It’s a whole new decade and I was thinking about what book world and reading would look like this time in 10 years. How will the 20’s shape and change books for us? Or books change the 20’s?
Below are my predictions.
Sci-Fi is going to be huge.
Not just sci-fi but hard sci-fi. I think not only is it finally going to get it’s day in the book community but it will dominate.
Monsters are going to make a comeback.
I think this will be a trend that’s much more of a throwback. To the monsters of old. Werewolves, demons, vampires, etc.
More Pennywise than Thanos. More small-town scares than big epics.
Books will Feed Hollywood More than Ever
This is really already happening. There are so many streaming services that they need material so they are buying up books like no one’s business with it seems like a real focus on YA.
I’m pretty sure Reese Witherspoons entire book club is based on either finding or selling books that she already has the rights to and I think we’ll see even more of that. I think it will mix even more completely this decade.
Has Netflix just straight up bought a major publishing company yet? I could see that happening.
Ratings vs. Age
I think books will move toward a movie style rating system and by the end of the decade the age classifications (YA, Middle-Grade, New Adult, etc.) will be phased out.
Not the books obviously but the way they are classified. A lot of the more popular authors are already going back and forth in their books and I’ve noticed a lot of the most popular Youtubers, whom a couple of years ago would only talk about certain books, are beginning to discuss and show different books.
Again this isn’t an insult by any means because I know how people get when they think they’re being attacked I’m just saying that those classifications will be different.
Goodreads will still be Goodreads
Everyone has something about Goodreads we all wish it would do or at least do better- but as far as tracking your reading and a community- so far I haven’t found anything that can top it.
I think Goodreads will remain tops but somewhere around mid to late decade we’ll finally get the overhaul we’ve all been wanting.
And still won’t be completely happy with it 🙂
How we Experience Books & Stories?
I’ve gone back and forth with this- do I think we’ll get the Star Wars holochess style where our books are basically acted out by tiny little holograms?
Or will we simply finally be able to read as much as we always wanted by downloaded them right into our heads?
Or maybe something simpler like book crossovers with video games like a Jane Austen world/Grand Theft Auto mash-up game?
Or will Maine finally just take my advice and do a full of Stephen King experience? Imagine the tourism options!
Maybe these seem a little out there? (I am still waiting for my flying car.) But you never know right? A decade is a long time for the book world to finally shake some things up and hopefully we’re all around to experience it!
When I think of books acted out by holograms, I kind of think of a digital pop-up book for the 21st century – totally imaginable.
Using the movie rating system for books would be very interesting. I know I’ve gotten myself into books where I would have liked the information you get from ratings 😳. I wonder what that would do to the writing process.
I love this post ❤️❤️❤️❤️ very thought provoking!
Good question. I know in movies for instance there was a firm belief that an “R” rating would limit box office sales I don’t know it would have any effect on book sales but it would be interesting to see an author reaction to it. It’s essentially a content warning which doesn’t seem like a big deal to me but it would be interesting to see what authors would think.
Cool concept for a post.
Thank you!
I want my flying car too. It’s so weird now to watch Blade Runner or something like that set in “2019” of whatever lol. But I think you’re probably pretty spot on. I personally would love the monster one to be true!!
It’s so disappointing! Like yeah we didn’t get the bad stuff (at least not that bad stuff) but where’s my AI robot already? 😉
I’d like it if sci fi was huge! 😀 And absolutely agree that books will feed Hollywood more than ever- I’m surprised it’s taken so long with some books like shadow and bone. I think a movie classification style would be more helpful for books (especially since “YA” has become so broad). I’d love if goodreads would get an overhaul! (but I’ll probably still not be happy with it either 😉 ) Great predictions!
Love your predictions, especially books getting a movie style rating system. I’ve seen more books add sensitivity warnings like the ones at the beginning of trailers, and I think that helps readers know what kind of material is in a book and decide if it can be triggering or not.
What a great post!! I totally agree about Monsters (real vampires not sparkly ones 😉 ) becoming popular, as well as books influencing Hollywood. But I think there will be more Epic Fantasy than Hard Sci Fi ruling the day. Game of Thrones has opened new doors for books like The Witcher series which has some cool monsters in them!
Ah, I can’t believe I’m reading this during the pandemic. Well, we definitely got sci-fi… in our own lives.
It’s interesting that the newer ya aren’t adopted yet, and I’m seeing a lot of criticism. But I’m also wondering whether it’s because of age itself, ya books that are older will have already had more exposure and more sales. But, then again, ownvoices, despite longevity, might not always get that much exposure in the first place. We’ll see. I hope more romance is adapted! 😔
Netflix buying a whole publishing company? I… really hope this doesn’t happen. But it might finally give Amazon a warning. Hopefully more collaborations. But that is such an interesting thought, I’m going to have ruminate on this further.
LOL we will never be satisfied with it, for sure. I just really wish the app functions like it does in the browser because I do my reviews on the app and I’m too lazy to do the coding. That and being able to reply to people directly from the app and not just post a comment and get a notification! It’s moving at AOL pace.
What I would give to see Emma and Knightley going on quests on GTA.
I was thinking about this in terms of book store layouts and such. I have only a relatively small Barnes and Noble in my area and you’ll see small displays for things like Mental Health Month, Pride Month, etc. And even smaller displays sometimes for _____ Heritage Month that kind of thing.
I wish they could bring out more of those diverse types of books and draw eyes to them in the stores (unfortunately I think most of the traffic at this bookstore is people walking through to get into the mall) blogging I think we tend to have far better knowledge of those books than the general reader in the first place so I wish there were better ways to get eyes on them and reader interest in person you know?
Really interesting post. I would think it’s not either Sci-fi or Fantasy but rather both. My guess is it’ll depend on more specific types that will follow trends in cultural movements as they tend to do. I’m encouraged that more people are turning to books for more content, hopefully this doesn’t cheapen future books as everyone thinks it that much easier to have their books on the big screen.
With that said and all that is currently happening I think (and hope) more diverse authors and books will find their way to the front. We will all work harder to support and promote the work of people of color. I look forward to this growth.
A friend once told me books would die off, physical books. But I was right and I don’t think people will ever stop wanting real books, even if we get holograms as an option.
Interesting prediction about a ratings system. There are a lot of book bloggers using trigger/content warnings. I do a little especially if it’s strong content. I could see this becoming more…sophisticated…?
Goodreads will always be our friend. 😉
If not Netflix, someone will buy their own publishing company.
To be continued…
I think physical books are only becoming more popular. Right now it feels like even more of a rise to support indie bookstores which will only help as well. I know this is more based in Europe but I see a lot of indie stores starting to take even more advantage of online selling unfortunately I’m in the US and it doesn’t feel like we have anything remotely like that. Still I think physical books will stay strong even with other leaps in tech but I’m hopeful 🙂
Perhaps we’ll follow that trend in the U.S. 😉 Here’s to hoping!