Blogit vs publishing -- Philly Inquirer Book Editor gets it!
Frank Wilson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Book Review Editor, talked about Blogit and blogging in his blog yesterday as we noted on our News blog.
Frank writes a blog titled, quite appropriately, Books, Inq. which he describes as a Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Book-Review Editor's World:
We hear all the time that reading is in decline. But anyone in my position has to be aware that there's something funny about that -- because more people than ever, it seems, want to write. And people who write are usually people who read.
This is exactly the reason why Blogit charges readers and writers. Frank goes on to compare how blogging is not only turning journalism upside down but will have the same impact on publishing. Vanity publishing of books was the first step where technology allowed writers to bypass the traditional high barriers (where a few gatekeepers decide what will, or will not, appeal to consumers).
There have been several instances of a self-published book being picked up by a more traditional publisher for distribution only after the author him/herself had made the book a success.
And now a blogging venue like Blogit bring you a place with a pre-existing readership where you can not only post your thoughts and essays but also earn money. You no longer have to head to a vanity press or write a complete book. Instead you the writer is in charge of what you write, when you write, how much you write and what, if any, interaction you have with your readers. Frank goes on to write:
What is interesting about Blogit is that it is a community of writers and readers. In fact, it is precisely the relationship between reader and writer that blogging can bring about that makes blogging worthwhile.
This direct-to-consumer age has already hit the music industry on multiple levels. For bands it means they can now see their music downloaded by their fans with or without a recording contract. For the creative consumer it now means that they can play the role of a DJ or music editor without the backing of a radio station creating and sharing playlists.
Blogit is a reflection of the power of the Internet in the hands of the writer like never before. Frank is totally right, and this is just the beginning!