They say that young people do not read, but the figures say the opposite: youth literature and Wattpad in 2022

This 2022 was marked by the influence of wattpad in the literary fiction market. Although the free reading platform is over fourteen years old, it has only been in recent years that the creators of this network (mostly authors) have seen their works published in printed format, through publishers that also provide them with other types of attendance; a trend that is also seen in Peru. But the year has had more than just that in the sector of books for teens and young adults and here we review it in detail.

the numbers speak

The number of sales of youth literature books during the COVID-19 pandemic was impressive. It is frequently mentioned that young people do not read, but the data shows another reality. They read digitally, but also on paper. For example, in 2021 the category represented 35% of total sales for the publisher Penguin Random House (Peru). In 2022 something like this happened, but with differences.

“The pandemic has been the ideal space for children to reconcile with reading, for young people to approach books again”, told this newspaper Fiorella Bravo, in charge of the youth section at the Penguin Random House publishing house, told El Comercio. Even so, while in 2021 the sale of books in the category grew by 80% compared to 2020, this 2022 the growth has been 30%. A significant distance, but it is surprising that this highly digital public still bets on paper.

That the books that come out of Wattpad sell so much on paper says a lot about the reader. “The authors have their communities of followers who are looking for the physical book. It is a much cleaner, more polished work (by the publisher) that a reader knows how to appreciate. We are also very surprised that the paper book is still accepted”Brave added.

Meanwhile, the publisher shared the best-selling titles for youth literature during 2022. “Boulevard” by Flor M. Salvador leads the list; the author who accumulates more than 91 million readings in this work still available on Wattpad. After her, there is Joana Marcús with “Before December”, Eva Muñoz with “Lascivia”, Elisabet Benavent with “A perfect story” and Ariana Godoy with “Fleur”, “Follow my voice” and “Through my window” .

For its part, Editorial Planeta also identified that the stories published on Wattpad are the ones that have been most well received by readers. This is the case with the Chilean Lily del Pilar with “Calcomanía”, the Spanish Joana Marcús with “Trilogía Fuego” and Gleen Black with “Raze”.

“From the outset, we know that if a book works well on the platform (Wattpad), there is a good chance that it will also work well on paper. It is never the same book published on Wattpad, because there they are self-taught and they come out without correction. Then, that content passes into the hands of a publisher and there is all the work ”, María Fernanda Castillo, editorial manager of Planeta, told this newspaper.

More Peruvian authors?

One of the most recent surprises was “Dead Park”, by Peruvian Charlie Becerra, one of the few national authors of youth works published in 2022. Clemencia Granados joins him with her science fiction book “Pangea” and Cinthya Huerta with “ The day we left paradise.” To somehow compensate for the reduced Peruvian representation in news, there is good news. “Alba” by the sisters Donna and Giovanna Di Biagio, which accumulates more than 9.6 million readings on Wattpad, arrives on Planet this 2023.

“Youth literature has created a space for itself within the literary world, a safe space in which writers can express themselves and grow. In several countries, publishers are relying more on these stories, giving young authors opportunities. The public has also grown, and more and more adolescents are taking an interest in reading”the Di Biagio sisters told El Comercio.

In this line, Planeta emphasizes that by 2023 they will have other novelties with Peruvian writers of youth literature, in addition to being on the hunt for new pens. ”(The authors) leave Instagram, leave Wattpad, or because they approach the publisher. They come from everywhere,” Castillo said. Meanwhile, Penguin Random House is in the same: “I don’t think there is a lack of talent (for youth literature in Peru); You need to find the authors. It is necessary to find that young voice that approaches their peers, that speaks to them in their language, that speaks to them about their contexts.”pointed out Fiorella Bravo.

Sharing books over networks

The rise of ‘bookstagrammers’ or ‘booktubers’, ‘influencer’ versions of the literary critic, are also in Peru. In 2022, different young Peruvians opened profiles on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube to talk about their favorite stories, accumulating thousands of followers in the process. They also have a view of the local youth literature market.

“We are in an incredible moment. Many publishers are betting on authors who write in youth romance, youth fantasy and many genres focused on us. We are in a very good moment and we have to take advantage of that. I think in other countries they are opening [paso a] new authors, I would love for this to be replicated in Peru. I know many people who are ‘talented’ and it would be incredible if Peruvian publishers gave them the opportunity”said the ‘bookstagrammer’ Mia Villafranqui.

As for the work of the book recommender on social networks, this has changed in 2022. “Before it was very simple, we simply uploaded stories and shared a nice photo where one gave their opinion about the readings they are having. But this year, that completely changed. Now we must also engage through short videos. I think that now the way to engage is to tell a little bit of the plot and let the readers explore the books”said the ‘bookstagrammer’ Laly Arce.

An unprecedented festival

The interest in youth literature was reflected in the Kokoro Book Fest in October, a five-day festival at the Eduardo Dibós Coliseum that brought together hundreds of young people who wanted to match one of the thousands of stories published on paper. In addition, it was a meeting space between readers and authors. “It was also the first time we met [en persona] to a reader. She approached us very excited and asked us for a photo. It is an unforgettable moment”, recalled the Di Biagio sisters.

But that was not the only occasion that readers had the opportunity to share with their favorite authors. During the year, Peru hosted writers such as the Colombian Eva Muñoz from “Lascivia”, the Mexican Flor M. Salvador from “Boulevard” and Melissa Ibarra from “Irresistible Error”, the Colombian Angie Ocampo from “Backstage”, Gleen Black from “Raze ” and the Chilean Lily del Pilar from “Calcomanía”. All of them participated in book signings.

In short, a profitable year for youth literature. From the sale of physical books, the support for Latin American authors on Wattpad and the commitment to more Peruvian writers by 2023. An initial step for works that deserve to be called literature.