publishing trends – Stories Rule Press

Why We Don’t Chase Trends at Stories Rule Press

16 April 2026 / Mark Posey

Trends come and go. One month it’s a trope, a cover style, or a subgenre everyone is chasing; six months later, the industry has already sprinted off after the next shiny object like a Labrador with three tennis balls and no self-control. At Stories Rule Press, we’ve made a different choice. We pay attention to the market, but we don’t build our catalogue around trends. We start with the story—and whether it’s the kind of world a reader can disappear into and want to return to years later.

You’re Not Bad at Writing. Publishing Is Hostile to Story.

21 February 2026 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

Storytelling hasn’t failed readers — publishing culture has simply become suspicious of it. If you’re being told to slow down, soften conflict, or “let the story breathe,” the problem may not be your writing at all. It may be that you’re telling stories in a moment that prefers experience over consequence.

No, It’s Not Your Imagination. Publishing Is Tough Now.

11 October 2025 / Tracy Cooper-Posey

If it feels like publishing is tougher than ever — it’s not your imagination. The market is saturated, algorithms are pay-to-play, and readers are trained to expect endless content for pennies. But that doesn’t mean you’re doomed. It means the game has changed. And smart indie authors are adapting by building direct reader platforms, redefining success on their own terms, and learning to market without selling their souls. The old paths are gone — time to blaze your own.