More Blog to Book

Alarming trends are evolving in the digital writing world. Major publishers are using more Demand Media material.

The "Blog to Book" phenom raises it's tempting head once more, as chronicled by Iris Blasi in The New Farm System: From Blog to Book | Digital Book World. "What about getting a book deal from a blog?" Here's a summary by the Union Square Press editor:

1. Consider your category. The web is a goldmine for humor writers in particular. “If you’re funny and your voice is unique, people will come to it,” said Mulligan.

2. Pay heed to tradition even in a digital environment. The best way to catch the attention of an agent or editor? “A good, old-fashioned, well-written query,” said Lee. “There’s really no substitute for that.”

3. Think ahead. In standard publishing contracts, the burden of obtaining permissions for reprinted material falls on the author. For sites dependent upon reader submissions, do yourself a favor and have readers surrender rights to their content prior to posting, as TextsfromLastNight.com smartly does at sign-up.

4. Don’t show all your cards. Added value is essential to publishers, as they don’t want to reproduce what is already available for free online. Be mindful from the outset about holding back some add-ons that might work best for the book.

5. Show you can drive traffic. If a blog launches in the forest, does it make a sound? Great content will only get you halfway. Focus on links from other websites, as they act as a kind of endorsement and quality control, demonstrating your proven ability to promote.

Easy peasy, huh?

Listen to this article