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As an indie author, it can be fun (and helpful) to learn about what's going on in other industries. Joe Wikert outlined on DBW what publishers can learn from the podcast model, by offering easy subscriptions (which could arguably be similar to subscribing to blogs or newsletters), delivering content on a regular schedule, and delivering related content to your audience. To me, … [Read more...] about What Indie Authors Can Learn From Other Industries
apps
13 Apps for Reading and Creating Your Own Content
Apps are great. They're convenient, and there are many that make it easy to create your own content, and of course read a lot of content. Below are a few I've found interesting: Authors: "You get your own custom Authors App. Your App appears in the major Android tablet app stores - Amazon, NOOK, Google Play - with your own custom icon. Plus, when your readers and fans … [Read more...] about 13 Apps for Reading and Creating Your Own Content
Learning to Code
Digital publishing can encompass more than making ebooks. Lately, I've been learning how to code, because it opens up a lot of possibilities, like building apps or interactive websites, or even Alexa skills. Although I know HTML and CSS, there's still a lot to learn. But it's been a lot of fun so far! In case you're interested in learning how to program, here are some of … [Read more...] about Learning to Code
The Overlap of Games and Books
Games and books have a lot in common, especially when it comes to the publishing process. There's also a lot of cool overlap. After all, most games have full narrative stories. And those stories are written by professional writers. Now, game writers can win a Nebula award, from the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, according to GeekWire. Games are great for … [Read more...] about The Overlap of Games and Books
Guest Post: Six Apps Indie Authors Should Take Advantage Of
By Megan F. Working as an indie author can be quite a challenge. You often don't have the backing of big organizations to keep you on track or to help you out when the going gets rough. Luckily, most everyone today has access to technologies that can easily take the place of those institutions. As the kids say, there's an app for that. This applies to writing even in ways … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Six Apps Indie Authors Should Take Advantage Of
Taking Stock of Industries Related to Book Publishing and How That Relates to the Future
Book publishers can learn a lot from their media counterparts. As the world becomes more connected, the lines between these industries is getting blurred. Keeping on top of trends then can be really helpful, in terms of getting ideas of what can be done and what to expect in the future. Here are a few headlines from other forms of media that can help inform people in book … [Read more...] about Taking Stock of Industries Related to Book Publishing and How That Relates to the Future
Looking for Innovative Stories? Here’s a List of Ebooks, Apps, Websites, Games, and More
Ebooks, or maybe I should say stories, come in all shapes and sizes: EPUB, apps, virtual reality, games, and more. If you want to see some exciting, innovative new forms of storytelling, check out this list (sure devices have some limitations and enhanced ebooks haven't exactly taken off yet, but there are ways to make ebooks great): Ebooks "A Digital Mozart Book That … [Read more...] about Looking for Innovative Stories? Here’s a List of Ebooks, Apps, Websites, Games, and More
Reading Ebooks on Your Smartphone
Smartphones have exploded in popularity in the last few years, and because so many people own smartphones, publishers are now thinking about how to best deliver digital content to the small screen. As a side anecdote, four years ago (2011) I was sitting in a marketing class at NYU, and the lecturer was telling us about how she read all five A Song of Ice and Fire books (you … [Read more...] about Reading Ebooks on Your Smartphone
A Look at Interactive Ebooks
Interactive, multimedia ebooks are starting to gain some traction. In addition to embedding audio and video, some ebook creators are experimenting with game elements, using GPS, and adding activities. A year ago, Digital Book World discussed why enhanced ebooks were not taking off yet. According to Peter Costanzo, "The main problem is that the market as it currently exists … [Read more...] about A Look at Interactive Ebooks
Turning Your Ebook Into an App
Sometimes it makes sense for a book to be transformed into an app. Forbes wrote a piece back in 2012 about whether the future of books will be as apps. Two years later, and it doesn't seem to be true, but in some cases it could work. New tools have made it easier for authors to create their own apps. Karen Robertson, creator of the book app Treasure Kai, said in a Good … [Read more...] about Turning Your Ebook Into an App
Taking a Short Break, and Reading Short
Well it's almost Christmas, and for the next couple weeks I'll be taking what I've heard other people call a digital break so I can regroup and be back in full swing come the new year. I might have a couple posts here and there, but for the most part, I won't be around again until January. And so, in the spirit of taking a break, and because I'll be using that time to read a … [Read more...] about Taking a Short Break, and Reading Short
New Ways to Write
When you write, you don't always write books. There are many forms of content available, including blogs, research papers, white papers, short stories, articles, poems, flash fiction, and more. Recently I wrote a post about "New Ways to Read," but now I'd like to focus on all the tools and sites out there that make it possible to write and produce new … [Read more...] about New Ways to Write
Infographic: The Life & Times of the Travel Guidebook
Cheap Flights has made an excellent infographic about travel guidebooks. The graphic looks at the history of the guidebook, from its inception as travel manuscripts in the first century, to its online existence today. Nothing is mentioned about e-books, but I suppose travel guidebooks are much more webby, since people use social media and review sites to figure out where to go … [Read more...] about Infographic: The Life & Times of the Travel Guidebook
Immersive Storytelling
Transmedia, apps, and other forms of immersive storytelling are getting more and more popular. For large worlds like Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Game of Thrones, to name a few well-known examples, immersive storytelling can be a great extension or better way to connect with readers. … [Read more...] about Immersive Storytelling
An Overview of Digital Book World 2012
Digital Book World (DBW) is an annual conference that, according to its website, "offers trade publishers hard data on the state of the book business as well as actionable, proven strategies for taking immediate advantage of opportunities as they develop in today’s publishing industry." I was able to attend one day for free, in exchange for helping my entrepreneur friend run … [Read more...] about An Overview of Digital Book World 2012
