23 Reasons Readers and Writers are Reinventing Publishing

Publishing’s New Power Couple
23 Reasons Readers and Writers are Reinventing Publishing

Technology disrupts publishing by minimizing the barriers between readers and writers. Publishing only needs three elements: writers, readers, and tools for connecting them. Technology provides the tools. Readers and writers are replacing traditional publishers, media, and reviewers, and creating a new literary culture. Here are 23 reasons writers and readers are creating a new publishing paradigm:

Writers

1. Writers are the most important people in the publishing process, because they create content.
2. Writing is the easiest of the arts to enter and succeed in.
3. You have more control over your work and career than ever.
4. You can reach more readers in more ways and places faster and more easily than ever for free.
5. Technology makes writing, revising, publishing, and promotion faster and easier.
6. You have more software tools than ever to help you write.
7. You have more books and authors than ever to use as models for your books and career.
8. You have more ways than ever to earn income from your work.
9. You have more publishing options than ever.
10. Your books will be published, perhaps by you.
11. You have more ways to prove the value of your books before you sell or publish them.
12. You can use crowdfunding to finance your books.
13. You can use Patreon to support your writing.
14. Technology empowers you to make a difference as well as a living.

Readers

15. Readers are the second most important people in publishing, because they keep books alive.
16. More readers in more places can find books in more forms faster than ever for free or at a discount.
17. The response of readers to your content and communications will determine your success.
18. Social media makes books readers love unstoppable and makes them sell faster than ever, regardless of who publishes them or how.
19. Readers want to love your work.
20. Readers love sharing their passion for books.
21. You can sustain your relationship with your fans by sharing original and curated material.
22. 2020, five billion smartphones will connect readers, writers and books.
23. Five million book-club members can help assure a book’s success.

Worms in the Big Apple

Amazon controls more than 40% of print sales and 80% of ebook sales, which is not healthy for writers or publishers. Others threats to writers include short attention spans, the shift to a visual culture, and the competition for people’s time and money.

Publishers will remain a powerful, essential force for discovering writers and exciting readers about books. But for the first time, the future of writing and publishing is in the hands, eyes, hearts, and minds of the people who make it possible: readers and writers. Give your readers what they want and they will reciprocate.

Mike Larsen, author, Author Coach
www.michaellarsenauthorcoaching.com
Cofounder, San Francisco Writers Conference: A Celebration of Craft, Commerce & Community and San Francisco Writing for Change Conference: Writing to Make a Difference

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