Written by: Vickie Sullivan | June 08, 2023
Book Publishing Trends You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Earlier this year, toy giant Mattel announced it is launching its own publishing imprint to “support its brand initiatives and create new stories based on Mattel franchises, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends, Monster High, Polly Pocket and Barney.”
This is just one example of how bigger players use publishing to sustain market awareness and drive sales. Celebrities also publish memoirs and non-fiction books in an effort to stay relevant.
2 Ways Book Publishing Trends Impact You
The trend of big players publishing books impacts us in two ways:
• Book advances are now based on prominence and promotion.
This has been the case for years, but publisher expectations have skyrocketed. The old “I’m willing to promote” generality no longer cuts it. Be prepared with in-depth marketing plans and already-scheduled appearances that promote your work.
• Telling stories is now an arms race.
In the good old days, using your story as a springboard for a bigger idea was the status quo. Thanks to media, that no longer works. Now, the focus is on the details of the story. So, you must be prepared to create surprises and spill details that grab attention.
The books many of us wrote during the pandemic are hitting the market at similar times. Your book is now a part of a much bigger flood and surrounded by bigger fish. Compete accordingly.
Listen: How to Promote Your Book to Compete with Well-Known Authors
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