Australia is publishing books too quickly – and everyone is losing out

The Australian publishing industry is releasing books at an unsustainable pace, according to authors and industry insiders. This rapid production cycle is resulting in titles reaching the market before they are ready, ultimately harming both the books and the authors.

Financial pressures and overworked staff are contributing to rushed deadlines, a common complaint among those within the industry. This environment means that books are often not given the thorough editing and proofreading they require, leading to a lower overall quality.

One Sydney author, speaking under a pseudonym due to industry sensitivities, recounted a particularly negative experience with her debut nonfiction book. She discovered a crucial chapter had been intentionally removed during the final stages of production, a detail she only noticed during the proofing process. This experience left her vowing never to write another book, highlighting the emotional and professional toll of these industry practices.

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I thought it was a mistake, that it had somehow been left out of the papers they’d sent. Turns out they’d deliberately excised it and thought I wouldn’t notice.