[stylist] A different way of thinking about your project

Mon Mar 3 22:10:12 UTC 2014

Yes, many blogs are turned into books. Some Twitter feeds have been
turned into books as well.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Homme,
James
Sent: Monday, March 03, 2014 6:44 AM
To: lists at braddunse.com; Writer's Division MailingList
Subject: Re: [stylist] A different way of thinking about your project

Hi,
Is my memory faulty, or does this idea have great merit? Didn't Charles
Dickens publish books a little at a time in magazines of his time? And
an idea that has already been successfully tried is a blog that gets
turned into a book. See https://www.bookshare.org/browse/book/536497.
So, I say, great idea.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brad
Dunse
Sent: Saturday, March 01, 2014 12:40 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: [stylist] A different way of thinking about your project

While brainstorming copywriting niches and such, I had a thought come
across that I will probably never do, because thus far anyway, I'm not a
book writer.

However, that doesn't mean this idea can't be tweaked. For all I know,
it is being done, I don't know... yawl might know that.

In writing, let's say a mystery, there are many different threads or
directions the characters could go.

For one quick instance of many different turning point possibilities in
just one book, the main character could find himself smitten with a
local girl, and as the plot goes along he is challenged with emotions
as...

A. He's totally sold out to her and will do anything to get, and marry
her. B. Is getting cold feet based off a previous relationships that
hurt him real bad and will break it off. C. Loves the girl but her half
crazed old-man would then be his father-in-law and he's not sure he
could live with that the rest of his life.

Those are just general "for instances" one might think of while writing.

And hang with me, there is a point to all this.

Let's say the writer writes the book and is planning on publishing it
either through a publishing house or self-publishing it.

So you get, what, $10, $15, $20 or $25 for the book, right?

What if instead, you were to build an e-mail list of subscribers, and
have the contact software set to deliver one segment of the book each
week through e-mail, and maybe every week the reader is posed with a few
choices a character might go.

The reader has time to wonder about which way it will go... sort of like
a mini little cliff hanger like the old TV series and movies use to do.

When they get the next week's installment they'll find out if they were
right in their guess and go on to enjoy whichever way you took, until
they encounter another set of possible forks in the road in that week's
segment.

The thing is, a writer will likely go through some level of winnowing
out different ideas anyway, so why not use them and get paid for them?

How do you get paid for them?

Glad you asked.

Instead of getting the 10, 15, 20, or $25 for the book; one could charge
only $1,99 a week per segment subscription and turn the book into a $52
book in 26-weeks.

The reader gets some mental and emotional investment in the book which
keeps them reading, the book will be published anyway so the main idea
is done, the scraps of ideas could be tweaked a little to pose possible
directions to keep readers guessing, and you've more than doubled your
money on the same book.

Perhaps the time frame could be shortened and charge $3 per segment, the
details are subject to be flexed, but the idea that popped out was a
possible  innovative way to market a book, make it more interesting, and
get paid more for your efforts.

Like I say, perhaps this has been done. Or perhaps it is an impractical
idea.

If not, it might be worth a try.

The challenge would be to get subscribers, but I bet somehow through
iTunes one could put a subscription up there. If not, there are other
ways one could market it.

Back to lurk mode.

Brad

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