My stack of books to be read (often referred to as TBR pile) grows and grows. I will be honest. Some of the books in there? I should have read by now. In fact, some have been in my TBR pile for over a year. They’ll rise to the top, and I’ll pick them up, look at the cover, thumb through the pages, then slip it further down in the stack again.
Every time I do it, a little voice in the back of my head whispers: Will this happen to your book, Katie?
Yikes!
Slush piles are everywhere. They don’t just belong to agents and editors. Readers have them too. So how do we stay out of them?
The truth? I’m not sure. I’m guessing there are a whole bunch of factors that play into a book’s time in a slush pile. I’m also guessing some of those factors aren’t in our control. But since that’s not a very helpful response, I came up with four factors that, for me, make a book rise quicker to the top (or bypass the pile altogether):
- Title
- Cover
- Back cover blurb
- First page
The importance of a standout cover: I got a book in the mail the other day. A free one. I’m sad to say I judged it by the cover and tossed it aside. Wow. That’s harsh, huh? But it’s reality, and most likely, our readers will respond the same way. We peruse a bookstore and look for those killer covers. I think that’s why I’m so eager to see the cover of my book–I know what a big role it will play in getting people to pick it up.
The importance of a standout title: Several weeks ago, Janet Grant with Books and Such Literary wrote a wonderful post about the importance of titles. Agents, editors, and readers see a ton of them each year, so it’s ultra imperative that we create, in Janet’s words, “something so stellar we blink our sleepy eyes, perk up and say, ‘Whoa…what did you just say?'” When a title does that for me, I turn the book over and read the back.
The importance of a standout blurb: This is the agent, editor, or reader’s first taste of the story, so we want to make it shine. We can’t disappoint, especially if the cover and title deliver. We want our blurb to introduce intriguing characters, major conflict, and the promise for something special between the front and back cover.
The importance of a standout first page: The title can be intriguing. The cover breathtaking. And the back cover blurb promising. But if the book doesn’t pass the final test, back to the bottom of my TBR pile it goes. And for me, the final test is the first page. I almost always read the first page of a book before committing to the whole thing, and if it doesn’t grab my attention immediately with a question I need to answer, then I just won’t make the time to read it.
So there you go.
Cover. Title. Back cover. First page.
Those are my four criteria for plucking a book off my stack and keeping it in my hands.
I know most of us don’t design our covers. We don’t write our blurbs. And many times, we don’t choose our titles. But still, as writers looking for readers (or agents, or editors), we should do everything we can to make sure these four stand out. And once we’ve done that, we need to make sure the story underneath them satisfies. Because satisfying our readers is the best way to not only get readers, but to keep them.
Let’s Talk: How big’s your TBR pile? What makes you shuffle some books to the bottom over and over again? How important is the title, cover, back cover blurb, and first page to you as a reader? Is there anything you think is more important than those four?
This is phenomenal advice! Thank you so much for it. I hadn't thought about slushpiles as something every reader has, but its so true. And you have some great ideas. Thanks again!
SarahAllen
(my creative writing blog)
My TBR pile is huge as well. And I've never been one to finish every book I start. If it doesn't grab me by the first chapter, I'm on to something else.
I love this list, Katie. I've really focused on the importance of how my story starts with my latest manuscript. Not that I didn't with my past works, but I've paid extra attention to page-turning elements with every page of my first chapter this time.
This is so true, isn't it? I used to read books as soon as they came in, but now as a writer I just know so many authors and I can't keep up. Cover and back blurb are both paramount when choosing something from the pile. Too, it depends what project I'm working on–I either like to pick something with a similar age character or genre, or I need a break and want something completely different.
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
I like your 4 points. For me it has a lot to do with my mood. If I had a conversation that day or heard something that rejuvenated my desire to read a particular genre or subject matter. But like you said about the first page being important, if I am not hooked quickly I tend to give up. I don't have as much time to read as I would like so I have to see the value (entertainment or learning) quickly and become invested to spend the time on it.
Hi Katie –
I'm always picking up books. Like you, some of them have been on my TBR pile for a long time. The biggest reason is I've found Book 2on sale, but don't want to read it until I buy Book 1.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
Depending on your editors, you may have more input than you think.
