Trend Chaser
A trend chaser, much like an ambulance chaser, is someone who sees a wave and desperately tries to ride its crest but never quite reaches the top. While some success might be had, it will never be quite like the success of those who are at the forefront of the trend. In the end a Trend Chaser might turn into and Unwriter, someone who lacks identity.
Hello, Timmy. Today, I’m discussing a topic with you that’s somewhat similar to what I’ve discussed with Neophyte earlier. You two should definitely share notes. We’re talking about the “Trend Chaser.”
Why are you laughing? Does it sound like the title of a trashy comic to you? Yes, it does have that ring to it. But in the world of media and writing, it represents a somewhat sad and somewhat sinister creature.
You’re likely familiar with ambulance chasers, right? Those individuals who are akin to human vultures, trying to profit from others’ misfortunes? Lawyers are infamous for that reason, among others. In writing, a trend chaser is somewhat similar to these creatures, though not for the reasons you might expect.
Sometimes, it’s just ambition. Writers trying to seize what appears to be an opportunity. Perhaps a writer has a hit novel, and suddenly there are movies, TV appearances, a growing fan base – it’s almost like diving into a whirlwind of excitement. Soon after, a host of similar works flood the market, and following in their wake come the trend chasers. Most of them, sadly, never manage to capitalize on the trend. By the time they confirm it’s a trend, it’s already too late to make an impact. This isn’t negative in and of itself, and I don’t fault them for trying.
What’s that, Timmy? You’re surprised? Were you expecting me to be angry? I apologize if I gave you the wrong impression. I don’t scorn those who seek financial success. After all, I’m a fan of not starving. However, what I fault them for is their incompetence in catching the trend. If you want to chase a trend, the least you could do is be responsible about it. But they are not the sad creatures in this narrative.
No, Timmy, the sad creatures I’m referring to as Trend Chasers are a wretched breed of the lowest order. They are so loathsome and despicable that I have no respect for them. I’m talking about writers who lack identity. Those who simply go with what the market defines and leave it at that. No depth, no horizon, just mediocrity, which is worse than the worst of the worst. The worst of the worst, in its own way, is true to itself. But the average?! There’s an endless stream of “average” out there. You must never strive to be like them; you must always be yourself.
And it’s not just the loud trends, Timmy, it’s the quiet ones too. For example, “If Tolkien did it, then it’s good enough.” I won’t lie, most fantasy fiction is built on the foundations he laid. Whether you like it or not, that’s the truth of it. No matter what you do or where you go, you’re under his shadow. So, even though the trend of fantasy is built upon his work, it doesn’t give anyone the right to copy and paste it with a different plot and call it done. Just because there are elves and dwarves, it doesn’t mean anything, Timmy. That doesn’t guarantee success.
Certainly, the middlemen will probably get their underwear in a twist and demand that you refer to the average in order to ensure returns, but it doesn’t work like that.
And those are who chase a quiet trend, one that is more established. An even more pitiful creature is the one who chases the loud trend, they just see a temporal situation that noone can really control and try to capitalize on it, but they arrive late to the party, and there are no more snacks and drinks to share. They end up with nothing and run the danger of having wasted a lot of time.
“Why are they pitiful?” you ask, Timmy. Because they lack their own identity. Chasing a trend for the sake of money or safety leads to no identity, and with no identity, you have no originality. Worse still, they might force and bend the story to fit the trend’s needs and shape, leading to the breaking of the story and the loss of whatever good was in it.
Why you ask Timmy?, because a story is something that is alive, it grows and expands according to its needs, you can guide it, guide your characters but it is as if it has a mind of its own. Moreover, since it grows form your internal world then putting any external constraints that are not really needed will harm your story, your characters and you as a writer.
I am not saying that a perfectly good story can´t be made out of a trend, far from it. People often get angry at trend setters and for good reason, but something good or appealing there must be in them in order for those things to become a trend
The lesson here, Timmy, is never to chase things just because a lot of people are chasing them. When you write, you must be yourself and respect the story. To be clear, I’m not throwing shade at those who chase money; I understand and agree with them. I’m defining as Unwriters those who just erase themselves in the chase of the trend because, again, with no identity, you have no stories, you have no writing, you have nothing.
Until next time.
