S27E9 - What Are the Current Trends in Fiction, and Should I Follow Them?

Just as with fashion, the world of books and writing has trends. Certain styles and genres and topics and tropes will go in and out of popularity as time passes. Ley often refers to it as a circle, going from growing, to popular, to a downslide, and into satirical before it starts growing again a few years down the line. Trends are how we know what people like, what people want to read, and what might sell the best. Following trends, though, is tricky work.

Following a trend is as it sounds. You're behind the curve, following in the footsteps of others. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but doing so intentionally will always leave you in the dust. On the other side, it's good to know what's popular, what's trending, and to let it influence your writing. Listen to this episode for more about achieving this delicate balance between following a trend and being influenced by the trends in the writing world.

First aired December 30, 2021.