The world is changing rapidly in favor of electronic books (eBooks) whether they be PDFs, ePub, Google Docs, or a rose by any other name.
In the same way that the music world rapidly changed with the advent of the MP3, iPod and iTunes, the publishing world is in the midst of a huge paradigm shift.
I think Seth Godin says it best, the old publishing world was based on scarcity: limited publishers, limited shelf space, limited book advances. The new publishing world is based on abundance: everyone can be published, there is unlimited shelf space and you can take home 100% percent of your book's profits if you want (instead of 5%). eBooks are changing everything.
After self-publishing my first book (the Unofficial Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook) last year, I've been learning a lot about what writing is like in this new online world.
Today's publishing world is more about:
- Creating a community
- Being authentic
- Making a connection with readers
It's less about:
- Impressing someone in a publishing office
- Projecting a perfect image
- Being put on a pedestal
Whether you want to write and share your wisdom with others or just be knowledgable about the sea change that is happening right now in the publishing world, this information is for you.
Below I've included two videos, one interview and two articles to get you started. They provide a great introduction to the evolving eBook landscape:
- Seth Godin with Publishing CEO Michael Hyatt (10-minute interview)
- Leo Babauta with Why eBooks Work (free 1 hour video seminar)
- Leo Babauta interviewing Seth Godin (25 minute audio interview)
- Seth Godin's Advice for New Authors (blog post, blog post)
Thank you Thomas, author of The Unofficial Guide to Fulbright Scholarships, for inspiring me to write this post.
Question: How do you want to fit into this new landscape? Please respond by commenting here or on Facebook.
