Culture | Pulp fiction

How to write a bestseller

No one knows. But a good guess is quickly. And don’t stint on the full stops

A typewriter printing dollar bills — Image: The Economist/Shutterstock

Aug 25th 2023

DANIELLE STEEL books deal with “Family. Courage. Loyalty”, as the cover of one explains. They are also about “Wealth. Fear. Revenge. Love”, as the cover of another has it. Ms Steel herself has said she writes “about stuff that happens to all of us”. Though arguably she focuses a little more on the sort of stuff that involves Wealth. Palazzos. Emotions in Capital Letters. A little less on the sort of stuff that involves Tax Returns. Cutting One’s Toenails. Buying Groceries.

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Pulp fiction”