The 2020 Coronavirus pandemic is changing the way the world works. Everything from ordering food to attending school to traveling and watching movies has shifted dramatically over the past six months.  

When the virus abates, some of these changes will go "back to normal." Some, however, will be permanent.

Like it or not, the pandemic is changing the way the world works. That includes the way we read, how we write, and how we buy books.

The Way We Read

It should come as no surprise that both the type of content we've been reading during the pandemic and the amount of time we've been spending reading have both seen significant shifts.

Content

According to research, as nationwide quarantines kicked off in the spring of 2020, sales of children's books and "feel good fiction" absolutely skyrocketed. While Juvenile book sales increased by 80%, kid-themed activity books spiked by 40%.

These numbers are easily explained. Not only were parents looking for good, healthy ways to amuse their children during the lockdowns, but they were looking for a bit of escapism themselves! 

What better way to take your mind off a global pandemic than a quick trip to Prince Edward Island through Anne of Green Gables or a jaunt with A Bear Called Paddington?

Time

During both statewide and nationwide shutdowns, people found that without a work commute, daily activities, or their regular schedules, they had much more time to read. 

This is true in the United States, as well as in the UK.

According to new research from the literacy charity The Reading Agency, almost a third of people are reading more as a result of quarantine. The thirst for books has been particularly strong in the 18-25-year-old bracket, in which 45% of respondents reported increasing their reading, while overall 31% of the 2,103 respondents said they had read more since the restrictions began on 23 March.

While it's still unclear whether these new habits will carry over into daily life once more regular routines resume, it's safe to say people who have rekindled their love of reading are likely to continue investing more time in books than they did pre-pandemic.

How We Write

Just as the pandemic era has given us more time to read, it's also given authors more time to write. With a lot more time on their hands, authors are inundating agents and editors with fresh submissions.

For those of us who love stories and storytelling, this is nothing but good news! 2020 has taken so much from us, but the thought of new and fresh books on the horizon is definitely a silver lining.

We're not just talking established authors, either. With the world moving slowly and many people either out of work, temporarily furloughed, or working from home, would-be first-time authors have decided to take the plunge and work on their first manuscripts, learning to write and submit proposals on the fly. 

Those hoping to write the next great American novels should take heed, though.

With so much stress and uncertainty swirling around (especially in the wake of Black Lives Matter protests leading into a national election), authors would do well to remember the statistics noted above.

As we already mentioned, at the beginning of the pandemic, sales of children's books and feelgood fiction soared. If these trends continue and people turn to fiction for escapism, the next bestselling fiction series is unlikely to be a gritty crime novel or a fast-paced dystopian thriller. Instead, they're searching for comic fiction or sweet romance.

Of course, not everyone who's learning to write during the pandemic is attempting to publish a novel.  One of the top bestsellers between January and June of 2020 was Sharon Jones's self-reflection journal Burn After Writing.

How We Buy Books

Even though most stores (bookstores, big-box chains, and otherwise) were closed for in-person shopping, in the spring and early summer, the book business continued to boom.

Book purchases grew 777 percent in the first half of April, compared to the first half of March before stay-at-home orders were mandated, and  295 percent year-over-year, according to Rakuten data. (Fox)

In other words, though people were out shopping less, they were definitely buying more books, both digital and print. 

Online book retailers and e-commerce book sites were best positioned to take advantage of this shift, but bookstores with online sales options also benefited as well.

Calling it a shift might be a bit of a misnomer, however. Though print sales and purchases at brick-and-mortar stores have been in decline for quite some time, it is still too soon to judge just how strongly the pandemic era has affected online vs. in-person book sales long-term.

Here to Stay

Though the virus has affected what we read, how we write, and where we buy our books, one thing is still clear.

Reading and writing are here to stay.