I’m an 80s kid. What I grew up seeing with the book industry is far different than what is now. The book industry I would say has changed for the better, but then also for the worst. I’ll give my insight into what I’m seeing and what the future looks like with the writing industry and how much we have to keep it refreshing and not mundane.
When I was younger, it was libraries and bookstores that were the sacred place of books. Now, we’re in a digital age and libraries along with bookstores aren’t as commonplace to go looking for books. To think that R.L. Stone wrote the Goosebumps series that went onto sell millions and she didn’t have a social media platform, it was pre-internet explosion and every kid knew about the Goosebumps series.
It’s why I don’t immerse myself in the social media craze of trying to get my books noticed there. People utilize the internet for entertainment, not to find a new book to read. I’ve never gone on a social media app hunting for books to read. I’d have to end up in a bookstore or someone tells me about a book and it may raise my antennas to want to read it. Other than that, I’ve always felt social media apps don’t really sell books, it’s being involved in book festivals, events where people can see you and feel your books.
I very rarely get someone who sees a video I’ve posted about my book and they go and buy it off of my post.
Press releases are great and helpful, it just needs to land in the right places for it to be noticed. Media coverage helps to get a book noticed, people with platforms always garner attention.
While the book industry has gone digital and there’s ebooks, the beauty of that is that’s another form of content to reach people. Paperbacks will always be my go to, I like holding a physical book in my hand.
Hopefully, it will stay that way and the industry will shift into ebook content mostly. While I don’t know the percentages of people who prefer to read books on a kindle or tech device, I’m quite sure it has significantly increased.
It’s why libraries and bookstores aren’t as popular anymore and it’s a struggle to keep them afloat. Barnes and Noble stores have closed in the past few years and the smaller bookstores are struggling too.
Who knows what’s to come of the book industry in the near future but there’s hope it gets better. Where AI generated books are monitored a lot more and that the bigger book platforms looks into these books being posted on the internet.
Time will tell what’s to come with the book industry, for I know that it won’t be what it once was.
That’s my blog for today, thanks for reading as always, be good and go accomplish your goals!
Jamell Crouthers
Aquarianmind
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