Improving the Book Market
The modern book market has undergone significant changes in the last decade. Sales are down, readers are disinterested in traditional categories, and competition is fierce.
Well, how would I improve the situation if a genie were to offer to help? I understand my wishes need to be realistic; otherwise, my first wish would make me a bestselling author.
All joking aside, there is something essential to consider. My wish would not be to change readers. People like what they like, and as a result, they are reading less often. Another problem in the book market is that a great deal of writing ground has been covered. I do not think there will ever be a genie powerful enough to eliminate all past books and wipe the minds of readers for the books they have read.
This wide array of choices is both a blessing and a curse. Readers have endless options, but it is challenging for them to make a choice. The result is that authors do not sell as many books, and small-time authors like me are an increasingly smaller fish in a shrinking market.
Does this mean my wish is to bring back big publishers with deep pockets? No, we must accept our modern reality. The same can be seen with the demise of prominent newspapers and (soon) the large television networks. Do I wish to eliminate established authors or established books? No, I like big authors and outstanding books. Both give me something to aspire to and are entertaining.
Well, what’s my wish? I wish book websites would do a better job of promoting new authors and stop selling classic books as new. I work hard writing, and it is unfair to pit me against a powerhouse author or a classic book in the “new books” category.
Will my wishes come true? Yeah, no.
You’re the best -Bill
January 20, 2021 Updated July 26, 2025
Well, how would I improve the situation if a genie were to offer to help? I understand my wishes need to be realistic; otherwise, my first wish would make me a bestselling author.
All joking aside, there is something essential to consider. My wish would not be to change readers. People like what they like, and as a result, they are reading less often. Another problem in the book market is that a great deal of writing ground has been covered. I do not think there will ever be a genie powerful enough to eliminate all past books and wipe the minds of readers for the books they have read.
This wide array of choices is both a blessing and a curse. Readers have endless options, but it is challenging for them to make a choice. The result is that authors do not sell as many books, and small-time authors like me are an increasingly smaller fish in a shrinking market.
Does this mean my wish is to bring back big publishers with deep pockets? No, we must accept our modern reality. The same can be seen with the demise of prominent newspapers and (soon) the large television networks. Do I wish to eliminate established authors or established books? No, I like big authors and outstanding books. Both give me something to aspire to and are entertaining.
Well, what’s my wish? I wish book websites would do a better job of promoting new authors and stop selling classic books as new. I work hard writing, and it is unfair to pit me against a powerhouse author or a classic book in the “new books” category.
Will my wishes come true? Yeah, no.
You’re the best -Bill
January 20, 2021 Updated July 26, 2025
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