So novels don't equate to what I am always looking for. And the success of podcasts and visual novels show things outside novels do get attention. And my time to invest is scarce. Writers are competing against movies, tv, video games, and even tik tok and YouTube content for that limited free time.

To close, there's no simple answer. I believe it is also about the writer taking risks, finding their niche, and pushing the boundaries of how you get readers to invest in what you have to offer. And that might require getting creative and thinking outside the box in how their stories are presented.