Why Authors Are Embracing Digital Publishing: Unlocking New Opportunities in a Changing Landscape

Last year we published an article on the Troubador blog about ebooks and why they’re a popular option with authors looking to publish their work. Since then, ebooks and audiobooks have only continued to rise in popularity, and with new platforms and e-reading devices being introduced to the market all the time, we wanted to do a deep dive into the world of digital-only publishing.

In this article, we’ll be looking at current trends in digital publishing and the benefits to authors of going down this route. We’ll also be hearing from some Troubador authors who have chosen to publish only in digital formats about their reasons for doing so and the experiences they’ve had.

The Rise of Digital Streaming Platforms

One of the biggest developments in the digital publishing world is that of streaming and subscription services. Platforms like Audible and Spotify for audiobooks, and Kindle Unlimited, Kobo Plus, and Everand for ebooks, offer readers and listeners the opportunity to pay a monthly subscription to access a certain number of - or even unlimited - titles. In an article from January 2020, Forbes noted that while streaming and subscription services were becoming popular for music, films, and TV, the same models just weren’t catching on for ebooks. Fast forward four years (and a global pandemic) and that no longer seems to be the case. 

With traditional bookshops closed for much of 2020 and Amazon prioritising essential items, readers turned to the digital world. The Guardian reported a 17% rise in ebook and audiobook sales in the first half of 2020, and there’s little doubt that subscription and streaming services have contributed to the continued increase in popularity of digital books. Overdrive’s library app, Libby, reported 1 billion downloads as of February 2023, and Spotify claims to have paid out tens of millions in sales since starting to include audiobooks as part of its Premium subscription last year.

Troubador author Yvonne Toner, author of the Bogus Business Unlimited and Mr Scribbley series of ebooks, cites the lower cost of production and the possibility of reaching a wider readership as her reasons for choosing to publish as an ebook, at least initially. “I learned that publishing in print can be a costly process and, being a new writer, the chances of being centre stage in a bookshop might be a little unrealistic, so I decided to go down the ebook route. It still allows for the same creative processes and similar reader engagement, and makes the ebooks discoverable to readers online who might stumble across them while browsing.”

Digital Books: The Environmentally Friendly Option?

In addition to the lower cost of production, the reduced environmental impact of digital-only publishing is a strong pull for the eco-conscious author. John Glynn, author of four ebooks with Troubador including Separate Journeys, says “Browsing in a bookshop is one of life’s pleasures. However, the reality is that every year around the world, millions of books undergo being pulped, added to landfill, or dissolved and reconstituted as recycled paper - to print, transport, and store more books. For me, it was a green choice, a concern for the environment.”

There’s no doubt that digital publishing most definitely has a carbon footprint. The creation of e-readers and smartphones often involves the extraction of heavy metals, and there’s always the issue of electronic waste - but with no vehicles needed for transportation, no packing materials, no cutting down of trees, and thousands of titles on one portable device, they’re a fantastic option for authors seeking to minimise their ecological footprint. 

For many authors like John Glynn, embracing digital publishing is a way to align their work as an author with their values. The rise of digital publishing platforms also makes it easier for authors and publishers to distribute work internationally, reaching a wider audience without the environmental costs of physical production and overseas shipping. As consumers and authors alike become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their shopping habits, the demand for digital books continues to grow, encouraging more authors and publishers to explore eco-friendly alternatives.

Fast Publishing Turnaround Times and the rise of BookTok

With the rise of platforms like Bookstagram and Booktok, many authors are turning to the online world to market and promote their books. Social media allows recommendations to be shared instantly, with certain genres and tropes becoming popular overnight and accumulating a huge following. Bookshops and online retailers now often have their own ‘BookTok’ section, featuring titles currently going viral on the platform, and this sense of immediacy ties in well with platforms like Kindle Unlimited, where readers can access millions of ebooks instantly as part of a monthly subscription. It’s also a lot easier to capitalise on trends and release updated editions of an ebook more quickly without having to wait for printing. 

Martyn Black has published two ebooks with Troubador and says, “For me, time was of the essence, and the more I looked into it, the more I became convinced the e-book format would be the best for me. Troubador had a good write up so I contacted them. They had a wide range of services available and I found the full process easy and hassle-free.” 

At Troubador, the average timeframe for publishing an ebook (including formatting and conversion of an author’s manuscript to industry-standard epub format, professional cover design, and distribution to retailers internationally) can be as little as 5 weeks, so a great option for authors looking for a quick turnaround.

Accessibility

With a huge focus currently on the accessibility of digital products and content (the European Accessibility Act comes into force in June of next year), there is understandably a big push from publishers to ensure that their digital products meet the required criteria. But it’s no secret that ebooks and audiobooks are, by their very nature, accessible. 

Audiobooks provide a valuable format for those with visual impairments or other disabilities that make reading print or ebooks difficult, and some simply prefer audible content or find it easier to absorb information through listening. With an ebook, the ability to zoom in on images, adjust the brightness of the screen, and increase the font size, makes them an ideal choice for readers who may struggle to read in print. 

New Life For Your Story

As readers, we want to feel immersed in the book we’re reading or listening to, and an audiobook provides a reader with an experience they can’t get anywhere else. Finding a good narrator can breathe new life into your work, and feed our human need to be told stories. Listening to an audiobook, as well as allowing readers to access your ebook anywhere, at any time, also allows them to use their imagination. A narrator’s pace, tone, inflexion, and style can add a whole new dimension to a story, building tension and atmosphere in a different way to the printed word.

A digital future?

While the traditional printed book shows no sign of decreasing in popularity, it seems the favour for digital books will only continue to grow. These days, customers often want their purchase straight away, and if your ebook or audiobook is quite literally only the click of a button away, the temptation is there for them to buy. Similarly, if readers can access your ebook or audiobook as part of a monthly subscription they’re already paying for, this could be the determining factor that encourages them to take a punt on a new book by an author they’ve perhaps never heard of.

Troubador offers authors the opportunity to publish an ebook as either a standalone product or alongside a print version. Read more about how we can help you publish your digital book here.