They come. They go. Should my skirt be this length or that length. My heels this high or that high. Should I read a paranormal or a historical? How much do you notice a new trend? What informs your world and influences your choices?
TV? Movies? Music? Fashion? Books?
For instance, if you are a fan of a TV show like ER does it influence you to try or watch other medical type dramas? If you liked J.R. Ward’s books about the Black Dagger Brotherhood does it necessarily follow that you would like another paranormal book series about vampires? Apparently advertisers, marketers and publishers think so. Take a look at our TV, movie and music choices. Copy, copy, copy. Does it ever get on your nerves?
I’m not just talking about consumerism though. Have you ever noticed how a trend can change the way people think about things? How many gay characters were there on TV before Ellen DeGeneres made her big announcement on her now defunct sitcom? Sure in years past it was suggested that characters might be gay in an over the top, stereotypical and obnoxious way, but it was only a suggestion. No overt commentary was ever made. Since Ellen’s big moment it’s not only become acceptable for celebrities to announce their sexual preference without fear of reprisals, but whole movies have been devoted to gender changing and being gay. That’s when a trend can be a good thing I think.
At the end of the day I can admit that I’m influenced to buy, use or watch what is most readily available in the stores, on TV or the radio. At the same time it’s not that I don’t see what’s happening. Sometimes I think our buying choices are limited by what marketers tell us we should want. Now that does bug me. I sure wouldn’t mind seeing more romantic comedies in the movie theater and more westerns in the Romance section of my local book store. Thankfully there is always a lot to choose from in a book store or library. That isn’t necessarily the case where music, movies and TV are concerned. I would agree that there’s lots to choose from in volume, but, in my opinion, not so much to choose from in variety.
So tell me do you embrace trends or buck them? What’s a book genre that you love that may not be so popular that might make you a trend buster? Conversely, what’s a book genre that you love that you are helping to make (keep) a popular trend?
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I tend to buck trends quite a bit when it comes to my reading. I’ve never quite understood the fascination with the Regency era, I love westerns, I never jumped on to the urban fantasy bandwagon, and I was officially “over” paranormals about two years ago (although I still read the occasional one).
What I want out of publishers, and the market in general, is variety. I’m a little bit of everything kind of girl. I like choices. As much as I love westerns, I probably wouldn’t be happy if the book shelves were populated with ONLY westerns. Girl can not live on a steady diet of anything alone - even chocolate.
That said, this variety I crave will probably totally never happen because publishers are in the business to make money. That’s what they do. And they figure if they “follow the trends” they’re going to make MORE money. And you know what - they probably do. Because honestly, we all have a bit of the sheep mentality in us whether we admit to it or not!
by Wendy
on April 17th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
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You can blame me for the paranormal glut but publishers seem to forget that avid readers (or those who think they are - slumpville is evil) can see a trend a coming and can see the shlock coming down the pipe. That said, in the 90s finding a paranormal was like digging for gold and I was thrilled when they started to take off. Now, I’m not thrilled as much as I’m expectant. I expect quality.
What I feel I’m missing now is a good old fashioned contemporary. No romantic suspense, or mystery or anything. Maybe two people just finding their way to each other.
CindyS
by CIndyS
on April 17th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
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Wendy, but what drives the trends, sure once there is a lot of product it’s going to make more money because there’s more of that product. But does that start with one fabulous book in that genre and THEN the other copy cat books follow? What do you see in book buying as a librarian? What drives the trend. Publishers or consumers?
Cindy, what!!! You are responsible for the paranormal glut? Does anybody else know this? From now on when some says that paranormals aren’t there thing I’ll give them your blog address. What do you think? 
by Rosie
on April 17th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
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I certainly embrace the m/m trend. It’s fun and fresh and what I love is that every author is new to me. It’s like rediscovering romance.
I never got into the chick lit thing (although I have enjoyed some Sophie Kinsella, particularly Undomestic Goddess) and I’m so sick of regency I can’t read it at all. Well, not until Lisa Kleypas has something new. So I guess I both embrace and buck.
PS. I’m BACK. Heh.
by lisabea
on April 18th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
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I suspect it’s a bit of both Rosie - although I’m partial to the “One Huge Book” theory. One book featuring Plot A with Character Type(s) B, C and D hits the big time. It spends weeks, months, eons on the bestseller lists. It goes viral. Film rights are optioned. Then, other publishers start thinking to themselves, “Hey, I wonder if I have a book like that sitting in my slush pile?” We saw it after Bridget Jones. We saw it after The Da Vinci Code. And after Desperate Housewives became a huge TV hit I found myself buying a lot of DH-like adult fiction. I’m not sure how it happens - just does.
As for paranormals - I think that was a more gradual build. I think Ellora’s Cave played a part in it with their paranormal/erotica hybrids, and I think most of the “blame” can be tossed on Sherrilyn Kenyon and J.R. Ward. When it comes to romance - I think series have a lot to do with it. Once an author hits upon an idea for a series and it becomes insanely successful, the trend is well underway.
by Wendy
on April 21st, 2008 at 1:38 pm
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lisabea, well your interest, dare I say obsession(?) made me try a couple of books I might otherwise not have. That is one of the great things about the online community. You can get recommendations and go try them in relative anonymity and, unless you want to share, no one’s the wiser whether you liked the book or not. However, our buying dollars are still recorded by publishers and there the trend is born.
Wendy, you know that’s one point I forgot to make about the copy cat books. The copy cats only follow the huge, HUGE success. Other books ride on their coattails. You know there have been a couple of times where I’ve read a copy cat book that was actually better than the one HUGE book that started the trend. Using the lame, but nonetheless true defense of sickness fogging my brain, I can’t think of one right now.
