James Patterson—A Best-Selling Author from Whom You Can Learn by Jason Rutherford

This past January, the New York Times published an article about best-selling author, James Patterson that highlighted his phenomenal success as a writer—and some of the lessons he learned along the way. Not only has he published more New York Times best sellers than any author (51!), but also last year he sold 14 million books in 38 languages. "Since 2006, Mr. Patterson has written one out of every 17 hardcover novels...bought in the United States."  Here are a few Patterson points to ponder:

Personally Market Your Book

Many writers seem to have an aversion to personally marketing their own books. But if you ask around, you'll discover that most publishers insist that authors become personally involved in selling books. Patterson provides the perfect example of how personal involvement in marketing your own books can lead to remarkable success.

As a former ad executive, he's intimately involved with the design, publishing and advertising of his books. In his early years of writing, Patterson repeatedly challenged conventional industry practices in book marketing. If he had not gone to such extraordinary measures to advertise his early works, would he be just another writer today? Never be afraid to market yourself.

Persevere—Never Give Up

Your writing will evolve over time. Never stop looking for ways to improve. Patterson still groans about his 1977 book, Season of the Machete. "That's an absolutely horrifying book...” Patterson says. “I actually tell people not to read it."

Over a dozen publishers rejected Patterson's first manuscript. Once published, it won the prestigious Edgar Award. Everyone in the publishing industry knows that it is much more difficult to get published now than ever before. So, persevere through rejection. At one time or another, all authors get rejected.

Stephen King has called Patterson "a terrible writer." A Washington Post reviewer called one of his works "subliterate." To which Patterson responded, "Thousands of people don't like what I do. Fortunately, millions do."

Pal Around—Use a Team Approach

Although there may be a public perception that writers are recluses who periodically surface to submit their manuscripts, there are a variety of ways to write a book.  Patterson has truly refined the art and science of the team approach. He has gradually developed a writing method that doesn’t require him to write the entire book. The way it typically works, Patterson will write a detailed outline — sometimes as long as 50 pages, triple-spaced—and one of his co-authors will draft the chapters for him to read, revise, and rewrite if necessary.

Whether you love or hate James Patterson’s books, his overwhelming success is difficult to ignore and so is his message—that it takes a lot of perseverance and defying convention to be a successful author in today’s competitive publishing environment.

Source:  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/magazine/24patterson-t.html?_r=1