The English-language publishing market is by far the largest in the world and can count on a theoretical base of 2.5 billion readers, with approximately 400 million native speakers. These two figures alone are sufficient for you to grasp the potential offered by publishing your work in English, but keep reading to discover more.
The English market
in figures
A very large market not only presents a vast pool of potential readers but also significant competition. It is estimated that around 4 million books are published in English each year, of which less than a million go through traditional publishing channels, while the rest are all produced through self-publishing. Of this enormous number, many titles barely sell a few dozen copies, some become bestsellers, and the rest sell from a few hundred to a few thousand copies.
Obviously, everyone would like to publish a bestseller, and we sincerely hope you do, but the more reasonable goal for those wanting to enter the English-language market is to identify their own niche of readers and sell a substantial number of copies by harnessing the extensive reach of the English language, particularly among younger populations with higher levels of education. To achieve this result and stop your book from becoming one of the thousands that sell only a few copies, you need impeccable quality that sets you apart from other authors who have written on a similar topic to yours.
How can you do this? We at Canary Editors can lend a hand.
How to enter the English-language market if you’re not a native speaker
Let’s assume that you are among the approximately 2 billion people who can read a text in English because they have studied or learned it as adults, without being native speakers. Surely, you are aware that being able to read in a language does not automatically mean you can write it correctly, especially when it comes to a lengthy and structured text like a book, which is quite different from a short Instagram post.
If you want to publish your book in English, the easiest choice is to write the book in your native language: the process will certainly be simpler and faster, and you will be able to express your style to the fullest, with your thoughts flowing more spontaneously and articulately. For the translation, we will entrust your text to a professional native English speaker who knows your native language inside out and how to rewrite your book in English while respecting your writing style and precisely conveying your ideas. This solution guarantees a higher-quality result because the book will be translated by a native speaker, with less effort on your part since you can write in the language you know best—your own.
For those who write in English: remember there isn’t just one market
When talking about the English-language market, the reference is mainly to the United States, which has the largest audience and the highest number of published titles. And it is also the most diverse, where major publishers coexist with many independent entities and an overwhelming number of self-published works, especially non-fiction books like self-help manuals and business-related literature. On the other hand, the British market is dominated by major publishers, with fewer independent publishing houses and a greater focus on classical fiction and historical texts. In general, it is more traditional compared to the American market, with a tendency towards more complex and refined styles. Of course, there are many other markets, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. However, we can say that the U.S. market remains the reference point for both fiction and non-fiction texts, while the British one continues to hold great importance academically.
American or British English?
People who write in English are not always truly aware of the specificities of their local variant. There are differences in spelling (color vs. colour), terminology (elevator vs. lift), syntax preferences (hypotactic or paratactic style), and, of course, different cultural references between American and British English. So, which English should you write in? Which audience should you target? And which style guide should you follow: Oxford or Chicago?
While English remains a unique and universally understandable language, if you want to reach a broader audience and gain credibility, it’s ideal to reference the American audience, given the simpler syntax and the predominance of American culture globally. That said, the most crucial aspect of a book is coherence. If you are British, feel free to write in the language of Albion, but ensure you do not insert terms with American spelling. If you want to be sure that your book is fully comprehensible across the pond, we recommend our copyediting service. And if you are an experienced author or already work with an editor, take a look at our proofreading service, an essential step before printing.
Our copyediting service
If you have an excellent command of English or are a native speaker but don’t consider yourself a writer, you can decide to write the book in your own words and then rely on us to handle the copyediting service, which will be performed by a native English-speaking editor. This way, you can put your ideas on paper without worrying about always using the most accurate term or strictly adhering to all grammatical rules.
A professional editor who has spoken English since birth and is familiar with the major style guides will take care of these details. This person will read your text and make it smooth and grammatically impeccable while preserving your style and ideas. We collaborate with both British and American editors to meet all your audience’s needs. You can also choose to create two slightly different versions of the book, one for the British market and the other for other English-speaking countries.
Want to know more? Visit the page dedicated to our copyediting service