Though I didn't pick my titles, I did suggest them. My editors chose my titles out of six sets of titles that I proposed for the trilogy. Naturally, I was happy with the ones they selected. 🙂
When it came time to write the blurb, they sent me back cover copy and then I sent them back the changes that I felt would improve the copy, along with my explanation of why. They liked every change! So with a good team relationship, you will have input. It's all about working hard to provide your publisher with the best suggestions you can produce.
I love this post, Katie. It's so true…I never thought about it before, but even we readers have slush piles sitting right on our nightstands.
It's the first page that does it for me. I stand in Barnes & Noble and read the first page — even the first paragraph (yikes, I'm rough!), and if the prose doesn't grab me, I'm done. Life is too short to labor through a so-so book.
Out of everything, I labored the very most over the title of my book. I know it will probably change if it ever gets published, but man, I really sweated out that title!
So funny Katie! I am putting up a post tomorrow about my TBR pile.
Things that matter to me are a great cover, an intriguing back cover blurb, if I know the author, and what is being said about the book through Twitter and blogs. If I value a person's (whether as an author, a Twitter friend, or a blog I follow) raves about a book, it goes to the top of my list.
I move debut books to the top of my pile, also, so that I can talk about them on my blog. If I enjoy it, I want to start the good news about the book for them; add to the snowball effect, I guess.
I think as a debut novelist, getting people to start talking about your book now is very important. Giving them a taste of what is to come and build up the anticipation is great momentum for you. Finding the book bloggers that read your genre/style of book and guest post, do interviews, and get them a galley, I think, will be sure fire ways to get that ball rolling.
I look forward to seeing your cover, too!
I agree that all four of these are determining factors for potential readers. Good post!
I have a TBR pile and a TBR list, and I keep adding to both. When it comes to what I want to read next, having a connection with the author will always make a book take priority over whatever else is on top of the pile. So I'd have to say I'm influenced first by the author, then by cover, title, blurb and first paragraph, usually in that order.
MY TBR is a little insane now, I confess.
That's funny because I DO shuffle books around in order. But I shuffle them based on my mood and what I feel like reading at the time. But there is one book on my TBR pile that I keep shuffling down and I really think it's because the cover is doing nothing for me.
Word of mouth is what it's all about for me. But assuming someone gives me a pile of books to read, and I've never heard of any of them, I'd say my four points are…
1. Cover
2. Title
3. A random passage from anywhere in the book (I'll literally pick a page in the middle somewhere and start reading. That usually gives me a decent idea of the writing style. For some reason, I don't read the first page first.)
4. Table of contents (I learned to look at this in college so I wouldn't actually have to read textbooks much. Now I do it with just about everything to get a feel for the content and, again, how creative the author is. I think a lot of authors overlook how important their chapter headings and subheadings are for people scanning their books to make that decision to buy.)
-Marshall Jones Jr.
Hi Katie! This post is a real Bonder. Isn't it great to be in love – with books?! When I get that library book-bag crammed and tote it to the car, I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve. I can't wait to see what's inside! Before I pick up the books I've got on hold, I usually take time to peruse the shelves, so it's title and jacket that grab me first. When I'm in a book store I will definitely read the first page to see "how" the writer writes and if I think I might like to spend some time with the main character. I want to hear from him or her immediately. Your list of four is a good reminder that we must wrap our package (book) well and make sure the invitation (first page) makes it sound like a great way to spend an evening or an afternoon! Thanks!
The only thing the author really has control over in that list is the first page. Isn't it ironic? I buy half my books (and pick up books from the library) based on the cover. Now that's power.
I don't have a TBR pile. Mine's more of a mountain, one nearing avalanche stage. I love to read, and there are so many wonderful authors out there writing stories I'm eager to savor.
While all the factors you listed play into my decision as to what books I'll read, lately I find myself making my decisions based on who wrote the book. I've come to trust some authors to deliver a dynamite story, and I gravitate to their books.
