The trends for 2025 are twofold: on the one hand, they're based on previous developments; on the other hand, they lean towards what specialists expect to become important in the publishing world this year.
It is valuable to be aware of what is going on in the world of (digital) publishing, whether you are a writer, work at a publishing house or create content. Those who know trends are better able to respond to them.
Publishing is a broad term. Fundamentally, it is a process by which a text, story or idea is presented to an audience. This can be in book form, as a magazine or newspaper, but it can also include such things as blogs and podcasts. Publishing houses help writers publish and sell books, but an author who shares his or her own work, for example through a website, is also engaged in publishing.
Today you see especially a lot of innovation in digital publishing, publishing content in a digital form. Think, for example, of a book on an e-reader, a blog or a news website.
For several years now, we've been annually charting the latest publishing trends, developments or innovations in how people read, listen to and share stories. It's not surprising to expect trends to develop mostly on the digital front, such as the growth of e-book offerings. But make no mistake: not all trends are digital. Consider, for example, the return of poetry in print, or - surprisingly - the increased sales of paper books compared to five years ago. Publishing trends help you as a publisher or writer keep up with what the public expects. More often than expected, they involve the entire spectrum of techniques, which makes it useful to look at trends from a multichannel publishing perspective and not just focus on one aspect.
It may sound like an open door to some, but go back to AI in publishing trends. For while artificial intelligence also earned a place among the prevailing trends in previous years, its role in 2025 will be even greater and, moreover, of a different nature.
What is particularly striking is that the use of AI in the writing process is becoming more normal. Whereas just a few years ago it was mostly about the dangers of AI, it is now increasingly embraced as a tool for writers and creators in all corners of the publishing world.
For example, AI is already being used by many authors to take over the non-creative aspects of the writing process, such as editing and planning, and executing marketing activities. However, there is also a new kind of criticism of AI from authors that focuses particularly on training Large Language Models (LLMs). AI learns, by analyzing existing content such as books and blogs, from human authors. However, the authors in question are not compensated for this. Some major publishers in the United States therefore started publishing disclaimers with new publications, specifically stating that the content in question may not be used for analysis for the purpose of LLMs.
The world of audiobooks is also changing rapidly, partly thanks to AI. Creating audiobooks used to take more time and money. Now, publishers and authors can use AI tools to produce faster and cheaper. For the same reasons, releasing an audiobook is also becoming easier for beginning and experienced independent writers.
A platform like Spotify for Authors contributes to this. Authors get access to all sorts of useful tools and data for distribution through that platform. Combined with AI-generated voice recordings, it is easier than ever to publish a professional audiobook without the intervention of a (large) publisher.
According to experts, AI narration will also become increasingly common. After all, AI voices sound increasingly natural and, in some cases, cannot even be distinguished from human narrators. Production costs are thus becoming lower. The new technology also opens doors for creative innovation. Think, for example, of adding sound effects, multilingual versions, or multiple voices in a dialogue.
This trend is only expected to grow. Writers will have more options this way, especially in terms of independence and reach.
A trend that follows naturally on the previous one relates to the financial side of writing and publishing books. Indeed, more and more authors take the sale of their work into their own hands. Instead of relying on traditional publishing houses, they are choosing to sell their books themselves. Through their own websites, newsletters, or platforms such as Patreon and Spotify for Authors. Especially in English-speaking countries, this trend is on the rise.
With this direct approach, authors retain more control over their work, and its presentation and price. It also keeps a larger portion of the proceeds in their own pockets. Direct sales also allow for personal contact with readers. Authors can offer exclusive content, such as bonus chapters, audio clips, or autographs. This way, they build a community around their work.
We have written before about the so-called digital shift brought about by e-publishing.
Perhaps the most striking publishing trend of 2025 is the comeback of paper books. Although sales of e-books and audiobooks continue to rise, we also see an increase in the popularity of physical books and magazines.
What is striking is that readers are not necessarily buying more books, but are opting more often for special editions. Think of luxury versions of books, with a hardcover or special illustrations, or, for example, a coffee table book: a book that serves as an eye-catcher on your coffee table.
Social media (especially TikTok) reinforce this trend. On BookTok, the most beautiful books are enthusiastically shared, creating additional demand and interest.