The New Trend for 2012

Yes, I know it isn't New Years and it isn't time for those resolutions and things we do to think about the coming year, but I wanted to write about it. Besides, all of the big box stores have had Christmas Decorations up since July 4th so starting now isn't that strange.

I was thinking about what will be hot and not for 2012. No, this isn't what you will see on the shelves. Those books have been bought 3 years ago and are hovering over us like planes in a flight pattern. I am talking about the books that editors and agents will be wanting to see.

I know what you're all thinking. "But Scott, you tell us to never follow trends." You're darn right. Don't follow the trend! But, if you have a project like this, you might find yourself in the right position for it.

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE I have been saying this since Orlando RWA 2 years ago and the editors are still begging for these stories. I hear a lot of editors calling these "women's fiction" but when I really get them talking, we are looking at REAL stories about REAL people without baggage. Hmmm, sound familiar from what I have been talking about? In any case, I see a real shift in this area.

PARANORMAL Sorry to say this, but I do believe we will see a huge decline in the really weird here. Look, even the paranormals we've been seeing on TV aren't that over the top. These are real people with the tendency to, every now and then, bite someone for blood. The point is, I don't think they will be wanting weird. You have to find something new that will really suck you in (and not like a vampire). My bet? - Ghosts.

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - This one really has me stumped. I honestly wouldn't be shocked if this goes away. All of the stories I have seen (both published and new) focus more on the suspense and less on the romance.

HISTORICAL - I think they are ready to move out of the standard realms. I think Medieval and those ancient stories are going to go away. Regencies will continue but with the standard authors. I don't see the editors buying new authors in this time period. I do think we will see some things opening up in new countries and new time periods. My bet is WWI an WWII. Sorry, the publishers, IMHO are still afraid to do a Civil War story, (although personally, this is your new Regency Romance and if any publishers are reading this and want to trust me on this, email me. I have a couple of authors that are ready for this).

INSPIRATIONALS - Amish is out. I am sorry to say this, but editors treated Amish the same way they treated Chick Lit. We simply had too much of it. What I do see, however, are more real life inspirational stories with a serious reduction in Bible Quoting. These will be contemporary romances.

YA While I don't represent this, I am going to talk about it. YA isn't YA anymore and the backlash will happen soon from the school librarians. What these people have been claiming as YA's are nothing more than your standard adult romance with teens. The librarians cannot put these books in the school and will return to the older formats. Look for YA's dealing with traditional teen issues and especially multicultural. Think Glee here.

So. that's what you'll see editors buying.

Scott