Trends In Literature

Posted on October 28, 2011 in Uncategorized

London SYP Speaker Event
26th October
The Larrick Inn Pub, Marylebone.

Last Tuesday, in the suitably literary Larrick Inn Pub, lined with dated volumes and wood panels, the SYP had a ‘Trends in Literature’ talk. This was so popular that we not only filled the room but members sat on the floor, spilled out the door and clamoured for complimentary glasses of wine. The panel represented each section and stage of the publishing industry, from author to bookshop.

Carrie Duffy – HarperCollins author

The debate started with Carrie Duffy, a HarperCollins author specialising in commercial women’s literature. Carrie noted how her work is very much her own, with success being attributed to market interest rather than intentional design. Her ‘chick-lit’ is a different breed of bird from the 90’s Bridget Jones novels, described as ‘blockbuster’ and ‘eighties’ in nature. Ten years in the wilderness and a chance pick up from the slush pile may be the price Carrie has paid for this, but her novel ‘Idol’ has been a great success. If her style will fall out of favour, remain popular or change with the times has to yet to be seen.

Carries’ Blog is here: www.carrieduffy.com, and she will have her own account of the talk on her Blog coming shortly.
@cazduffy

Sam Copeland – Literary agent with Rogers, Coleridge & White

Next on the scale was Sam Copeland, literary agent with Rogers, Coleridge & White. Sam represents a varied list of authors from John Harding, author of ‘Florence and Giles’ (Blue Door, HarperCollins), Nick Hayes, author of graphic novel ‘Rime of the Modern Mariner’ (Jonathan Cape) to radio star Simon Mayo. Sam made his position crystal clear: for an agent, the quality of the book comes first and the market will follow quality. It is his duty to set the trend, rather than follow it, and he will only ever put his word behind the work he believes in. It’s hard to argue against him with his great results!

Have a look at RCW’s agents, including Sam, here: http://www.rcwlitagency.com/agents.aspx
@stubbleagent

Jo Rodgers – Literary agent with Curtis Brown

Agent Jo Rodgers worked as Commissioning Editor at Random House, New York, and is currently with the noted agency Curtis Brown, so has experience with both literary agencies and publishers. Jo talked about the effect of trends and how writers can get trapped in a genre, with one implication of this being a rise in pseudonyms. Under a different name an author can push alternative work, yet this name change results in the loss of recognition. The author name as a brand is something which modern readers affiliate with. It brings sales and is a major consideration for the modern publisher.

Read more about Jo here: www.curtisbrown.co.uk/jo-rodgers/
 
Kate Bradley – Commissioning Editor, HarperFiction

Kate Bradley, Commissioning Editor for HarperFiction, is Carrie’s editor and a seasoned veteran of Women’s Literature. She has Fern Britton’s works and a four-book contract with Trisha Ashley among numerous others under her belt. Kate made an excellent addition to the panel. Bringing a sense of balance from supporting rising trends through to current ones, Kate pointed out that giving readers what they want as well as coaxing them to try something new is an essential part of publishing. This was combined with a warm affection for Carrie, appreciation for her own list and a real personality behind her considerable publishing prowess.

Read an account of Kate Bradley’s six-figure deal with Sam Copeland here;
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/harpercollins-catches-kindle-bestsellers.html

Kirsty Schaper – Commissioning Editor, Bloomsbury

Bringing a specialist slant to the table, Kirsty Schaper noted the importance of careful market research and building the Editor’s list. Kirsty held a number of editing roles with Continuum Publishing, which included looking after international authors and developing academic titles, before moving to Bloomsbury in the Adult Trade Specialist Division. Whilst Kate is editing for a wide but clearly defined audience who may be more inclined to trends, Kirsty needs to keep her list agile and varied, especially as she has responsibilities for numerous imprints, such as sports and nautical. A clear difference could be seen between the two commissioning editors in terms of their roles and specialisations, despite their shared title and responsibilities.   

See some of Kirsty’s work here: http://www.acblack.com/nautical and
http://bloomsburysport.com/

Emma McArthur – Bookbuyer & Bookseller, Waterstone’s Covent Garden

Emma McArthur completed the panel. As a Bookbuyer and Bookseller for Waterstone’s Covent Garden, she is on the front-lines of the London book industry, facing the dreaded reader face to face. Emma regards trends as very important to the modern reader, not just as a pointer to help them find what they are used to, but as a starting point from where they may branch out. The growing diversity and individuality of one Waterstone’s to another is key for this. Emma admitted a great satisfaction from not only seeing a trend doing well, but a new one taking off, be it a smaller publisher, alternative genre or new author breaking through. A powerful point was made about the importance of browsing in bookshops, something that is currently more limited online in aiding new trends.

Get all the latest from Waterstones from their Twitter feed: @Waterstones
@Emma_

Private-School Wizards, Vampires, Bridget Jones…?

Although the panel debated many ideas, two key matters were generally agreed on. First, that no-one can truly predict trends. Number-crunching can tell you what has been and is popular, but who could have called private-school wizards, vampires or Bridget Jones five years before their time? – Only a successful, perhaps lucky, publisher. This is one of the most exciting aspects of our industry. We gamble with culture, so we must have our ears glued to the ground at all times.

The second main point agreed on is that publishers and agents must affirm their position as ‘value adders’ rather than just ‘middlemen’. On one hand, new trends can be exciting and innovative, but without guidance can lose their way, while on the other, we must be careful to support or withdraw from an existing trend when the time is right. Self-publishing offers a real temptation to both those writers on top of current trends, and for those starting anew. If we continue to add value and, as Kate Bradley said, put our work in what we truly believe in, we are certain to remain ahead of, and on top of, literary trends long into the future.

Samuel Partridge is a MA Publishing Student at UCL.
@SamuelPartridge – Feel free to comment, follow or send hate mail, each very welcome.

Pictures to follow soon on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/thesyp