Digital Pubbing

Exploring the ins and outs of the publishing industry

Publishing

A Look at Wattpad, a Social Storytelling Experience

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You may have heard about Wattpad by now. It's a platform where anyone can write stories and anyone can read them and leave comments. The site has 45 million members, and is very mobile friendly. Publishing Perspectives wrote about how Wattpad may reach a billion users. Stories are told in multiple languages, primarily English and Spanish, and Wattpad has worked with some … [Read more...] about A Look at Wattpad, a Social Storytelling Experience

A Look at the Romance Genre and Publishing

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Romance is a huge genre in publishing. So many success stories, especially of indie authors, are around romance writers. It's also a really interesting genre to watch, because it's one of the genres with the most experimentation going on. With that in mind, here are a few romance-related articles that recently caught my eye. History of Romance Erotica An article on Jezebel … [Read more...] about A Look at the Romance Genre and Publishing

Guest Post: Can Copyrights Be Inherited?

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By Josh T. In the United States, a writer’s work is automatically copyrighted under their ownership once it’s in consumable form. The copyright lasts as long as the writer is alive and 70 years after their death whether it’s published or not, which is more than enough to establish someone’s claim to a work. What happens with a writer’s intellectual property after they’re … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Can Copyrights Be Inherited?

Guest Post: Where to Find the Best New Authors; 5 Online Writing Communities To Explore

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By Allison Phillips The environment is changing for authors. What once was thought to be a solitary pursuit is evolving into an interactive process with the introduction of new technology. As we move from the printed page to the screen, it invites readers and writers to engage and share the experience through online writing communities. Writers now have access to networks … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Where to Find the Best New Authors; 5 Online Writing Communities To Explore

Book Insights Based on Data

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Data is powerful, and can provide a lot of insights. Data also makes it easier to market books. For example, having good metadata makes it easier for readers to find certain books online. Here are some tips for how to use data to your advantage, as well as some awesome examples of what we can learn from data. Metadata "3 Ways You Can Plant Metadata in Your Book Blurb" on … [Read more...] about Book Insights Based on Data

Guest Post: Confused in Choosing Digital or Traditional Marketing? Consider a Mix of Strategies

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By Christopher Austin There’s a continuous debate in the world of marketing as many people – business professionals and amateurs alike – can’t decide between digital and traditional marketing. Some claim that the future of advertising is in the digital world. Others still abide by old-fashioned techniques because they strongly believe that offline marketing works best. It’s … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Confused in Choosing Digital or Traditional Marketing? Consider a Mix of Strategies

A Look at Amazon: Timeline and Indie Author News

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It's been a while since I've posted about Amazon, but as usual, I've been collecting links. Here are some items that explain what Amazon has been up to (you may notice it covers a wide range of topics, which is fitting, since Amazon covers so many industries now): How to Help Readers Find Your Book "Adventures in Amazon keyword padding" on Sheer Hubris "Advertising: … [Read more...] about A Look at Amazon: Timeline and Indie Author News

10 Companies with Multiple Channels to Control Their Branding

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I've been hearing a lot about branding lately. Strong branding can make people loyal to you (like Apple), and the more control you have over your branding, the easier it is to make sure your audience sees the message you are trying to send. Take Disney, for example. Disney owns a multitude of assets, ranging from production studios (Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, etc.) to … [Read more...] about 10 Companies with Multiple Channels to Control Their Branding

A Quick Look at Coloring Books

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Valentine's Day is coming up, and you know what could make a nice gift? A coloring book! Seriously, I know it was a huge fad last year (and the year before), but there is something really relaxing about taking colored pencil to paper. In that spirit, here are some resources I've found about coloring books (in case you want to make and sell your own, or just color your … [Read more...] about A Quick Look at Coloring Books

Legal Considerations for Authors

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For writers and publishers, there are a lot of interesting things to consider when it comes to the law. For writers looking to go the traditionally published route, there's a lot to keep in mind contract-wise, including, according to Kristine Kathryn Rusch, control, fairness, and clout. She explains that you want as much control over your project as possible, though some … [Read more...] about Legal Considerations for Authors

Chickadee Prince, a Small Press and Pop-up Bookstore

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Pop-up stores are fun. Sometimes they're themed, sometimes they sell unique things, and they often have an urgent, fun atmosphere, since they only plan to stick around for a set amount of time. Chickadee Prince, a small press based in Brooklyn, is planning on opening up a pop-up bookstore, in addition to publishing new titles. Read on for a great Q&A with founder Steven S. … [Read more...] about Chickadee Prince, a Small Press and Pop-up Bookstore

The Growth of Audiobooks

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A few weeks back, I wrote an essay for LARB about reading in the multimedia age. A big part of the essay focused on audiobooks, which are growing in popularity each year. According to QZ, audiobooks are growing more than ebooks. MarketWatch wrote that some audiobooks are selling more copies than their print counterparts, and according to The Digital Reader, "audio can … [Read more...] about The Growth of Audiobooks

Music and Sound Effects in Books

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  Audiobooks are gaining popularity, but sounds are making their way into ebooks as well. Back in 2013, Google submitted a patent to trigger sounds in ebooks. According to GoodeReader, "The sounds would be triggered by events within the book, such as lapping waves, an ominous crescendo, or maybe an outdoor market. The new application would have the sounds stored on a … [Read more...] about Music and Sound Effects in Books

Technology Trends in Publishing

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It seems like as we progress, all digital technologies are slowly converging, and it's really cool to witness. Joe Wikert wrote on DBW about 2016 trends, which included bots and automation, augmented reality, and vying for attention. Last month, The Bookseller reported on the first deal for a YA trilogy in virtual reality. The Fallow Trilogy by Amy Lankester-Owen is the … [Read more...] about Technology Trends in Publishing

8 Fun Trends in Reading and Publishing

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Our culture is changing, and it's exciting and fascinating to watch. In literature, what used to be taboo is now trending. According to Broadly, gay characters are gaining popularity in teen fiction. According to Broadly, it started in 2003 with David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy novel, though in the beginning it was still considered controversial. Now, according to author Simon … [Read more...] about 8 Fun Trends in Reading and Publishing