Is There A Formula For Bestsellers?

Friday, May 25, 2012 Is There A Formula For Writing Bestsellers? Hi everyone! Madeleine here. We've showed you how popular books are published and marketed, but how are bestselling novels written? It may seem like an act of creative inspiration, but Creative Writing professor and novelist James W. Hall says there's a formula for blockbuster books such as "Gone With the Wind," "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "The Da Vinci Code." Here are some of the attributes he lists: 1. The hero is an expert. 2. The villain is an expert. 3. You must watch all of the villainy over the shoulder of the villain. 4. The hero has a team of experts in various fields behind him, etc. 5. Two or more on the team must fall in love. To find out more, read Peter Winkler's piece about the formula for bestselling novels. Have a great Memorial Day weekend, and happy reading! More on HuffPost Books: Obama's Pot-Smoking Detailed In New Book 'Hemingway & Gellhorn' Stars: Director Was 'Obsessed' With Sex Scenes What Would You Name Esquire's 'Fiction For Men'? PHOTOS: Why I Reenacted 2,000 Years Of History Ashley Benson Wants To Star In 'Fifty Shades Of Grey' Movie BLOG POSTS Joel Stein: What I Learned When My Son Was Born I didn't learn all that much on the day my son was born, other than that women should definitely get the epidural right away, out of politeness to others. But I also learned that I had no idea how we start out. Pam Grout: Rich Literary Heritage Draws Writers To Key West If you're a writer, Key West is on your bucket list, likely in the number one spot. Emma Gray: The Rules Authors Set to Release Not Your Mother's Rules for the Online Generation Women should "always end a phone call first," "let him take the lead," and never "tell him what to do." This is the sort of advice that the best-selling (straight) dating guide book "The Rules: Time-tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of Mr. Right" gives to single women looking to snag a man. Devon Corneal: Summer Reading 2012: Books for Kids of All Ages Here's to a summer without whining -- unless your kids are asking for another trip the library or bookstore to stock up. Illya Szilak: North Korea: The End Game of Post Modernism Little did I know that I was about to visit a country where the manufacture of national identity is not only overtly artificial, it has become a major industry. Going to North Korea is like seeing the mirror used in a magic trick.

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