Is the Rise of a New Male-Focused Publisher Threatening Other Voices in Australian Literature?

A newly established publishing house, Conduit Books, created by British author and reviewer Jude Cook, aims to concentrate on releasing literary novels and autobiographies by male authors Initially, at least. Conduit is presently searching for its inaugural publication, which they prefer to be "a first novel authored by a male UK writer under 35." The company plans to release three titles annually starting in 2026. Cook believes that less focus is being placed on male writers nowadays, thus highlighting the necessity for "an independent publishing house dedicated to promoting literary fiction written by men.”

This point has also been raised domestically. Earlier this year, Australian poet and author Michael Crane bemoaned The reducing opportunities and focus for male writers, suggesting they are being unjustly ignored due to their identity as an older white male author.

Is there a decrease in the number of male authors in Australia and beyond? How does this trend manifest itself in prize winners, reader demographics, and book sales figures? Furthermore, if fewer males are engaging with literature, especially literary fiction, could this shift simply reflect differing levels of interest between genders?

Awards, professional authors, and book sales

Although his focus was primarily on age rather than gender, Crane observed that "the majority of books published locally are written by women." Additionally, he contended that female authors have lately taken precedence in this field. Miles Franklin Literary Award shortlist.

This statement holds merit: from 2012 onwards, after the establishment of the Stella Prize, we've seen twelve female recipients for the Miles Franklin Award alongside only one male winner. Comparatively, during the earlier timeframe between 1999 and 2011, there were ten males and three females who received recognition. Thus, over approximately the last ten years, a noticeable shift—or complete reversal—has occurred in terms of award distribution.

As mentioned, older male writers have traditionally held more prominence in literary circles, not only in Australia but also internationally. This change appears, at least partly, to be an adjustment.

Although the count of employed writers in Australia has increased consistently from 1983, the proportion of male writers has remained constant. has diminished from 55% (in 1988) down to merely 17% (as of 2023), as per data revealed recent Creative Australia study of Australian professional artists.

Looking at last week’s Australian bestseller list , leading with American self-help authority Mel Robbins' Let Them Theory , eight out of ten authors listed are female. The top spot on the bestseller list for Australian writers is occupied by a colouring-in book. Cosy Calm is even more prominently featuring women: not a single male writer appears among the top ten.

The leading Australian bestsellers from last year show a similar pattern: seven out of the top ten spots went to female authors. Among them, two titles secured the first and second positions. RecipeTin Eats cookbooks by Nagi Maehashi.

In the UK as well, women writers are progressively taking over published works, leaving less room and focus for male authors. Both emerging and seasoned male authors miss out on the "cultural hype" that surrounds female writers such as Sally Rooney, who seem to embody the current literary spirit of the times. literary critic Johanna Thomas-Corr was written in the Guardian.

During the time frame from 2012 to 2024, when Australia’s top literary award boasted 12 female winners and just one male victor, the situation was as follows: Man Booker Prize remained predominantly led by males, with eight male and six female victors. (Two women, Bernardine Evaristo and Margaret Atwood, shared the 2019 prize.)

And in the United States during that time frame, the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction was predominantly won by men, with nine male and four female recipients. (In 2023, the prize was shared,) Barbara Kingsolver The 2025 Pulitzer winners were revealed today, with the fiction category going to Percival Everett. James .

Do men need better stories?

Although Cook’s initiative has its sceptics It appears to be well-intentioned. As Cook points out, with ongoing discussions about toxic masculinity, it has become increasingly crucial to "focus on what young men are reading." Additionally, some observers have expressed worry over the decrease in both male authors and male readers.

Recently, Las Vegas-based English Professor David J. Morris contended in an argument the New York Times The decline in interest in literary fiction signifies an emotional, cultural, and educational retreat among men in the United States. He points out that female readers currently make up approximately 80% of U.S. fiction purchases.

The isolated and disillusioned young men attracted to the "manosphere" and instrumental in Trump's reelection bid require more compelling narratives — ones where they recognize their place within broader storytelling traditions. The argument he presents underscores how vital literary fiction is for cultivating emotional acumen, making the drop in male readership particularly concerning.

