Self-published authors are a strong and persistent presence in the literary community. Over the past few decades, indie authors have put an incredible number of books directly into the hands of eager readers. In the age of digital publishing and direct distribution, self-publishing makes it possible for anyone to find their audience.
In fact, an estimated 300 million self-published books were sold in 2022, according to WordsRated, up from 250 million self-published books the year before. Within these figures is a healthy split between fiction and nonfiction. According to a 2022 survey by the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), 62% of indie publishers’ catalogs are made up of fiction, while 38% are nonfiction.
The rise of indie authors has been a remarkable trend in the publishing industry — and it’s fueled by demand for user-generated content. In the same way YouTube democratized video sharing and rewards fandom, crowdfunding platforms have allowed talented storytellers to bypass traditional publishing for direct, self-published serialization.
The emergence of direct book sales
Because much of today’s user-generated content is accessed digitally, direct sales are possible at a never-before-seen scale. As a result, indie creators are carving out a powerful niche not just in book publishing, but across all direct distribution categories.
For example, in the music industry, indie publishers held a 27.1% market share in 2021, according to the Independent Music Publishers International Forum (IMPF). In the book-publishing industry, indie publishers have a much greater market share — about 40% of commercially available books — and continue to gain momentum.
In bypassing traditional retail channels, indie creators don’t pay commissions to retailers and so enjoy higher profit margins. Direct sales through digital platforms also foster stronger customer relationships, allowing creators to meaningfully interact with their audience and tailor their work to their following.
Indies continue to gain traction
As indie authors ramp up direct sales of both fiction and nonfiction books, there’s a growing body of evidence supporting the democratization of publishing. This is true in the traditional publishing space too, especially for scholarly publishers. There’s clear demand for user-generated content across diverse channels.
The question is, what does the future of book sales look like and where do indie authors fit into the picture? Generally speaking, self-publishing outlets and digital content are opportunities for writers to create and share their work.
That said, traditional publishers aren’t going anywhere. Indeed, experts predict serialized fiction can boost backlist sales and AI can be used to generate new audiences by identifying the most likely market for published work.
In short, indie publishers aren’t necessarily gaining market share so much as they’re contributing to a growing market overall. Indies are helping to bring more readers into the fold — readers ready to consume incredible stories and insightful content from wherever they can get it.
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