And then there are books written by dear friends, which I'm eager to get my hands on. Yours are among them. =)
I have three books staring at me right now, wanting me to get to them but life is taking over. Soon, I tell them. Soon I'll be back:))
Great post, Katie. I don't have a TBR pile so much as a shelf…or two. I am so blessed to receive a lot of free books but I can't read them as quickly as I get them, so many of them go on the shelf.
I gravitate toward the ones in the genre I enjoy most first. This is why I think it's so important to know our readers and know what draws them right now. If we can appeal to them in the same ways, then they'll be more likely to pick up our work. And this goes for agents and editors, too. Know the genre and do what we can to entice with exactly what they're looking for.
This is such a great post! I never thought about my TBR pile (and, yes, it is a *pile*) as slush. But it really is. It's so easy as an unpublished writer to focus on how to hook an agent, but in the end, it's the reader's slush pile that matters. 🙂
Heh, mine is huge as well. My TBR pile is virtual though; I put everything that looks remotely interesting on my "To Read" list on Goodreads. Then when I'm done reading the current 2 or 3 books I'm on (I'm one of those readers who reads more than one book at a time depending on mood) I'll look at my list. Often once I get them from the library, I'll start reading it; I give it two chapters for it to catch my interest. Sometimes less.
My tbr pile is more of a tbr scatter. They start in a neat stack under my night stand, but end up scattered on the floor around my bed. (my prime reading location)
Usually a book with a lame cover or back copy never makes it into my scatter unless it came highly recommended. And even then, if I don't read the book, I end up feeling guilty. After all, so-and-so thought it was super. I must be missing something.
With some books, I get past the first page, but the rest of the chapter doesn't do it for me. I'll put it down until later. But it's strange. If it has the BIG FOUR, I usually hang on to it a while, thinking surely I'll want to read it later.
Mine is big too. Unfortunately I am really bad at time management. Titles and cover art are important, if I like the blurb, I'll probably pick it up, but to be honest, word of mouth is key for me. If a book has a lot of buzz, I'm more inclined to read it. Sometimes this backfires and I think "What the heck?", but most of the time, the book is enjoyable and I'm glad I bought it. As I am learning through the launch of my first novel (Shameless Plug) Yesterday's Tomorrow, available NOW – it really IS all about the buzz. Oh, and it really helps if the story is as good as people anticipate. So get reading and let me know I didn't disappoint ya!
I'm thinking my TBR pile is finally getting heavy enough that my bedside table is in danger of crashing through the floor to the basement.
Actually, my "I've read this, it needs to be shelved or find a new home" pile is pretty big too.
I used to doggedly work my way through every book, figuring I'd started it, I might as well finish it, but now I've realized my life it too crammed with books to do that. If a book doesn't grab me in the first three chapters, I move on.
My TBR pile is insane. It's the library! 😀
I couldn't agree more with first page. I've gotten more picky with which books I'll keep reading based on this one alone.
Word of mouth recs. shuffle to the top, too.
~ Wendy
My TBR pile isn't so big. But this year I haven't read anything… I know. Shocking right? I just can't seem to get into any book at the moment. I am sure it is more to do with me than the authors. I am wanting to read Freedom by Jonathan Franzen. That is sitting on my bookshelf looking at me right now :))
Mine is huge! In fact, I just bought a small bookcase to store my tbr pile in. LOL
You're absolutely right about those things. Many of the books I have I won and they're not necessarily what I'd choose on my own, so they sit and wait until I'm ready to thumb through them.
I agree – all those things are super important! Usually b/c a cover reflects the tone and mood of the story and I know what I like. And I'll read the first few pages to decide what book I'm going to read from the pile.
Since adjusting to the Kindle, my TBR pile is HUGE! sad really.
But all that aside, another thing that shuffles them for me is the mood I'm in. Sometimes I don't feel like a happy go lightly book. Sometimes I want dark and melancholy. Or action packed. Or contemplative. You know? Lately, I've been looking for one that's light, chick-litty without actually being chick lit, fun w/o unabashed humor and a serious plot that isn't earth shattering.
I'm so picky. But I'll read ANYTHING.
Great post. I want to stay out of hte slush pile too!