Australia is publishing books too quickly – and everyone is losing out
Australia's publishing industry is prioritizing speed over quality, resulting in books being published before they are ready. This rush to market can lead to errors and a lack of attention to detail, ultimately harming authors and the industry as a whole. The pressure to publish quickly is driven by financial constraints and the desire to capitalize on trends and news cycles.
- ▪The Australian publishing industry is under financial pressure, leading to rushed deadlines and overworked staff.
- ▪Many books are being published before they are ready, resulting in errors and a lack of attention to detail.
- ▪The industry is calling for government intervention, including price-fixing measures, to help alleviate financial pressures.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
‘Australia’s publishing industry on the whole seems hellbent on getting books to market as quickly as possible.’ Illustration: Getty imageThanks to rushed deadlines, financial pressure and overworked staff, titles are going to market before they’re ready – and then sliding from view immediatelyBy Catriona Menzies-PikeSun 21 Jun 2026 11.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 21 Jun 2026 11.01 EDTShareA Sydney author – I’ll call her Rebecca – vowed never to write another book after the deranging experience of publishing her first.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at the Guardian.
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