British literature experienced something of a "big bang" in the 20th century. We went from having a few household name authors and influential Victorian figures to having dozens of authors that pretty much everyone has heard of or been introduced to in some way.
While it is impossible to say precisely what the future holds, it is interesting to speculate. The internet has disrupted a historic industry and is almost unrecognisable from the 20th century.
Despite that, many of the exact British literary figures continue to be huge sellers and household names, partially due to continual adaptations and references in popular culture. This helps to perpetuate the legacy of classical British authors and introduce them to new audiences. It is fair to say that British authors have a global impact now, as they always have.
A Changing Landscape
To properly understand the likely future of the British literature world, it is important to get to grips with how the industry works now and how everything is different from when the printing press was invented. Everything is different compared to the industry just 30 or 40 years ago.
How Authors Are Discovered
Did you know that the #BookTok hashtag gets hundreds of millions of views on TikTok? While 150 years ago, authors would be heard about through word of mouth and newspapers (many published serials in newspapers) and 50 years ago, radio and television were key players, the internet is the most crucial method of discovering new literature.
If we take modern English writer and journalist Matt Haig as an example, a quick search for his name on TikTok will show you that videos about his books have been viewed 18.5 million times (correct at the time of writing). How many people have discovered his writing through a viral video or review?
It is also impossible to ignore the influence of Amazon on the current industry. Pew Research has some fascinating facts and figures, including that 64% of people with e-readers use online bookstores to find book recommendations. A little algorithm that generates "you may also like" suggestions may be the best way to find books you love.
This represents a power shift, too. The chance for authors to go viral and go from struggling sales to vast levels of popularity is there for all to see.
While some scorn is thrown over certain types of fiction, and there are undeniable stigmas relating to the genre of erotic fiction, the example of E.L. James shows the power British writers may have.
Her books have sold over 125 million copies worldwide, as she went from a fan-fiction writer to a household name. Whatever people say about the writing style and critical response, James is incredibly successful. She was a triumph for female writers and even made a list of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World" in Time magazine.
Self Publishing
Self-publishing is not necessarily a new concept, but the barrier to entry for self-publishing is much lower now than ever before.
That is not to say it is easy, but somebody can write a novel in their home, publish it online, and garner attention. That example may be oversimplified, but there are plenty of success stories from authors who opted to publish their work.
L.J. Ross is another author from the UK who has a fantastic story. Her self-published crime novels have sold over 7 million copies. Her first book was published in 2015, and she now owns her own publishing company, Dark Skies Publishing, to handle all of the printing and release of her books.
This is just one of the examples of those who are going it alone and removing traditional publishers from the process. There are still plenty of positives to working with more conventional publishers. It can be a way to expose your work to large audiences, and it allows authors to focus on the writing side of things rather than promoting their work.
There is little denying that self-publishing will continue to be a massive part of the future of British literature. English tuition services are designed to help students improve their language skills in a supportive learning environment.
Trends in Genre and Style
Genre and style are more nuanced thanks to the fact that books don't need to be funded and released on a large scale. This means that if you are into a particular niche of fiction, you might well find writers operating in this niche.
Specific trends in genre and style are transparent and will likely shape the current era and the near future of fiction.
Self-Help
Self-help books are a huge industry, and their popularity continues to grow. In 2022, Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? Dr Julie Smith was one of the best-selling books. The book is designed to help people with their mental health and has been described as 'A toolkit of deceptively simple strategies for life's troubles. Everyone could benefit from the wisdom of Dr Smith'.
Matt Haig, who we have already mentioned in this article, has also written several books in the self-help niche, which have become very popular.
With a focus on self-care in society, the stigma around self-help books is disappearing, and the genre is one of the biggest in modern British literature.
Cosy Mysteries
Cosy mystery books are most certainly "in" at the moment. The current series by Richard Osman shows just how popular these books are.
The content of these books tends to be pretty easy to digest in terms of profanity and serious themes, but there is usually enough crime and mystery to keep the reader hooked. They sit in the sweet spot of being exciting and innocent enough not to hit the reader too hard.
Dystopian
We have a generation of writers who lived through a pandemic. It is almost always that, following a massive global event, we see a trend in fiction following this specific event.
British writers have a reputation for creating dystopian fiction, too. Influenced popular British writers like George Orwell and Anthony Burgess have worked within this genre.
As technology in society continues to evolve, and fear, post-truth and anxiety all play a big part in the global zeitgeist, expect dystopian novels to continue to reflect a fearful view of the future.
Other Popular Genres
Specific writing genres aren't going anywhere, either, and will have their place in the future of British literature.
Fantasy is still a massive genre with a thriving scene of British writers. Harry Potter and The Lord of The Rings are British classic books that have spawned hundreds of imitations and inspired many more writers.
There have always been romance novels and books for the modern generation, including Beth O'Leary's The Flatshare.
Crime and thriller books are also going strong, with millions of people reading British authors in these genres, including Lee Child and Ian Rankin.
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Will AI Have an Impact?
Notice that we haven't opted for the doom-mongering subtitle of "AI Taking Over" here. Undeniably, AI will have some impact. There is no way that a tech advance like this can't have any effect, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will replace writers.
When it comes to fiction, AI is some way from being able to come up with creative ideas that lead to the best invention. While it can be a tool for writing in both fiction and nonfiction genres, it is unlikely that AI writing models will replace writers just yet.
AI is proven and can write full books already. They may well be lacking something, though. Even when AI can write better fiction books, many believe the writing won't connect on a human level. We all have our favourite authors and characters. Is it likely that we would read an AI model's latest work by the pool when we're on holiday?
Conclusion – What The Future Holds For British Literature
Nobody knows precisely how British literature will evolve, but many of the genres and styles of writing mentioned in this article are bound to play a massive part in the coming years and decades.
British literature is more diverse than ever, something to be celebrated. People from all sorts of backgrounds can publish books, and while some elitists view it, some of the traditional "pulp fiction" genres have been successful in recent times. We expect that to continue into the 20s, 30s, and beyond.
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