GenZ: The Generation that Reads Differently
Image courtesy: Cottonbro Studio
Dear Publishers: Gen Z isn’t reading your boring blurbs anymore, and it’s finally time you understand that.
For anyone unfamiliar with this term, Gen Z refers to the generation born between 1997 and 2012. While millennials were known to be very outspoken about their taste in fashion, reading, and entertainment, Gen Z has taken it even further. Not only are they particular, they are extremely meticulous about what is trending and what’s worth their time. Gen Z knows exactly what’s “in”: and they expect the ones in position to keep up. One thing is sure, though: this change is turning out to be a pricey one for the publishing world.
If you’re ever lucky enough to browse through a Gen Z bookshelf, the versatility of the books will make you question whether they belong to a 50-year-old or an 18-year-old. They have managed the revival of the so-called “dying” classics, making the decades-old literature into bestsellers again. This proves that Gen Z is on the hunt for books that show authentic representation, and mainstream literature is no longer the norm.
While the question of what books appeal to this generation will not leave anytime soon, the art of reading has not yet died, solely because of the eagle eye of publishers and authors. The age of digital media, where swiping has taken over flipping, has forced the people who once loved the feeling of paper and the smell of ink to take up typing classes. This change has led the authors to learn social media in a way they never thought possible, because not only are they writers but avid readers.
The business of social media marketing, fan fiction, book clubs, and fan art has led the imagination to places untouched by traditional publishing methods. Manuscripts are not where the story ends; only the first step to how well a story performs. I would like to end this article on a beautiful note: “Education is not a burden, it is a privilege. Therefore, we are endlessly blessed and forever grateful”.
From the Editor's desk
Pari Jain