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'


No, Bill O'Reilly, 'Killing Patton' Was Not the Bestselling Book of 2014

A response to inaccurate statements made by O'Reilly about 'Publishers Weekly' and his book sales history. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #killing patton #bestselling book


iBooks Bestsellers: ‘Grey’ Stays Put at #1

For the second week in a row, E.L. James’s 'Grey,' the next installment in the Fifty Shades of Grey series, topped Apple’s iBooks bestseller list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #grey series #ibooks bestsellers #stays put #fifty shades #topped apple


This Week's Bestsellers: June 22, 2015

Jimmy Fallon appears on this week's PW Bestseller lists. Plus big weeks for 'The Martian' and books that Tony-winning plays. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big weeks


iBooks Bestsellers: ‘Grey’ Stays on Top

Though not yet on sale, 'Grey,' the next installment in E.L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey series, took the #1 spot on Apple’s iBooks bestseller list for the second week in a row. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #grey series #ibooks bestsellers #fifty shades ##1 spot


Turning a Long Lost Cookbook Into a Bestseller

How Schocken brought 'The Vilna Vegetarian Cookbook' back to life, and made it a bestseller. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Apple iBooks Category Bestsellers, June 7, 2015

The bestselling iBooks in mystery, romance, sci-fi, biography, fiction, and more for the week ended May 31, 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling ibooks #week ended


iBooks Bestsellers: ‘Grey’ Ousts 'Girl on the Train'

A week ahead of its June 18 publication date, 'Grey,' E.L. James’s next installment in her Fifty Shades of Grey series, took the #1 spot on Apple’s bestseller list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #grey series #ibooks bestsellers #week ahead #fifty shades ##1 spot #bestseller list


Apple iBooks Category Bestsellers, May 31, 2015

The bestselling iBooks in mystery, romance, sci-fi, biography, fiction, and more for the week ended May 31, 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling ibooks #week ended


Grey pre-orders top bestseller lists

Pre-orders of E L James’ new Fifty Shades of Grey novel, Grey (Arrow), have leapt to the top of retailers' bestseller charts in both physical and digital formats. The novel, which will be released on 18th June, will tell the story of Fifty Shades of Grey from the point of view of Christian... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #grey arrow #christian grey #james announced #fifty shades #bestseller charts #digital formats #18th june #1st june


BookCon 2015: Four Bestselling Cartoonists Meet Their Fans

Held on Saturday morning at BookCon, the Comics Are Awesome panel, offered inside information from four bestselling cartoonist/writers: Ben Hatke, Raina Telgemeier, Jennifer Holm and Jeff Smith. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raina telgemeier #jennifer holm #jeff smith


iBooks Bestsellers: ‘Radiant Angel’ Lands at #3

Nelson DeMille’s 19th novel, and the seventh in his John Corey series, debuted at #3 on Apple’s iBooks bestseller list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #nelson demille


BookCon 2015: Bestselling Authors Feel the Power of Grassroots

Three bestselling authors discussed how book clubs have helped propel their careers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book clubs #helped propel


BookCon 2015: Put ’Em Up! Powerhouse Mystery Writers Reveal Secrets on the ‘Pencil Panel’

Don’t tell anyone,” confides bestselling author Brad Meltzer about today’s panel “Inside the Mystery Writer’s Studio,” in which he is participating with fellow superstars James Patterson and Nelson DeMille. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mystery writer #nelson demille


‘Fault in Our Stars’ Was the Bestselling E-book of 2014

John Green’s "The Fault in Our Stars" was the top-selling ebook in 2014, according to data just released by PubTrack Digital, a unit of Nielsen BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john green #top-selling ebook #pubtrack digital #nielsen bookscan


Nicholls claims bestseller charts top spot

Narrowly denied the top spot in the previous week’s charts, David Nicholls has bounced back to claim pole position in UK Official Top 50 with his seventh overall number one. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #previous week #david nicholls #bounced back


iBooks Bestsellers: ‘Girl on the Train’ Can't Be Beat

Paula Hawkins’s thriller was, once again, the top selling book in Apple’s iBooks store. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #paula hawkins #ibooks store


Apple iBooks Category Bestsellers, May 17, 2015

The bestselling iBooks in mystery, romance, sci-fi, biography, fiction, and more for the week ended May 17, 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling ibooks #week ended


iBooks Bestsellers: Hawkins, Knoll Top the List

'The Girl on the Train' by Paula Hawkins was, once again, the #1 title on Apple’s bestseller list. 'Luckiest Girl Alive' by Jessica Knoll, released May 12, debuted on the chart at #2, for the week ended May 18. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paula hawkins #bestseller list #ibooks bestsellers ##1 title #jessica knoll #week ended


Randall Munroe's upcoming book 'Thing Explainer' is already a bestseller

'Explainer,' the upcoming book by 'What If?' writer Munroe, is already near the top of bestseller lists despite not being published until November. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestseller lists #randall munroe #upcoming book


iBooks Bestsellers: ’14th Deadly Sin’ at #2

James Patterson and Maxine Paetro’s '14th Deadly Sin,' released May 4, made its first appearance on Apple’s iBooks bestseller list at #2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #james patterson #maxine paetro