Weekend of Change

In most big ways, my life did not change this weekend. However, there were quite a few small changes that are likely to expand over time.

Google+
I joined Google+ this weekend, and so far, it feels like a cleaner version of Facebook with instant access to my gmail and the ability to start throwing people into appropriate groups (Facebook didn't create that feature until I'd already hit the 5,000-friend limit, so it's not practical for me to go through them all now).

There's still a lot I haven't tried on the site, but it seems promising enough. Of course, the site doesn't have nearly as many people on it as Facebook...yet. I'm definitely interested to see how it does over the next year, and I can't wait to figure out more of the tools.

Coming of age
My son Ben turned 10 on Sunday. I don't mind that I'm turning 33 in about a week, but my oldest son reaching double digits makes me feel old. This is nothing new. Ever since I became a parent, I've realized that I no longer mark my own age as much as the ages of my kids--all five of them!

On the way up to Ohio, it also occurred to me that Ben is now within striking distance of being taller than Tammy and is only a few years from equalling my height (if he follows my growth pattern, that is)--not to mention he's only six years from learning how to drive. Where does the time go?

10-year-old Ben with his new Nook.

e-Readers Hit Close to Home
Beyond that, Ben received a Nook as one of his birthday gifts. In fact, it was the main gift he wanted and talked about before his birthday. His mother and nana bought it for him. Their main reasoning for a Nook over the Kindle? The Preble County library system allows visitors to check out digital books--only for the Nook.

Ben likes to read, and he represents a generation of young readers who have no problem with moving from printed books to a digital platform. Anyway, I think it's interesting to see how the e-reader revolution is hitting close to home with my double digit son.

His first books to download? Three titles from the Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. He's into creepy stuff.

*****

Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer. Or connect with me on LinkedIn. Plus, you can search for me on Facebook (as "Robert Lee Brewer") or Google+ (as "Robert Brewer"). And feel free to sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog over on the right.

*****

Things related to this blog post:

• Ben 10 (Ben turned 10!)
• Nook (e-reader Ben received for his birthday)
• Kindle (e-reader he did not receive)
• The Werewolf of Fever Swamp, by R.L. Stine (Ben's favorite Goosebumps book)
• The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success, by Lon Safko (for people interested in social media strategy)

Will Google+ Challenge Facebook as THE Social Network?

Google+ is Google's new social media destination. Google seems to do about everything the smart way--from both a marketing and implementation perspective--by slowly expanding and testing beta versions of their new products extensively before opening the flood gates to everyone. As a result, I don't have a Google+ account...yet.

Eventually, I will have a Google+ account, so that I can judge for myself how user-friendly it is compared to Facebook, but my guess--based off other Google applications--is that Google+ will blow Facebook away. Google has an excellent track record of creating user-centric products. Plus, I haven't been totally impressed with Facebook's latest versions.

Regardless of what the Google+ experience is like, there are some other issues to consider when trying to predict whether Google+ will offer a challenge to Facebook as THE Social Network.

Reach
Facebook already has so many users that some might feel that Google+ has no way of taking on the top online site. I've read many reports that suggest Google is just getting into the game too late and that Facebook can't be caught now. But I don't buy that argument.

First, it hasn't been that long since Facebook took the reins from MySpace. There is not a destination online that can feel comfortable at the top, not even Facebook.

Second, Facebook isn't even at the top according to this report. Google is, though it should be noted that these numbers are not specifically for Google+. Still, it does show that if any online entity has the reach to dethrone Facebook as THE Social Network it is Google.

People use Google to search, to track online analytics, to house their e-mail, to house documents, to get directions, and more. So online users are very familiar with Google.

Other Online Competition
Some people may ask why I'm focusing in on Google+ vs. Facebook, instead of Twitter vs. Facebook or LinkedIn vs. Facebook, etc. The reason is pretty simple, though: I just don't feel like there is another threat to Facebook at the moment.

Twitter and LinkedIn are both sort of specialty sites. Twitter is more for communication and idea-sharing. Plus, that report mentioned above shows that MySpace actually has more unique visitors each month and LinkedIn isn't even in the Top 50. Besides, LinkedIn is very targeted at professional hook-ups, which sort of means it won't ever be able to chase after THE Social Network without completely changing its identity.

