Is there an ideal intelligence required to write a bestseller?

[Ostronomos]

As I was attempting a book on my life and the incredible powers of insight I received while high I assessed my approach with regard to my normality and ordinary giftedness and failed to gain foresight into what the future of the book would be like. I have an IQ in the high 130s but I feel that I need to boost my intelligence to write a bestseller but I am not capable of doing so at the moment. My question is thus: Is an IQ in the high 130s sufficient to write a bestseller? I appreciate your answers.

 

[Rival]

Many bestsellers have been written by... less intelligent people.

 

[Spirit of Light]

As I was attempting a book on my life and the incredible powers of insight I received while high I assessed my approach with regard to my normality and ordinary giftedness and failed to gain foresight into what the future of the book would be like. I have an IQ in the high 130s but I feel that I need to boost my intelligence to write a bestseller but I am not capable of doing so at the moment. My question is thus: Is an IQ in the high 130s sufficient to write a bestseller? I appreciate your answers.

It depend on the topic of the book, if the content has been written on a to high level of understanding that people with normal IQ, as in the 90-100 will not understand, the book will only target a tiny % of the marked.

To write a bestseller does not require IQ more than a average person.

 

[Rival]

If you're writing for teenage girls, all you need is a hot boy with questionable morals and you're done.

 

[exchemist]

As I was attempting a book on my life and the incredible powers of insight I received while high I assessed my approach with regard to my normality and ordinary giftedness and failed to gain foresight into what the future of the book would be like. I have an IQ in the high 130s but I feel that I need to boost my intelligence to write a bestseller but I am not capable of doing so at the moment. My question is thus: Is an IQ in the high 130s sufficient to write a bestseller? I appreciate your answers.

Not if you're also as mad as a hatter.

 

[Polymath257]

It may even be that intelligence is a negative if the goal is writing a best seller. You have to appeal to all those who aren't intelligent.

OTOH, upper 130's isn't *that* intelligent. Relying on IQ isn't either.

Comment: powers of insight that don't actually give insight aren't incredible.

 

[Ostronomos]

Not if you're also as mad as a hatter.

A poor attempt at an insult based on assumption. I am completely healthy mentally and physically.

 

[Ostronomos]

It may even be that intelligence is a negative if the goal is writing a best seller. You have to appeal to all those who aren't intelligent.

OTOH, upper 130's isn't *that* intelligent. Relying on IQ isn't either.

Comment: powers of insight that don't actually give insight aren't incredible.

Not while normal they aren't.

 

[exchemist]

A poor attempt at an insult based on assumption. I am completely healthy mentally and physically.

Spellbound got banned from sciforums for obsessive posting on one topic. But it is true that you have laid off Langan's CTMU a bit on this forum.

 

[Polymath257]

Not while normal they aren't.

Nor otherwise.

 

[sun rise]

I rank emotional intelligence way over what IQ tests measure for writing success unless you are writing a book like

Schaum's 3,000 Solved Problems in Physics

 

[The Hammer]

You don't even have to be Sane to write a best seller, let alone intelligent.

 

[RestlessSoul]

I don’t know how you’d set about writing a bestseller, but choosing the right genre is probably key, if sales are all that motivates you to write. Fantasy, crime thrillers, romances are some examples of genres where, if you create the right characters and can get the reader to care what happens to them, you can pretty much follow a formula plot wise. You need to keep the reader turning the page, so if you can write with pace and a sense of urgency and danger, you’re on a winner. Then all you need is an agent…

 

[Vinayaka]

For every book that gets published by the traditional industry, there are 20 manuscripts written and read, and 500 query letters. For every book published, about 2% become best sellers, although the definition of bestseller varies by country. For every manuscript completed, there are 50 not completed ones, and 100 more that don't get past, the 'I'm gonna write a book' phase.

Not that it's impossible.

 

[Secret Chief]

Everyone has at least one book in them. And mostly that's where they should stay.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

If you're writing for teenage girls, all you need is a hot boy with questionable morals and you're done.

I didn't know '50 shades of grey' was aimed at teenage girls...ahem...

 

[Rival]

I didn't know '50 shades of grey' was aimed at teenage girls...ahem...

I don't think 50 Shades of Grey is aimed at anyone.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I don't think 50 Shades of Grey is aimed at anyone.

Made me laugh. I have heard it described as mummy porn. I don't want to exclude teenage moms entirely, but my assumption was they were selling heavily to slightly...err...more mature ladies.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

New As I was attempting a book on my life and the incredible powers of insight I received while high I assessed my approach with regard to my normality and ordinary giftedness and failed to gain foresight into what the future of the book would be like.

Well, it would help that you don't use run-on sentences like the one I'm quoting, nevermind IQ garbage.

I suggest taking a creative writing course.

 

[Rival]

Well, it would help that you don't use run-on sentences like the one I'm quoting, nevermind IQ garbage.

I suggest taking a creative writing course.

Tbf Dickens used some long *** sentences lol.