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HOW TO WRITE A BEST-SELLER

By Arthur Zulu

If you want to write a best-seller, you may wish to write on any or all of genres discussed below. This is because they are topics that attract an all time sale. It is frustrating for an author to spend nights and days, writing and re – writing, only to release his work to an unreceptive public. Most writers cause it with their difficult writings, and on strange subjects. Consider an author spending his time writing THE DANCE OF A COCKROACH! Who cares? It is only a mental exercise to keep writer on duty. But if you are writing for money (the muses forgive you), you must target an audience -- a wide audience for your work.

Now, let’s consider best selling subjects to write about.

General interest topics make great sales. Yes, write a book on a subject that interests people. Even if others have written on such topics, it will continue to command general attention.

The film, LOVE AND SEX by Valerie Breiman got instant attention, and even hundreds were turned back when it premiered at Sundance Film Festival to a packed theater. Beware though of writing pornography. You will lose your audience, and your works will be stigmatized.

Apart from love and sex, people want to know how to make money, how to find a panacea for incurable diseases; and so on. Try writing a fiction, for example on how AIDS resistant mosquitoes were used to cure AIDS patients in some distant land. That will generate instant interest, and put scientists on their toes to find a cure for AIDS, using mosquitoes. Sounds funny? Not at all!

Success books cannot be bettered That’s true, for who is he that wants to fail? It is for this reason that how - to books are in great demand. And a writer, like Anthony Robbins with his book, AWAKEN THE GIANT WITHIN, has become an icon. People lack confidence in themselves, are frustrated, and need guidance to succeed.

If you, therefore, want to join Tony Robbins and others in his league, dream big dreams on how to help people succeed in life. Tell them they are greatest, tell them to brighten up for success is around corner, tell them that failure is a trickster, and tell them they have a mission to accomplish on earth, and that they must accomplish it only if they try. And then your reward for this education will be in big sales and plenty of cash!

Publishing Guidelines: Permission is granted to publish this article electronically or in print as long as bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

HOW TO STYLE YOUR STORY

By Arthur Zulu

This is not a language course, nor is it a handbook of English grammar. You do not need to be a grammarian in order to write a best – seller. In fact you may even decide to write your story in a language other than English, and worry about translation later.

But know this: What you are, is what you write! In other words, your character as a person will show in what you write. That means you are a unique person, and your style should also be unique. Do not, therefore, start by aping another writer’s style. It will show. You are sure to fail!

Now, let’s consider a few things about language and style of your work.

1.Sentence Structure This is important because your story will be written in sentences. Your sentences should support your theme. They should say what you mean.

It will also be nice to vary your sentence patterns. Mix short and long sentences, but not too long that your reader finds himself gasping for breath. Not too fancy expressions, or affected constructions.

There should be unity in your sentence structure and a smooth transition from one paragraph to other.

The active voice (It is interesting) is preferred to passive voice (It is being interesting).

2.Diction Your choice of words and phrases matters. Do not use high sounding, impressive words. You will be writing like Tom Wolfe, or Winston Churchill. Try Ernest Hemingway approach. Simple expressions that your reader will understand.

Shun abstract diction and formulaic terms like clichés and jargons. It makes your work vague and makes you guilty of padding.

Instead, use concrete language. Say, “the boy, who stole my pen,” not “the expropriator of my calligraphic material”. Or, does that make sense to you?