How Can We Create a Better Literary Landscape?
Panelists from Kickstarter’s The Next Page conference share actions anyone can take to help support a more vibrant literary world.
In the past decade, we’ve seen the rise of the slow food movement and the buy-local movement. Both of these represent ways that consumers can use their purchasing power to make a stand for the type of world they wish to see.
Readers can make an equally big impact by learning more about how books are made and sold, by making deliberate choices about how they interact with the literary ecosystem (from reviewing books online to attending readings and literary events), and by supporting independent book publishers, bookstores, and media whenever possible.
On May 11, Kickstarter will host The Next Page, a digital conference exploring future of publishing through four live-streamed panels (open to anyone with an internet connection). Ahead of the conference, we asked a few of our panelists to share their suggestions for actions anyone can take to help create a more vibrant reading and writing landscape.
— Margot Atwell, Director of Publishing at Kickstarter
How can folks who work outside of publishing or the media support a more vibrant, sustainable future for the industry?
Sarah Guan, Associate editor at Orbit and Redhook
First and foremost, read. Make the time — especially as books compete with TV shows, video games, etc., for readers’ attention in today’s media landscape. Consciously choose to take chances on new writers, especially those of marginalized backgrounds, whose perspectives might be unfamiliar or challenging. Buy books when you can afford them, but also, request that your local library order books by authors you love or want to try. Recommend books to your community, give them as gifts, and talk about them in the same way that you would discuss the latest episode of your favorite show or podcast.
Oriana Leckert, Journalism Outreach Lead at Kickstarter
The old financial models are irrevocably broken, and there is a total lack of financial stability all across the media ecosystem. A membership model that puts all the costs on individuals won’t likely be enough to solve the whole systemic problem, but subscribing to websites, newspapers, and magazines you read often is a crucial way to support all the people making that content happen.
Margot Atwell, Director of Publishing at Kickstarter
Robust public arts funding enables writers and creative people to take more risks, and creates greater access to art and culture. Call your elected reps and advocate for more funding for public libraries, the National Endowment for the Arts, and other public arts funding. Buy books from brick and mortar bookstores, especially independent bookstores.
Whitney Hu, Director of Public Programs at National Book Foundation
Purchase books from bookstores! Explore titles from indie presses! And while we love our physical books, I do think we should start thinking about the impact printing books has on our environment. Karla Olson at Patagonia Books is doing really cool work when it comes to sustainability and minimizing environmental harm when it comes to the production of books. Also yes, side note: Patagonia has a books department.
Ace Ratcliff, Writer, artist, activist, and model
Read books by marginalized creators. Look at illustrations made by marginalized creators. Demand publishing companies hire marginalized humans. Demand that they publish work by marginalized humans. Make it known when they aren’t doing all of the above. We live in a capitalistic society, so we often have to speak with our dollars, but make a huff on social media too. Don’t make marginalized groups speak alone — uplift their voices!
Joe Biel, Founder and CEO at Microcosm Publishing
Get all of your books from your local library, your local bookstore, or directly from an independent publisher!
Jenny 8. Lee, Emoji activist and publisher
Donate to support early-stage fellowships, or create your own fellowship. That encouragement is critical to writers at inflection points in their careers.
Mark Oshiro, Young adult author
Stop pirating books in any form, first of all. Understand what real support looks like, even if it’s not monetary. There are ways of supporting authors and publishers who are challenging the status quo. It’s actually very scary and risky to do so. What sort of safety net are we providing for the people who are making moves?
