How eBook Publishing is Reimagining Readers' Worlds

Books have captured our imagination for centuries. They have served many purposes - educating and inspiring us, making us laugh, and helping us expand our knowledge and skills. In the last few years, though, the number of people reading books in their traditional paper format has seen a decline. 

Contemporary readers find it cumbersome to manage and store books in their physical format. But does this mean that people don't want to read? Not at all! 

Like every other industry, publishing has also experienced the impact of technology, giving way to eBook publishing, i.e., the publishing of books in the digital format. eBooks are not only keeping the tradition of reading alive, but they are also reimagining how consumers read in multiple ways. 

Six ways eBook Publishing is Disrupting Reading 

By 2025, the eBook publishing market is expected to grow to $6.93 billion at a compound annual growth rate of 7.25%. Here's a look at why eBooks have captured the interest of readers worldwide and how they are reinventing the reading experience:

1. eBooks Make Reading Interactive 

eBook publishing has turned reading into an interactive experience. Readers can engage with a storyline in multiple ways and use all the senses - sight, sound, and touch - to do it.

For instance, travel books can have interactive travel guides. Cookbooks can have built-in timers. Children's books can have interactive games, music, and 3D animations. A self-help book can nudge the writer to answer a questionnaire at the end of each chapter.

eBooks can also include bonus features such as behind-the-scenes creation videos or interviews with the author. The possibilities are limitless, making both the creation and consumption of eBooks an engaging journey. 

2. eBooks Make Reading Accessible to All 

Not everyone can benefit from reading books traditionally. For instance, paper books are not accessible to those with visual challenges or learning difficulties.

On the other hand, eBook Publishing has made reading an inclusive, accessible experience for all. Readers with visual impairments can leverage the power of audiobooks, which not only have a voice reading the book but also come with sound effects.

They empower readers to experience the contents of the book. Similarly, those with reading challenges can consume content with the help of visual and sensory aids, making it an immersive experience. 

3. eBooks Can Be Read Anytime, Anywhere 

Readers love the possibility of being able to read anytime, anywhere. But transporting a physical book in your handbag or briefcase can be cumbersome. You also need to carry your bookmark when traveling, and most people forget to do that! 

eBook publishing offers a very different functional trajectory for readers. eBooks can be stored on your laptop, desktop, or the cloud. Thus, you will be carrying your bookshelf with you. Once you open your eBook, the screen opens to the page where you last left off. 

4. Interactive eBooks are Not Just for Kids

There is a misconception that eBooks are only meant for children. This is far from true.

eBooks for adults span a wide range of topics and genres - fiction, and non-fiction, self-help, cookbooks, crime and mysteries, financial guides, and more. All these subjects present a case for interactivity. 

A great example is Al Gore's book Our Choice. Released in 2009, the contents can now be accessed in the form of an eBook, which has been brought to life with interactive infographics, images, animations, and documentary videos.

Children's classics, like Alice In Wonderland, are also being turned into eBooks for future generations, as well as adults, who consider it an evergreen story.  

5. eBooks are Competitively Priced

The cost of writing, publishing, and promoting print books is considered to be quite exorbitant in today's time. On the other hand, eBooks are much more competitively priced.

In many cases, the eBook copy is released along with a print edition, but eBooks are usually still more affordable. 

Hence, there is a trend of readers prioritizing the purchase of the eBook copy, making it accessible to larger audiences. eBooks are also easier to produce, store, and distribute from a logistics point of view. 

6. The Art of Reading Can Be Customized!

Another benefit of eBook publishing is that it enables readers to completely customize the reading experience based on their preferences.

For instance, some readers like to increase the font size. Others prefer to listen to audiobooks while multi-tasking in the kitchen or cleaning up the house.

Further, you can increase the size of images to look at the details. You can rewatch, pause and rewind videos any number of times.

Another unique feature of eBooks is that they come with in-build dictionaries. Thus, readers can easily look up the meanings of words on the go.

The experience of reading is no longer a linear one, and every reader can tailor the experience to suit how they feel at that moment. 

Everyone Can Publish an eBook

The traditional publishing industry was tough to break into, and millions of potential authors never found a voice in that space.

eBook publishing is disrupting a niche space and giving a platform to more voices. While traditional publishers are embracing eBook publishing, contemporary eBook publishers are always seeking fresh topics and voices to celebrate.

Another notable trend is that individuals can publish eBooks without the backing of a publishing house. For instance, a personal finance expert can bring our Do-It-Yourself guide to creating wealth. Or an illustrator can design and self-publish a graphic novel.

With access to channels like social media, messaging apps, blogs, and influencers, the distribution of eBooks is also not as complex as in the print publishing world. Hence, eBook publishing is democratizing the ability to publish. 

The Takeaway

Today, access to tech-enabled solutions has made it relatively easy to launch an eBook. An eBook's complexity level, in terms of enriching it with audio, video, animations, and other elements, lies completely at the author's discretion.

This flexibility is an attractive option. You can choose to keep it simple with just an audio element, or you can also get more ambitious with multiple elements. It also depends on the genre, topic, and audience.

The best part of the journey is that access to eBook publishing software and formats like ePUBs means that authors can take their eBooks to market much faster. They can also design and distribute eBooks with ease, amplifying them to a wider audience.