We arrived at our campsite after two hours of driving through a torrential downpour and a series of intense thunderstorms this past weekend. The sky was blue while we set up camp, but the impending threat of thunder rumbled in the distance. It was one of those irritable summer days that couldn’t seem to make up its mind—billowing white cumulous clouds and baby blue skies one moment, and severe thunderstorms and pouring rain the next. Of course, the kids didn’t complain because, if camping on Lake Huron wasn’t enough, they now had their fair share of muddy puddles to play in. After a few hours of on and off storms, a double rainbow appeared in the distance, emerging from that fine line where water meets sky.
The current book market mimics the weather we experienced on our first day in Harrisville. There’s a lot of junk out there, but there’s also a lot of promise, surprise, and unequivocally beautiful literature.
The morning after we arrived, I was chatting with my sister-in-law about our latest reads while the kids were playing on the beach when she said something regarding the current book market that I resonated with. “The problem with choosing my next book,” she said, “is that there are so many books out there.” She said this with a hint of exhaustion and overwhelm.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), estimates that 2.2 million books are published worldwide every year. Of those 2.2 million books, roughly 1 million of them are published annually in the United States. Moreover, if you include self-published authors, an increasingly popular option, you’re looking at close to 4 million new book titles published each year.
As the book market continues to grow each year, there is no doubt it will be saturated with more and more subpar reads. This can be frustrating for the avid reader who wants to make the most of their reading time. We’re all looking for our next great read, but in a market that produces 4 million books per year, how are we supposed to find it?
My sister-in-law prefers to ask her local librarians for recommendations. Occasionally, she scours Goodreads and chooses a title with high ratings. I tend to select most of my books based on word of mouth recommendations from friends or my favorite Indie bookstores. Other ideas for increasing your chances of finding a star among the slush might include checking bestseller lists, sorting by highest rated books in your Libby app, or perusing the main displays at your local bookstore or library.
It’s easy to view the current book market as a glass half empty scenario, lamenting the sheer volume of books readers must sift through to find something worthwhile, but it’s also an opportunity to view the current book market as a glass half full. There are so many books, good ones included, especially if we are willing to toss the bad ones aside and move on to the next.
There is no denying that your reading journey will consist of ups and downs. Sometimes you will fall into that first day of camping rhythm where the weather (or a series of book selections) is erratic, oscillating between good and bad and back again. Inevitably, you’ll stumble upon a ray of literary sunshine. There might even be a double rainbow. Happy reading!
The article explores the challenges of finding literary success in a crowded book market, offering strategies for authors to stand out and reach their audience. It's an insightful read for writers looking to navigate the competitive world of publishing. Book Marketing Services