Publishing in the age of AI

The power of narrative to connect and endure is also evident in another story from the festival. Wang's teacher at the China Academy of Art, Ruan Junting, published her fifth book, Chun Hui (Spring Sunshine), earlier this year, an autobiographical picture book about a female artist teaching at an art college.

In the story, the teacher repeatedly confronts and responds to the questions within her: What does it truly mean to be a teacher? What is genuine love? How do we, step by step, grow into the adults we have become?

The book won the "A Voice" award at the publishing festival.

Ruan's love of books began as a child more than 30 years ago. Her parents took her to meet a family friend, who was a painter, and she was given a book as a gift. When she opened it, she saw the words "The life of Jiang Zhong", Jiang Zhong being the painter's name.

"I realized that books could be as precious and enduring as a person's life. At that moment, I decided I wanted to create something like that too — something that would last longer than my own life," she says.

While creators explore essence and legacy, the practical realities of publishing are crucial. Liu Suli, who has run Wansheng Bookstore in Beijing for 32 years, says that while book publishing and sales reflect the mood of society, a book is first and foremost a commodity.

If a publishing company wants to survive, it must build its own system and tradition that will last for decades and won't be easily crushed by market forces, he says.

"What is a system? At its core, it's about continually questioning what you're doing. This prevents pessimism and provides the strength to get through the toughest times, even when every day feels like the hardest," he adds.

Liu says that his team has never stopped discussing what an independent bookstore truly is. It is a question, he says, that concerns the very survival of their business.

His philosophy is rooted in market realities.

"Based on my many years of experience in selling books, I still firmly believe that books with good content are likely to attract buyers. The ones that don't sell are usually those that look flashy or have eye-catching titles but don't deliver on substance," he says.

Amid the challenges facing the publishing industry, there remains a persistent sense of optimism. Chen Xiying, the founder of the publishing brand Lucida, which has released many best-sellers since its inception in 2020, embodies this hopeful outlook.

Chen compares books to simple yet irreplaceable inventions like spoons and umbrellas, saying, "Books are among these perfect forms, giving hope for their future". Despite predictions that e-books would overtake print, she notes, "Physical books remain important. Many, including myself and my colleagues, still prefer them."

She acknowledges the industry's difficulties, saying, "Even if publishing shrinks and print runs decrease, we will continue to produce books for those who consider them essential."

Chen emphasizes that even if physical books were to disappear, the essence of their content would endure.

"If physical books vanish, the role of editors will persist in some form, possibly through new formats like VR reading," she says.

Chen's confidence in the future of publishing is bolstered by her perspective on the crucial role editors play in the industry. She notes that readers frequently remain unaware of their needs until editors present them with timely and relevant books. "It's the editor's job to anticipate and meet these needs," Chen says.

"Publishing, at its core, is about deep, sustained thinking — a key strength of editors. Whether through print, e-books or audio, content can always find a way to reach the world."