On average, it takes 18 to 24 months from the day an author signs a publishing contract to the day their book hits shelves. It takes an average of 8 to 12 months for that author's agent to get them that offer. Another 6 to 12 month is the average time it takes to find an agent, and it takes the average writer anywhere from 6 to 14 months to complete an average sized novel. This means that--again, on average--at BEST you are looking at three years from idea to book on shelf. And even that is only if everything goes perfectly, which we all know it never does.
What does that mean for trends in writing? That's easy: forget them. You will never keep up, so don't bother trying. Write the book you want to write because it is what you love and are passionate about. That is the only way t write your best book. If your story just happens to be about something that is hot, then so be it, but don't write about something ONLY because it is popular, because I can promise you that what may be hot while you are writing will be ice cold by the time it really matters.
Three years ago you might have said...
- YA paranormal has moved from Vampires to Angels! How refreshing!
- Divergent? Is that a perfume?
- LOST is ending, we will finally get some GOD D@MNED ANSWERS!
- The new iPhone 4 is coming out!
- Should we go see Eclipse, or Harry Potter 7 Part 1?
- Did you catch the new Hanna Montana?
- Justin... what is it? Bieber? He sings, right?...
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