I’m a little surprised that brick-and-mortar video stores bit the dust before book stores did. I really am. Blockbuster, Hollywood, and Movie Gallery are all dead, but Barnes-and-Noble and Borders are almost sure to follow shortly, and the shadow of death is looming with a bony finger pointing toward them. This all seems a bit morbid to say the least, but the internet has been predicting the death of the newspaper and traditional publishing industry for years now. In the age where mail-in movies and soda machine-style video rentals has built a billion dollar industry and shut the superstores down – and all for the price of a candy bar – it’s a wonder that brand new books (which cost almost three times the amount of a DVD rental) have survived on the pretty shelves of the book industry giants.
In 2010, it’s safe to say that avid readers make up less than 40% of the American population. Go on most of your friends’ Facebook profiles and look at their favorite books. While you’ll have a few adventurous Harry Potter and Twilight fans out there, you’ll find a gazillion more that simply say, “The Bible” (and I’m guessing their consumption of that comes more from the Sunday pulpit than the actual text). And most of the Harry Potter and Twilight fans have risen out of the films. It’s a motion picture world, and books are becoming something of a relic from the past, but this in no way indicates that the story is dead. Far from it: stories are humankind’s way of making sense of the world, and our stories will survive long after we’re gone.
And so in this OpenSource/YouTube/Podcast/Redbox world, how will thinkers continue to turn into writers? And how will writers morph into authors? Below are 6 types of writers that, if they are imaginative enough (And who better to be imaginative than writers, right?), will make a very good living in the aftermath of the bookstore tragedy.
Type 1: The Ebook Writer
This probably goes without saying, but have you seen the latest series of ebook readers out there? They’re EVERYWHERE! From the Kindle to the Nook to the iPad, these little portable machines allow you to read full books cover to cover and to carry around your entire library in a device the size of a notepad. Now, you can read the latest Stephen King thriller without feeling like you’re lifting weights (though you won’t get the exercise value). Universities are now selling ebook versions of their text books, allowing students to carry one device for all their classes. And it’s given my wife an excuse to get the iPad.
Want to learn how to write an ebook? Copyblogger has some great tips to help you out!
Want to get them onto the Kindle, Nook, and more? Smashwords has what you’re looking for!
Type 2: The Print-On-Demand Writer
I want to be careful how I say this. Make no mistake: PRINTED BOOKS ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE! At least not anytime soon! It’s book STORES that are seeing the writing on the wall (that’s a bad euphemism). But, if you’re willing to put in some marketing work and learn how to sell it (and I am assuming you would like to see Best-SELLER above your name), you can now publish your long-awaited book for next to nothing. Lulu.com has been a self-publisher’s dream, making it easier than ever to use their ready-made templates to create your book. And in the last two years, Amazon’s Print-On-Demand company CreateSpace has made it possible to upload your book for almost nothing and allow readers to buy via Amazon.com. Wordclay is another Print-on-Demand option.
Type 3: The Audiobook Writer
Audiobooks have begun to flood the marketplace more than ever before, with companies like Audible.com becoming highly profitable companies. If you can learn to speak your book into a microphone, you can sell your book to hundreds of thousands of people who are on the go, juggling multiple jobs, or just don’t have the time to crack open a book but who love to indulge in knowledge. If you can get access to a decent microphone, and if you have any speaking skills, you can create an audiobook. And if you don’t, hiring someone who has both of these resources can be a valuable asset.
And now, the New Stuff
Okay, we’ve talked about some no-brainers. What are some other writers who will thrive?
Type 4: The Screen Writer
Books may be a good source of storytelling, but if you can put those words into a screenplay and make it come to life on screen, you can make a fortune! I think we can all agree that the message may not change but the method always changes. And film and television are definitely profitable methods of storytelling right now. Those who master their scripts and produce quality content will eventually get noticed, and if they don’t, make your own film! CreateSpace can help you with that, too!
Type 5: The Entrepreneur Writer
This part, I can’t tell you how to do; you just have to know it. Those who can create opportunities out of nothing will do very well with their stories. Most products on the market – from Post-It Notes to LED light bulbs to – yes, again – the iPad, were created out of what their creaters deemed necessity. They simply didn’t exist before, and then they did. A writer who can create a method of telling their stories that fills a void – and trust me, entrepreneurs will always find voids that no one knew was there and fill them. Think outside the box and be as creative with the WAY you sell your book as you were when you WROTE your book.
Type 6: The Social Media Writer
Social Media may produce some passing fads (remember Xanga?), but those who embrace the new media of today and utilize it in the right way will find rewards in terms of new fans, new readers, and new ways of getting their stories told. If they can market it the right way, they can also find lots of potential money out there.
This is Self-Publishing Alone!
You’ll notice that this list primarily includes things that you can begin to do right now to get your book into the hands of readers. Use your imagination here. This list, by all means, is nowhere near complete. What ideas do you have for getting your story out there? Leave a comment and let me know! Let’s dialogue here!
What kind of writer are you?
2 comments:
I am very encouraged by your blog and information. I am still trying to get the book going. it is a little frightening to think about. I have had articles published but books cry out inside of me. If I just sit down and don't think about it the words pour out, if I purpose to write I seem to freeze up.
Thanks for the comment. I sympathize with you. Dave Barry once said that he often went to work (for the Miami Herald) and looked at a blank computer screen for hours. He said he would begin with a line like, "This is a long day," and then, after another hour, he would add to it. "This is a long day and kind of ridiculous." Then, he would add something about boogers. Point was, it eventually became something, but he had to let it write itself. And I think we have to do that, too. Good luck! Let me know how it turns out!
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