Advice For Wannabe Authors …

If you’re reading this, chances are, you already know the importance of getting involved in all this online conversation stuff.  But it’s worth sharing this advice for wannabe authors which was first shared by Jeff Gomez in his thought-provoking book, PRINT IS DEAD…

"Authors who choose not to take part in any sort of online promotion or to curry online exposure, and unwilling to do things like start a blog, post clips on YouTube, have a page on MySpace or otherwise engage in an Internet audience in any meaningful way will find themselves at an increasing disadvantage.” (p. 151)

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“To begin with, they will have a harder time getting a book deal in the first place.  Publishers will be increasingly unwilling to sign authors who do not already have an Internet audience, or have no desire to do any online promotion or outreach.” (p. 151)

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“For a prospective publisher, [working authors who have an active online presence] is a safer bet than signing up a first-time author who is starting to build an audience from scratch.  Blogs can offer a track record, showing that a writer can indeed connect with readers and that people are interested in his work.  For the writer without any kind of recommendation other than his manuscript, it’s going to be a much harder sell.” (p.152)

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“Writers who are unskilled in the ways of the Internet, or just don’t want to play any part in the online discussion and want to write books and be left alone, will be like movie actors at the end of the silent era who were forced to have elocution lessons when talking pictures were suddenly the brand new thing.

For some, the advent of sound allowed them to shine in a way silent films never did.  Others, however — those who didn’t have good voices or couldn’t act in the way that talking pictures demanded — found themselves suddenly without a career.

Many modern day writers will find themselves in similar circumstances, unable to deal with the ramifications and changes that a new technology has brought to their art form. (pgs. 153-154)

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“True, there will always be some major writers who do nothing but write, but they will be exceedingly rare and they will appeal to smaller and smaller audiences as time goes one.” (p. 154)

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“New writers will have to embrace not only new techniques of online promotion and participation, but will also have to embrace the new literary forms with digital reading and delivery made possible.  Because of this, the Internet will kill as many careers as it gives birth to: for every blogger who is given a book deal, another novelist who simply wants to tell stories will be unable to get a contract. 

Cumulatively, all the changes of a digital world will transform the experience of being a writer so much that the profession may not resemble in the future what it is today.” (p. 155)

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SOURCE:  Jeff Gomez | PRINT IS DEAD |  blog, website, purchase

Comments

[Tom Hayes]

My new book, Jump Point: How Network Culture is Revolutionizing Business, arrives in stores next month and I can not only attest to all you have written here, I would venture that these rules extend to any artist or expert, indeed, any professional in any field.

[H. Peter Schiller]

The quotes you selected grabbed my attention. I am the neophyte's neophyte when it comes to marketing my work. If you could take five minutes to review my blog (http://hpeterschiller.blogspot.com/) or website (www.hpeterschiller.com) and provide feedback, it would be greatly appreciated.