The ongoing Delhi Literature Festival offers an insight into the rising trends in publishing
For a new-age writer, getting published is a big challenge. Endlessly waiting to hear from the publisher, being rejected and finally finding the right audience can be a long and tedious journey. However, a good manuscript and a gripping narrative will surely find a publisher as well as readers, say industry experts, literary agents and publishers at the fourth edition of Delhi Literature Festival currently on at Dilli Haat, INA.
What gets published
There are too many writers in the market today, giving a wide spectrum of options to the readers. So, the question most aspiring authors ask is what genre of writing gets published the most. “A spellbinding narrative, a good subject and a workable manuscript are the three most important ingredients to get a publisher for your book,” points out Anuj Bahri, CEO and Principal Agent, Red Ink. He adds, “Write for yourself and ensure that you have full command of the subject you are writing about. Following the trend will only make you a part of the crowd.”
Agreeing with him, Vaishali Mathur of Penguin India says, “Don’t try to be like everyone else. Consider your own point of view. Be willing to stand apart from the crowd. There is surely a market for each and every interesting book.”
Non-fiction rising
Though mythology and crime fiction always find takers in the market, one genre that is gaining momentum is the non-fiction segment. It’s the right time to tap this segment, shares Vaishali.
Debashree Rakshit of Harper Collins echoes, “One of the biggest shifts in publishing is the rising popularity of non-fiction books. I remember, ten years ago most of the books published in India were fiction, but today 70-75 per cent of them are non-fiction. According to me, readers of today want information that isn’t dry and boring but in a form that stimulates, inspires and educates. Their standards are getting higher — good information isn’t enough, you have to stand out. Also, I have seen a number of takers for spiritual and political memoirs.”
Online Publishing
In addition to publishing paperbacks and eBooks, there are many ways to publish your content digitally. Ajay Mago of Om Books International says, “I think the number of digital publishers is growing rapidly as the digital space provides the end user with a richer and more varied experience. Also, online publishing helps writers find the right audience and adds to their credentials. Publishers like me do scout for such talents who have a huge online following because people buy experiences, so if you get a reputation for providing that, your sales will be more robust.”
Ajay adds that blogging can act as a connecting link between the writer, reader and publisher. He says, “In today’s digitalised world, blogging plays an important role. The best example is Maria Goretti. She started as a blogger but today she is a published writer because we realised that there is a market and an audience for her style of writing — social media gave us that understanding.”
Talking about the downside of online publishing and blogging, Vaishali says, “Though it is a smart move, at times as publishers we do not find ample content on these platforms to publish. One could write a short story of 200 to 300 words and publish it online but when it comes to paperbacks, such short narratives will not make for a great book.” Self-publishing vs traditional publishing
If you watch what’s happening now, lots of people are flooding the market with multiple books just to have a multitude of titles under their name. Do the opposite, and instead of opting for the number, create a book that the target market will love because that is where traditional publishing will help you as a writer, Anuj affirms. “Great market research and strategic writing will give you happy readers, amazing reviews and word of mouth referrals. The publisher also puts up the money to design and package the book, print as many copies of the book, markets the book and finally distributes the finished book to the public.”
Working with a traditional publisher means that your book will benefit from the services of a professional editor and a proofreader, shares Debashree. “An editor is very important for every book. The professionals will help you improve the book’s content and make sure that the finished product looks better and is free of errors that could undermine your credibility. A self-published book will surely not provide you that service.” Social Media
One of the key ingredients for a book to become popular with today’s generation is social media. Ajay says, “As publishers, we do ask the author about their social media presence. It has become an important tool for promotion and marketing. Since we are competing with not only other writers and genres but also with the attention of the audience, social media plays a vital role in grabbing the right kind of eyeballs.”