Cook appears to concur; he feels that significant tales and perspectives are being neglected. He is eager to release works such as novels and short stories centered around themes like fatherhood, masculinity, working-class experiences, relationships, and other subjects pertinent to "negotiating the 21st century from a male viewpoint."

He emphasizes, though, that Conduit Books is not adopting an "adversarial position." The company will "include writers of color, as well as queer, non-binary, and neurodivergent authors.”

Women tend to read more compared to men.

A February 2025 Australia Reads survey suggests that "enthusiastic readers" (those who frequently begin new books and read every day) are mostly women, while "uncertain readers" and "disengaged non-readers" were much more likely to be men.

Additionally, new studies indicate that there remains considerable gender bias in what men choose to read. Among the most popular ten bestsellers written by women, males accounted for fewer than 20 percent of the audience. Nielsen Bookscan data unveiled in 2023. On the contrary, the audience for top-selling works penned by male writers was more balanced: 56% men and 44% women.

On average, women read significantly more than men and are considerably more open to reading works by male authors compared to how often men choose literature by female writers. One could accurately state that most authors of literary fiction heavily rely on a predominantly female readership—and this has been the case for an extended period.

In 2005, when male authors were certainly not lacking in the literary world, British writer Ian McEwan stood out as an established voice. embarked on an experiment Feeling the need to declutter his shelves, he gathered a pile of novels and headed to a local park with the intention of giving them away to people walking by. He found success in handing these books over to female pedestrians, yet every attempt to offer one to a male passerby was unsuccessful. Dejectedly, McEwan remarked, "When women cease reading, the fate of the novel will be sealed."

Publishing and demand

Cook thinks that pieces by men exploring topics particularly pertinent to male audiences are "not getting commissioned" in today’s literary climate.

A 2020 diversity study reported that 78% of editorial staff in the UK are women (although the same study shows that less than half of senior management positions in publishing are held by men).

An anonymous male publisher told the Guardian A few years back, "the vibrant writing is currently being driven by women," however, this was because "there aren't too many men involved. The men just aren't stepping up."

A different publisher, belonging to the literary imprint Serpent’s Tail, said If a truly excellent novel written by a man arrives on my desk, I honestly tell myself, this might be harder to get published.

The sales numbers appear to support this. The Guardian calculated According to data from the Bookseller, out of the top 1,000 bestselling fiction titles in 2020, 629 were penned by female authors, whereas 341 were authored by male writers (with 27 being collaborations between men and women, and three attributed to non-binary authors). It’s worth noting that many people continue to engage with the traditional literary canon, which predominantly features works by male authors.

It appears Cook suggests that men are currently showing less interest in literary fiction due to the decline in numbers of modern male writers, who receive minimal attention and recognition. However, it’s equally plausible that female authors have gained greater prominence because women remain consistently more involved with literary fiction—thus, the publishing industry may merely be adjusting to serve this primary demographic.

Is it possible to attract more male readers?

So will publishing and promoting more men bring back male readers? Or does this just amount to a demand that the overwhelmingly female audience for literary fiction should pay more attention to male authors? As literary critic Thomas-Corr notes , irrespective of who wrote them, many men

I couldn't care less about fiction, particularly literary fiction. There are video games, YouTube, nonfiction books, podcasts, magazines, and Netflix to keep one occupied.

Male authors continue to have strong representation in these formats, which makes it potentially just as crucial—or even more so—to dedicate considerable focus to examining their narrative techniques and storytelling methods. After all, novels are not the sole vehicles for cultivating emotional understanding or compassion.

Cook's plan will likely spark greater conversation about the diminishing presence of male writers and readers within literary circles. It may also guarantee that Conduit Press’s initial releases garner significant attention. However, considering current reading trends, it appears plausible to anticipate that men might find themselves representing a smaller segment of the literary market in years to come.

Julian Novitz is not employed by, does not provide consulting services for, nor holds any shares in or receives financial support from any entity that could gain from this article. He has declared no additional relationships outside of his academic position.