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Behind the Dutch Bestseller, 'The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen'

This week we look at the Dutch hit, 'The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen,' which has been making headlines—thanks in part to the mysteries surrounding its author—since it was released last summer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dutch bestseller #secret diary #hendrik groen


Just how odd is this month’s bestseller list? A look at pre-election bestsellers from years past.

We’re a little more than a month out from Election Day and the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list is looking predictably odd. In a year when books about anti-racism have reached unprecedented sales, so too has the tide of journalistic blockbusters and books by conservative mainstays been... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-09-25 13:58:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #years past #election day #top ten #bestseller list


In “All My Mother’s Lovers,” a Mother’s Secret Letters Reveal Her Secret Life

Not to sound like an assistant district attorney from SVU, but it is beyond a shadow of a doubt that acclaimed essayist and book critic Ilana Masad has carved a prominent space for herself in the realm of mother-daughter literature with her debut novel, All My Mother’s Lovers. It sits upon a... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2020-06-22 11:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: Grisham, Yiannopoulos Bookend the Bestsellers

John Grisham's 'Camino Island' remains #1, but the real story is Milo Yiannopoulos, whose fans put their money where his mouth is and vaulted 'Dangerous' to #20 in its first week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #john grisham #camino island #remains #1 #real story #milo yiannopoulos


iBooks Bestsellers: 'Everything' Is a Bestseller

Nicola Yoon's 'Everything, Everything' took the top spot on the iBooks Bestseller list for the week ended February 19 as its film adaptation hit theaters, with Helen Hardt's 'Burn' at #2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #nicola yoon #helen hardt


iBooks Bestsellers: iBooks Bestsellers: James, Hawkins at the Top

E.L James’s 'Grey' and Paula Hawkins’s 'The Girl on the Train' took the #1 and #2 spots, respectively, on Apple’s iBooks bestseller list for the week ended July 13. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paula hawkins #ibooks bestsellers


When Is a Bestseller Not a Bestseller? When The NYT Says So

Ted Cruz's book has been left off the New York Times bestseller list after accusations it was bought in "bulk," sparking a debate about how the list is compiled. The post When Is a Bestseller Not a Bestseller? When The NYT Says So appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ted cruz


The week's bestselling books, April 21

The Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestsellers list for Sunday, April 21, 2024, including hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-04-17 13:00:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling books #including hardcover #paperback fiction #paperback #hardcover #independent bookstore


This Week’s Bestsellers: April 15, 2024

Abby Jimenez has the #2 book in the country with ‘Just for the Summer,’ the Good Morning American Book Club pick for April. Plus ‘A Gentleman in Moscow’ author Amor Towles returns with a fiction collection, ‘Table for Two,’ and Don Winslow concludes his Danny Ryan trilogy with ‘City in Ruins.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #abby jimenez ##2 book #book club


The week's bestselling books, April 14

The Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestsellers list for Sunday, April 14, 2024, including hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-04-10 13:00:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling books #including hardcover #paperback fiction #paperback #hardcover #independent bookstore


This Week’s Bestsellers: April 8, 2024

Easter titles, including three P.J. Funnybunny books by Marilyn Sadler, dominate this week’s children’s picture book list. Plus cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib returns with ‘There’s Always This Year,’ and a pair of books caution parents against screentime. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: April 1, 2024

Percival Everett’s ‘James,’ a retelling of ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ from Jim’s perspective, lands at #3 on our hardcover fiction list. Plus Dog Main graphic novelist Dav Pilkey pays it forward, and ‘Ghost Town Living’ author Brent Underwood stakes his claim. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #percival everett #tom sawyer #hardcover


The week's bestselling books, March 31

The Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestsellers list for Sunday, March 31, 2024, including hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-03-27 13:00:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling books #including hardcover #paperback fiction #paperback #hardcover #independent bookstore


This Week’s Bestsellers: March 25, 2024

Books by “Mythical Chef” Josh Scherer, Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders, and romantasy author Scarlett St. Clair are among the big debuts. Plus the anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga celebrates its 25th anniversary. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-03-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big debuts #eiichiro oda #25th anniversary #manga