Which comes first? The manuscript, the book deal, or the massive social media following to drive sales? Malavika Kannan, 25, just published her first adult novel, Unprecedented Times, which follows a college freshman navigating the intersection of online activism and real-world adult challenges. As Kannan notes, the internet has become an inescapable character in modern literature, reflecting the growing social media anxiety that many contemporary authors face today.
The Shifting Landscape of Publishing
The all-encompassing nature of social media has irrevocably changed consumer behavior, including how readers discover and purchase books. With Publishers Weekly reporting that 59 million print-book sales in 2024 were linked to BookTok, the pressure to maintain a digital footprint has shifted from a helpful marketing tool to an industry requirement. For many writers, this creates a difficult landscape where the need to perform online can feel at odds with the solitary nature of the craft.
Authors Embracing Their Digital Selves
Despite the strain, some authors are finding ways to channel this pressure into their work. Hallie Elizabeth Newton, author of Agnes Lives!, explores the gap between reality and online curation, using her own experiences with Instagram to inform her narrative. Similarly, Iman Hariri-Kia, author of Once in a Timeline, drew inspiration from a subway delay where she found herself fixated on a creator’s day-in-the-life video, leading her to question the sanity of performing for an omniscient audience.
Finding Balance in a Digital World
Benedict Nguyễn’s novel Hot Girls With Balls further satirizes the complex maze between personal identity and public political stances, removing the distinction between in-person and online experiences. While the tensions between authors and the digital world appear to be a permanent fixture of the industry, many writers are choosing to build community without allowing the pressures of the algorithm to stifle their creative voice. As Kannan concludes, the internet is a place to exist, but it is not the stage where she chooses to place her primary energy.