Computers may soon predict which fiction books may become bestsellers.
Scientists at Stony Brook University in New York say they have developed a computer program that was 84 percent accurate when applied to already published books.
By statistically analyzing literary styles of more than 5,000 published books and identifying characteristic elements researchers found the successful ones had many stylistic similarities.
The analysis showed that in successful books conjunctions, such as "and" or "but," were used more often than in less successful ones. It also found successful authors relied more on nouns and adjectives in describing their stories, and used more verbs to describe thoughts.
Some literary agents say the study has no practical value because evaluation of literary works involves intuition and relationships.
But more than 20 editors rejected J.K. Rawlings first manuscript about boy wizard Harry Potter, which later enjoyed phenomenal success worldwide.
Scientists at Stony Brook University in New York say they have developed a computer program that was 84 percent accurate when applied to already published books.
By statistically analyzing literary styles of more than 5,000 published books and identifying characteristic elements researchers found the successful ones had many stylistic similarities.
The analysis showed that in successful books conjunctions, such as "and" or "but," were used more often than in less successful ones. It also found successful authors relied more on nouns and adjectives in describing their stories, and used more verbs to describe thoughts.
Some literary agents say the study has no practical value because evaluation of literary works involves intuition and relationships.
But more than 20 editors rejected J.K. Rawlings first manuscript about boy wizard Harry Potter, which later enjoyed phenomenal success worldwide.
