Remember the dime paperback? No? Well, in addition to costing a lot more than a dime today, they’re being phased out. Publishers won’t be publishing them and stores won’t be display them.

I’m sure you’ll find them in stores for a while, but that compact paperback you used to be able to fit in the back pocket of your jeans will become a thing of the past.  The Trade Paperback is replacing the smaller version.

Why?

1. Paper costs. A 60k-100k ms printed in a smaller size book takes more pages or (to keep page count down) smaller font. Again, to save cost, they’re usually printed on cheaper quality paper and often yellow with age or tear.

2, Trade-size paperbacks have become popular. Fewer pages and often larger print. Higher quality paper being used and better bindings.

3. For those who want something that’s easy to carry, ebooks and audio versions more convenience.

Phoenixghostwriting.com has a good article on “The Death of the Pocket Book.” Here

Another good discussion about this is a youtube that Novelist’s Ink has out.

Novelist’s Inc youtube

The Traditional Publishing Landscape in 2026

Youtube.com Here

Final word. For a paperback, 6X9 seems to be the popular size

One more word about scams. If  you’re not subscribed to Writer Beware, you should be. Here