Personally, I don't consider Blogger (owned by Google) or YouTube social networks, though they are important social media tools. That means the next closest competitor is MySpace, and Facebook has more than three times as much traffic. It's not even close.

Is Google+ Up to the Challenge?
I really won't know what Google+ is like until I have an actual account. However, based off Google's demo and their proven track record with other sites, I think Google will make things very interesting in the near future.

Those who love Google can get excited. Everyone else can brace themselves.

*****

Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

Or my fan page on Facebook

Or connect with me on LinkedIn

And don't forget that you sign up for e-mail updates over to the right.

*****

Want to improve your social media reach? Check these out:

• Success Secrets of Social Media Marketing Superstars, by Mitch Meyerson
• Social Media Marketing for Dummies, by Shiv Singh
• The Social Network (watch this movie for motivation)
• Binoculars (for watching everything unfold from a safe distance)

Impact of eReaders on Writers

As an editor, I get a first row seat to see how publishing is changing. Digital is shooting up and brick and mortar is struggling to stay level (or trend downward slower than competitors). Still, most of the money is in brick and mortar--at least for now. No one can accurately predict the future of publishing and media (except maybe Jane Friedman), but here's my attempt anyway on how I think eReaders may affect writers going forward.

New opportunities
More than ever before, writers have the ability to experiment. In fact, the taboos against experimenting with various self-publishing models are collapsing like old monuments. Writers like J.A. Konrath and Amanda Hocking are showing that self-publishing can enable writers to make money like never before through digital downloads. All that's needed is a good story, a lot of hard work, and yes, a little luck (in that respect, things haven't changed so much).

As eReaders get more advanced, writers may have the opportunity to create more interactive experiences and deliver audio and video.

Audience development
Each new technology improvement seems to make it even more vital for writers to develop an audience for their writing. (Here are some tips on what you can do today to build your platform.) The rise of eReaders offers no reprieve from this author platform momentum, whether you are self-published or published through a traditional publisher.

If writers go the self-publishing route, they are the ones who create the content, format the content, distribute the content, and connect readers to the content. They wear many hats, and have to brand themselves as businesses.

Traditionally published authors may not have to format or distribute the content, but they still need to create and help connect readers to the content. Publishers will do their part through professional editing and design. They'll also use their sales force to get your books in bookstores. But to really sell books, especially digital books, publishers need their authors to spread the word and connect with their core audience.

As I mentioned, the importance of platform building is not a new development, but it's only gaining momentum. Publishers aren't just asking whether a book proposal is good or not, they're questioning the reach of the author, and this can affect everything from the size of the advance to whether the project is even ultimately accepted for publication.

The all-important writing
So do eReaders affect how writers attack their actual writing? In the short term, I don't think it's had a huge impact, but it's easy to see how economy of language should only increase over time.

Nonfiction writers will probably need to apply a blogging mentality to their writing. That means a lot of links to other information.

Some poets have objected to how eReaders affect the formatting of poems. Since there's not a whole lot of money in poetry, I don't know how this will be fixed. If it's not, eReaders may not change poetry, but prose poets and short-line poets may find that eReaders suit them better than others.

I'm really interested in how fiction might be affected by eReaders. Will shorter works sell better? Or will size not matter? One thing digital does seem to enable is a great launching area for super long debut novels and/or shorter novellas that might not work in traditional, brick and mortar publishing.

Final thoughts
In many ways, I feel that the business of writing and being a writer isn't going to change a whole lot. The craft of writing is always evolving (compare Charles Dickens against the current bestsellers lists, if you don't believe me) and so are the delivery methods for that writing. Ultimately, the changes may be a good thing for writers and readers.

Successful writers will continue working their butts off to provide content that readers want and finding ways to connect with those readers. Such writers always seem to find a way to make their own luck no matter what technology throws their way.

