How To Not Go Crazy
Because the times, they are a-changing
I wrote recently about the Tucson Festival of Books and how it gave me hope, because books were bringing so many people together.
In the weeks since then, I’ve mostly been editing my novel, while also digging deeper into the current business environment for publishing. A few months ago, I wrote about all the uncertainty in the world, but the world feels even crazier now.
And the publishing world is in particular turmoil because of AI. Only human-created books can be copyrighted, which means there’s a lot of confusion about how to prove that AI either was or was not used to help write any given book. And what does it mean for AI to write a book versus help to write a book? What if AI helps you do research for a book? What if AI is used to help improve your grammar?
Recently, one of the “Big Five” major publishers pulled a book from publication over AI allegations. The author has denied using AI to write the novel, but claims a freelance editor she hired used AI tools without her knowledge. The publisher cancelled the book contract, and now the author is suing the publisher. And everyone has an opinion about the situation, which has layers of messy complications.
Even aside from AI, publishing continues to be disrupted. My assessment is that publishing is today where the music industry was fifteen or twenty years ago. Once upon a time, the radio stations and record labels controlled all the distribution channels, and therefore, they determined who would be successful. Then everything moved to digital, and the record labels lost much of their power. Anyone could sell their music online directly to their audience, and music has never been the same since.
And that enabled people like Ed Sheeran to become successful as an independent musician. Ed Sheeran was rejected by every single record label, supposedly because a chubby redhead would never be marketable and because his music didn’t fit into any single genre. He was this weird acoustic guy who collaborated with rappers. So starting in 2010, he released his music independently, and that’s worked out kind of ok. He’s sold over 200 million records and has a net worth of $400 million. Similar stories could be shared about Billie Eilish and many others.
The record labels lost much of their power to the musicians and streaming services, and now the publishing companies are following in the same path. They used to be the gatekeepers, but their power has diminished in the digital age. Now it’s largely TikTok influencers who decide which books they want to promote. The power has shifted away from the gatekeepers towards authors who connect directly with their readers.
All of this makes me think about the old parable about rain. One person says the rain ruined their day, while the second person says the rain saved their crops. Which is true? It depends on your perspective and context.
I’ve previously mentioned Brandon Sanderson, a very successful fantasy author who’s maintained his independence and sold more than fifty million books. And he raised more than twenty million dollars on the most funded kickstarter of all time. He recently signed a landmark deal with Apple TV+, which gives him unprecedented creative control over the adaptations of his books. He has approval rights over scripts, casting, and final edits. This is unheard of for any writer to have this much control over his IP.
The current breakout book of the year is Theo of Golden, written by a 69-year-old debut author who self-published and initially promoted his book on Facebook Marketplace of all places. After he’d sold 150,000 copies independently, then he sold the book to a traditional publisher for three million dollars. I can’t help but think of the similarities to Ed Sheeran. Diverse artists who don’t fit the industry mold are staking out their own independent creative paths. Which begs the question - is the current state of publishing absolutely terrible or absolutely awesome?
During the Tucson Festival of Books, I attended two author panels focused on young adult books. The diversity and energy at those events was inspiring, and the venue was standing room only. The authors were Latina, Black, and Indigenous, and they were all writing books that empowered young readers. Tiffany D. Jackson said she specifically writes stories to show teens how powerful they can be. And then a senior citizen stood up and said she reads young adult fiction because the themes of self-exploration and identity are so universal. This led to a discussion about hope and resilience and how so many adults are reading teen books for a wide range of reasons.
I honestly don’t know if this new publishing world is terrible or awesome. But I have decided to decide that these times are an amazing opportunity for someone like me. I am recommiting myself to being an optimistic author for these reasons:
As the publishing world is disrupted, I have more opportunities and access to publishing than ever before. The barriers to entry are essentially zero.
I can leverage all this freedom to be not just a writer, but also the CEO of my entire author enterprise. Publishing today isn’t just about writing; it’s also about business and marketing. I love the creativity of writing, and I love the analytical aspects of business, and now I can happily do both.
Just like thousands of musicians and writers before me, I can take the initiative to design my own luck.
I can focus on the topics and themes that have meaning and purpose, to shine a light on the stories I care about most. Because the ideas that matter most to me, they probably also matter to many other people.
It’s clear the future of publishing is about community and connection. I love building community and I love connecting with people around ideas that matter.
The challenge today isn’t so much how to get published; the challenge is how to get people’s attention in a very crowded marketplace. When people can scroll anywhere, anytime, how do you get them to pay attention to you and your book?
By writing something that connects with their humanity.
I read another article recently about how people just aren’t reading books anymore. Here’s three contradictory stats:
The sales of graphic novels for kids have doubled between 2020 and 2026.
The biggest ‘problem’ at the Tucson Festival of Books was the long lines into author events.
In the past year, more independent bookstores have opened than ever before. They’ve experienced a 70% increase in growth since 2020.
Recently, my partner and I stood in line at the IMAX theater to watch Project Hail Mary. We’d both read and loved the book. And as we filed into the very full theater, I leaned over and whispered: “Millions of people this weekend are watching this movie because some geeky science nerd sat down and wrote a weird book.”
People are reading; they’re just reading differently than in the past. Writers are publishing; they’re just publishing differently than in the past. I don’t know how AI will change our world, and I don’t know how my personal publishing path will unfold.
I could let all this uncertainty drive me crazy, or I can decide to choose hope. Because wherever there’s chaos, there’s also opportunity.
It’s up to us to grab it and choose it.
I love this positive take on the state of the world of writing. Thank you!
The ability to stay nimble, curious and positive in the face of disruption and change is a super power!