Pick a genre that will appeal to a wide audience. You can gain a sense of popular trends by tracking "The New York Times" bestseller list and visiting your local bookstore to see the types of works dominating the shelves. You may find a surge in vampire novels, epic fantasy novels, espionage novels or any other type of niche story.
Choose a genre about which you feel passionate. You must choose a style that not only sells, but that you can write about with genuine excitement. If you force yourself to write about a topic that does not genuinely appeal to you, this will show in your writing. Likewise, if you feel passionate about the subject matter, you're more likely to write the type of narrative that grips readers.
Create realistic, sympathetic characters. All the most popular novels contain characters with whom readers can connect, so you must create characters who seem real and have qualities to which the average person can relate. Have your characters express their hopes, dreams, fears, insecurities and general observations about life. The more you describe your characters, the more real they will seem to your readers, and the more people will find themselves attracted to your novel.
Develop a compelling plot. This will motivate people to read your book. Think of original and titillating situations that will attract readers, such as a new spin on an old ghost story, a hero's journey in a parallel universe or a dying politician's lifelong secret slowly revealed. If you want to write a profitable novel, then you must have the type of plot that makes people eager to keep turning pages.
Include cliffhangers--suspense-filled situations at the end of chapters or scenes that leave the reader desperate to know what happens next. You can keep readers engaged for hours by placing dramatic cliffhangers throughout your story, particularly at the ends of chapters. Leave your readers in constant suspense.