Preparing for Change: part 2

Tuesday, I talked about the June 21, 2009 posting on Chip MacGregor’s blog where he talked about some of the changes he foresees in publishing in 5 years. In part 1, I talked about the ideas of Convergence and the growing popularity with electronic readers. Today we’re going to look at the 8th change Chip expects: Our culture's fascination with short messages on Facebook and Twitter will mean a renewed interest in short stories.

Chip says that this is something he really hopes will happen. When I consider his rationale I think it is a logical assumption. With our increasingly literate society [I call it microliterate because of the fascination with short bursts of information] I think short stories will become very popular. Furthermore, the rise of music videos that have become more “mini-movies” than simply videos of the singers performing, will make short stories even more appealing to younger readers [this coming from a GenXer].

I also wonder if along with a growth of short stories if we’ll begin to see novels composed of a series of short stories rather than chapters. It is an interesting idea.

Consider again the implications of these changes to your marketing strategy and take the time to go read Chip’s full blog posting.

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at http://writingcareercoach.com/contact.htmlTiffany is a speaker and teacher. Find out about available topics for your group's next event.Tiffany is a National Examiner. Read her articles here.Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.Common-sense money management is free at The Balanced Life website. [www.TheBalancedLife.com]Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.[http://writersrest.blogspot.com]

Preparing for change: part 1

Last weekend Chip MacGregor posted a fascinating blog about where he thinks publishing will be in 5 years. Rather than the usual list of non-information you can find on some blogs, this posting is very thought provoking. Over the next couple of posts I want to comment on three of Chip’s points. I urge you to go back and read the entire blog to get a full understanding of all the changes he sees ahead.

Chip’s 1st point: “You will own an electronic reader.”

The reason I found this idea so striking is the multiple marketing channels that are available when you consider instant gratification in book reading. While it offers authors the opportunity to sell their books online through their own website [and have the reader see them instantly] it calls in to question current marketing practices like book signings, influencer copies [that are then passed along to other readers who become fans] and sales based on scanning the shelves.
On the positive side, it can also mean an increase in impulse buying.

Chip’s 4th point: “The concept of convergence will jump from newspapers and magazines to books.”

This is a really neat concept that I hope comes soon. This is having links, video, audio and bonus footage in the electronic books. I love the bonus features available on DVDs and many smart authors have recognized the benefit of bonus chapters or other special gifts on their website, but to have an ‘interactive book’ is awesome. When I consider the kinds of things that are possible with this technology my creative and marketing centers of my brain start doing flip flops. In fact, I can hardly wait 5 years to see some books using this. I can’t wait to use my creativity to maximize this technology with my own book.

Friday we will look at his 8th point. Make sure you go over and read his post, comment on my blog and then come back Friday to talk more.
So, if either of these are the future of book publishing, how do you need to start adjusting your marketing strategy and your platform development so you’re prepared to maximize your book sales?

Tiffany Colter is a writer, speaker and writing career coach who works with beginner to published writers. She can be reached through her website at http://writingcareercoach.com/contact.htmlTiffany is a speaker and teacher. Find out about available topics for your group's next event.Tiffany is a National Examiner. Read her articles here.Learn more about Tiffany's Marketing techniques on her main blog.Common-sense money management is free at The Balanced Life website. [www.TheBalancedLife.com]Read Tiffany's award winning manuscript "A Face in the Shadow" on her fiction blog.She writes a blog for the Christian writer Tuesdays at Writer's Rest.[http://writersrest.blogspot.com]