The Dream of Debuting

Many dream of debuting as an author. But few succeed and the competition for those who get published is tough.

» Published: January 21 2025

The Dream of Debuting
Photo: Märta Thisner/Arvida Byström/Camilla Storbjörk/Emma Larsson

Share this article

It's looking up for debutants, according to the industry magazine Svensk Bokhandel's catalog of spring books. This spring, 81 authors are debuting, compared to last spring's 75. No major increase, and at Albert Bonniers publishing house, literary publisher Helena Ljungström doesn't notice it:

Since eight years ago, we've had a digital manuscript system, so it's easy to compare the numbers from year to year. They show that the number of submitted and published debut manuscripts is at a steady level, she says.

Through the eye of a needle

Helena Ljungström heads Albert Bonniers publishing house's internal debut manuscript group, which annually receives between 2,500 and 3,000 literary manuscripts. Only a fraction of these are published. This spring, it's about five manuscripts that have passed through the eye of a needle: a short story collection, three novels, and a thriller.

It hasn't become harder to get accepted. But it's harder to get noticed today. The competition has become much greater. Debutants really have to fight for attention.

If you count the audiobook category, the number of debuting authors has actually increased dramatically. But if you stick to traditional paper publishing, it's roughly "business as usual". The same goes for the medium-sized publishing house Ordfront. The publishing house has introduced a manuscript stop because they can't keep up otherwise, but will publish two literary debuts this spring.

It's normal, says publishing manager Pelle Andersson.

"There's a media logic"

But he doesn't agree that it's hard for a debutant to get attention and reach out.

If you debut and write about a trendy topic, there's a media logic that says "we write about this because it's new". If the author doesn't do something completely different in book two, the interest disappears. Then it becomes harder, says Pelle Andersson.

Both Helena Ljungström and Pelle Andersson say they're looking for unique stories with the potential to become bestsellers.

We, of course, have an interest in our debutants differing from each other in genre and style, says Helena Ljungström.

But Pelle Andersson adds that the hunt for the unique has changed somewhat due to audiobook services:

A traditional literary author should have a unique language and story. But for audiobooks, it's more about recognition. It's a kind of Netflix effect where listeners want more of the same: preferably thriller or feel-good series, he says.

Ellika Lagerlöf: "The Last Castrato" 10/1

Denise Henningsson Lindell: "Through Silent Skies" 15/1

Magnus Bremmer: "At the Horizon" 23/1

Evelyn Scala Schreiber: "The Private Girl" 28/1

Sanna Kullin: "The Gothenburg Syndrome" 29/1

Sanja Särman: "Feng Yongxu's Ability to Cry" 21/2

Jonathan Brott: "100 Poems" 6/3

Tina Norin: "The Milk Hare" 12/3

Leila Inanna Sultan: "The Penal Colony" 24/3

Katarina Muhr: "It Stays Between Us" 26/3

Sam Hultin: "Eva-Lisa's Monument" 26/3

Helena Lindegren: "More or Less Human" 31/3

Michael Vallinder: "The Autumn of Miracles" 1/4

Segen Meles: "Dad" 10/4

Melanie Kitti: "Half Urn, Half Grail" 12/4

Victor Johansson: "Panorama" 15/4

Lina Vodopija Stark: "Your Lives Flow Through Me" 22/4

Alva Skog: "Tagged" 24/4

Nanna Olasdotter Hallberg: "The Forgiveness of Sins" 30/4

(The dates stated are mostly review dates.)

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Mark Volman of The Turtles Dies at 78
1 MIN READ

Mark Volman of The Turtles Dies at 78

Anthropic Settles AI Copyright Lawsuit with Authors for $1.5 Billion
1 MIN READ

Anthropic Settles AI Copyright Lawsuit with Authors for $1.5 Billion

Darth Vader's Lightsaber Auctioned for Over 34 Million Kronor
1 MIN READ

Darth Vader's Lightsaber Auctioned for Over 34 Million Kronor

Bruce Springsteen Releases Electric Version of Nebraska in New Box Set
1 MIN READ

Bruce Springsteen Releases Electric Version of Nebraska in New Box Set

Authors' Association Lifts Warning Against Hybrid Publisher Lava
1 MIN READ

Authors' Association Lifts Warning Against Hybrid Publisher Lava

David Bowie's Final Project: 18th Century Musical Unveiled in Exhibition
1 MIN READ

David Bowie's Final Project: 18th Century Musical Unveiled in Exhibition

The Stag Beetle Returns to Radio as a Classic Serial
1 MIN READ

The Stag Beetle Returns to Radio as a Classic Serial

Justin Bieber Releases New Album Swag II
1 MIN READ

Justin Bieber Releases New Album Swag II

Tunna blå linjen Christmas Special and New Episodes Announced
1 MIN READ

Tunna blå linjen Christmas Special and New Episodes Announced

Farnaz Arbabi Revamps Shakespeare's Comedy with Modern Twist
3 MIN READ

Farnaz Arbabi Revamps Shakespeare's Comedy with Modern Twist

Hugh Bonneville Calls for Gaza Action at Downton Abbey Premiere
1 MIN READ

Hugh Bonneville Calls for Gaza Action at Downton Abbey Premiere

Jireel Announces New Album Release for October 24
1 MIN READ

Jireel Announces New Album Release for October 24

SVT Dominates Kristallen Gala with Nine Awards
4 MIN READ

SVT Dominates Kristallen Gala with Nine Awards

Swedish Film "Without Kelly" Debuts at Venice Festival
3 MIN READ

Swedish Film "Without Kelly" Debuts at Venice Festival

Justin Bieber Teases New Album Swag II Release
1 MIN READ

Justin Bieber Teases New Album Swag II Release

The Weeknd Returns to Sweden for 2024 Concert at Strawberry Arena
1 MIN READ

The Weeknd Returns to Sweden for 2024 Concert at Strawberry Arena

South Park Episode Features Trump and Satan's Surprising Relationship
1 MIN READ

South Park Episode Features Trump and Satan's Surprising Relationship

New Bond Game 007 First Light Set for March Release
1 MIN READ

New Bond Game 007 First Light Set for March Release

Government to Abolish Cost Rent for Major Cultural Institutions
2 MIN READ

Government to Abolish Cost Rent for Major Cultural Institutions

Swedish Cultural Canon Surprises by Excluding Abba
1 MIN READ

Swedish Cultural Canon Surprises by Excluding Abba