Publishers love controversy. Otherwise, why would Andrew Bolt, conservative columnist, get column space? Certainly not on the quality of his arguments.
Same goes for book publishers. Mark Manson’s book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, is a bestseller because of its controversial title. It is a self-help book that challenges the notion of conventional self-help. Which is clever. Really clever, and I take my hat off to him.
But not a new idea.
Manson’s primary message is about acceptance and learning to live with our imperfections.
Last I looked, that is the entire message of Buddhist philosophy (though much misunderstood).
Manson makes the topic look fresh by giving the opposite advice to everyone else.
He chucks a rock as the pre-occupation most of us have (including me) on improving ourselves.
A breath of fresh air for perfectionists everywhere.
So, when it comes to winning the attention of traditional publishers (if that is your bent for some reason):
My Top Tip #3 GIVE the opposite advice to everyone else.
If everyone else is saying we need to improve corporate culture, write a book about how why corporate culture doesn’t matter or solve the issues we have.
If everyone is claiming happiness is important, show why it is not.
If you want to get a deal with a publisher, can you reframe your message, so you are chucking rocks at prevailing wisdom?
Stick to it.