The Future of Midlist Authors in the Age of AI: There's Still Room for You
A candid conversation about thriving as an author in 2025 and beyond
Last week, I received a message from a fellow author that I suspect echoes the concerns of many writers right now, and I believe it addresses one of the most pressing questions for authors today: Is there still a place for midlist authors in a world increasingly dominated by AI?
The Conversation That Sparked This Post
My colleague reached out with understandable anxiety:
“Do you think there will continue to be a way to make a more midlist living as an author into the next five, ten, twenty years?”
This is a question I've been thinking about deeply, both as an author and as the CTO of Future Fiction Academy. Here's what I shared in response, expanded for this post…
The Midlist Author's Path Forward
If you're already a midlist author with an established audience (even a small one) you absolutely can continue to make a living. But the approach might need to shift in two key directions:
1. Double Down on Content Expansion, Not Just Creation
The first strategy involves leveraging what you've already created. This doesn't necessarily mean writing more new books (though that's certainly an option). Instead, think about:
AI-assisted translations to reach international markets
Adapting your work into different formats like comics, audio, or short-form content
Creating supplemental material that enriches your existing stories
The key insight here is that you don't need to produce entirely new universes and characters. In fact, there's significant value in expanding what you've already built.
2. Center Everything on Story and Character
The second strategy is to focus relentlessly on story. As AI tools become more sophisticated at generating coherent text, what will distinguish human authors is our ability to create unforgettable characters, settings, and emotional journeys.
In other words, fandom is where midlist authors will thrive.
Readers don't just want content. They want to feel connected to worlds and characters they care about. They want that emotional resonance that comes from a well-crafted story that speaks to the human experience. That's something AI alone cannot replicate without human guidance and creativity.
How AI Fits Into This Picture
The authors who will really break out are those who employ AI strategically to give more content in universes where readers are already fans of the story.
At Future Fiction Academy, we've seen incredible success stories. One of our students has transformed her career by using AI as a collaborative tool (you can watch her story here). She's not replacing her creativity with AI. She's amplifying it.
When creating supplemental content that expands your fictional universe, you need AI tools with substantial context windows. Models like Claude 3.7 Sonnet and Google Gemini 2.0 (or better) can actually "read" your book and help generate authentic bonus content that stays true to your characters and world.
This might include:
Bonus scenes from different character perspectives
"What happened after" epilogues
Character interviews or diaries
Side stories about minor characters
World-building expansions
Building Your Reader Connection
My colleague asked about the "fandom" aspect, and I believe this is where midlist authors have their greatest opportunity. There are multiple ways to nurture this connection:
Subscription platforms like Patreon or Ko-Fi where dedicated readers can access exclusive content
Newsletter exclusives that bring readers into your ecosystem where they can discover your other work
Free blog content optimized for SEO that draws new readers into your world
The key is creating multiple touchpoints that keep readers engaged with your fictional universe between major releases. This approach transforms occasional readers into dedicated fans.
The Industry Anxiety is Real (But Not the Whole Story)
My colleague noted that there’s so much fear in the industry right now, and they have never felt more uncertain about the trajectory of publishing.
This anxiety is understandable. The publishing landscape is shifting rapidly, and AI advancements seem to arrive weekly. But here's a perspective shift that might help:
Gone are the days when poorly written books could still find an audience simply because the algorithms favored them or because readers had fewer choices. AI, when paired with a human guide, produces competent writing. That means the bar has been raised.
But that's not bad news! It's an opportunity for authors who care deeply about craft, emotional resonance, and authentic connection with readers. Those qualities will become even more valuable, not less.
Why I'm Optimistic About Authors' Futures
I told my colleague that I've never been more excited about the future of storytelling, and I meant it. The potential for authors who embrace these new tools is enormous.
We're entering an era where:
You can reach global audiences through AI-assisted translation
You can produce more content in the worlds your readers already love
You can experiment with formats and styles that might have been too time-consuming before
You can focus more energy on the aspects of storytelling that you love most
The key is approaching AI as a collaborator rather than a competitor. It's a tool in your creative arsenal, one that can handle some of the mechanical aspects of content creation while you focus on the uniquely human elements of storytelling.
Moving Forward With Confidence
If you're feeling uncertain about your future as an author, I encourage you to:
Identify your unique strengths as a storyteller. What do readers consistently praise about your work?
Look for opportunities to expand existing worlds rather than always starting from scratch.
Experiment with AI tools that complement your creative process (without feeling pressured to use them for everything).
Invest in direct relationships with readers through newsletters, communities, and subscription platforms.
Collaborate with other authors who share your outlook. The industry is changing for everyone, and we can learn from each other.
The publishing industry has always evolved, from the printing press to ebooks to audiobooks. AI is simply the next evolution, and like previous shifts, it will reward those who adapt while staying true to what makes storytelling powerful: authentic human connection.
So yes, there absolutely is a future for midlist authors in the age of AI. It might look different than we imagined, but it could also be more vibrant, more diverse, and more rewarding than what came before.
The question isn't whether there's room for human authors in an AI world. It's how we'll use these new tools to tell even better stories.
This is great, Steph. I’m still building my backlist but you gave some great information that sparked ideas for me