Writers and readers – a symbiotic
relationship. Ideas spark writers to create stories and build worlds and
characters for readers’ consumption. Readers add imagination and thought along
with their backgrounds and attitudes to interpret those stories, deriving
meaning and enjoyment in the process. A story is incomplete without both writer
and reader.
What then do readers want? What constitutes
a compelling story? How do men and women differ in their preferences? Where do
readers find recommendations? What are their attitudes to pricing or their
favourite reading blogs? These and other questions have been the subject of two
previous reader surveys.
ANNOUNCING A 2015 READER SURVEY designed to
solicit further input on reading habits, historical fiction preferences,
favourite authors and, for the first time, favourite historical fiction. THE
SURVEY WILL BE OPEN UNTIL MAY 14.
If you are a reader or a writer, please take the survey and share the
link:
...with friends and family and on your favourite social media. Robust participation
across age groups, countries, and other demographics will make this year’s
survey even more significant. Those who take the survey will be able to sign up
to receive a summary report when it becomes available.
HISTORICAL FICTION IS MAINSTREAM: Less than 2% of participants
said they rarely or never read historical fiction.
GENDER MAKES A DIFFERENCE: Women and men differ significantly in
their reading habits and preferences and their views of historical fiction.
AGE MAKES A DIFFERENCE: Those under 30 have different
preferences for genre and time period
and have different patterns of
consumption and acquisition.
SOCIAL MEDIA IS HAVING A BIG IMPACT ON READING: Social media and
online sites play an increasingly significant role for those choosing,
purchasing, and talking about fiction.
BOOK BLOGS ARE VERY POPULAR: 1,473 participants listed one, two
or three favourite blogs.
GEOGRAPHY: Responses to questions such as the use of online
tools for recommendations and purchasing and preferred setting for historical
fiction varied by geography.
PRICING: Sadly, readers are pushing for low prices. For example,
60% want e-books at $5.99 or less and 66% want paperbacks at $10.99 or less.
ONLINE BOOK CLUBS ARE GAINING POPULARITY: 21% belong to online
clubs while 15% belong to clubs meeting in a physical location
VOLUME OF BOOKS READ MAKES A DIFFERENCE: for example, high
volume readers have different expectations for book reviews, a higher interest
in tracking their books, and higher usage of online tools and social media to
augment their reading experience.
# # #
M.K.
Tod writes historical fiction and blogs about all aspects of the genre at A Writer of History. Her latest novel, LIES
TOLD IN SILENCE is set in WWI France and is available from Amazon, Nook, Kobo, Google Play and iTunes. Mary
can be contacted on Facebook, Twitter
and Goodreads.
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