*****

Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

*****

Interested in developing an audience for your writing? Check these out:

• Get Known Before the Book Deal, by Christina Katz
• The War of Art, by Steven Pressfield
• Poke the Box, by Seth Godin

One More Reason to Go Digital

Long ago, I made the decision to submit almost entirely via electronic channels, whether through e-mail or online submission forms. Part of my reasoning was based on convenience. A larger part, though, was based solely on the economics of submitting work. Between the purchase of envelopes, paper, ink cartridges, and most importantly stamps, it just doesn't make any sort of economic sense in the world for a poet to spend all that money with little ROI (return on investment).

Look: I'm not trying to make a living off poetry, but I don't want to max out my credit cards making submissions either. That would be like kicking a poet while he's down.

On January 2, the USPS raised rates on competitive services. Now, they're planning on raising rates on market dominant services April 17 (click here to read an article on the increase).

That will be two rate increases within months of each other. And we all know there's more to come. From where I'm sitting, the number of reasons to go all digital increases every few months as well.

*****

Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

*****

Check out my post Changes in publishing (and what it means for writers).

Changes in Publishing (and what it means for writers)

If you're not involved in media and publishing on a day-to-day basis, then it's very possible that you don't know just how much the publishing industry has changed in just this past year (or even 3 months). When I first started in publishing (a little less than 11 years ago), changes took years to happen; now, the playing field seems to change every month. How long until things are changing every week? Or day?

Anyway, here are some recent changes in publishing:

• Publishing companies are endangered. Many companies like my own have either already transitioned or are transitioning from being publishing companies to becoming media companies. In 2000, I worked for F&W Publications; now, I work for F + W Media. The company is doing fine, but we've changed the way we do business. This is happening industry-wide with some print-heavy companies even abandoning print completely and offering digital-only products and services.
• Digital readers are selling like hot cakes. Whether it's Wal-Mart carrying iPads or Kindles breaking sales records for Amazon or Nooks dominating Barnes & Noble, digital readers are gaining momentum at the speed of light. And guess what?
• e-Readers and digital books is where the growth is. That's right! A recent survey illustrated that owners of e-Reader devices actually buy more books than the average reader. Anecdotally, I've heard this from many e-Reader owners myself. So it makes sense that digital is the fast approaching future, especially when you consider that...
• Brick and mortar bookstores are having trouble.  June reports showed Barnes & Noble with a 51% increase in Web sales and 3% decrease in store sales. Joseph-Beth files for Bankruptcy and has to shutter some stores. Books-A-Million reports a $1.7M third quarter loss this year. Meanwhile, Borders is closing stores in an attempt to stay in business. It's not hard to imagine the extinction of the brick and mortar bookstore.

So, let's put all this news together and look at how it might affect writers. Here's some of my guesses, which may or may not be on target (y'all can debate that in the Comments below):

1. Writers need to loosen their grip on a dream of making it into bookstores. Sure, writers should continue trying to write bestsellers and quality manuscripts, but brick and mortar bookstores may not even exist in another 5-10 years, since everything is going digital.
2. Writers should be flexible and innovative in how to deliver content. That's right, I called it content. Whether it's nonfiction, fiction, poetry or something completely different, it's still content. And maybe a printed version of it will only serve the author's ego, while not fulfilling the needs of today's audience, who may want it as an iPhone or Droid app, Kindle download, YouTube broadcast, blog post, or any number of other ways.
3. Writers who hold onto the old dreams will be very uncomfortable in the near future. If they're not already uncomfortable, they'll soon feel what all the brick and mortar bookstores are feeling: hopelessness and despair in the face of change. Those willing to adapt will have an easier time of things.
4. Newer writers need to lead the charge on new technologies. If you don't completely comprehend and understand the new technologies, don't worry; after all, no one else does either. The time is right for experimentation and innovation. And the great thing about this is that it levels the playing field for all writers. Seize the day and make a name for yourself.
5. Your potential audience is still hungry for the same things. They still want information, entertainment and engagement. That will never change, whether we're drawing mammoths on cave walls, carving stone tablets or viewing videos on our smartphones.

For a great blog on these topics, I suggest you check out Jane Friedman's There Are No Rules. You can follow Jane along with 30,000+ other tweeps on Twitter @JaneFriedman.

*****

Follow me on Twitter @robertleebrewer

*****

Here are a few other posts that may interest you:

• Twitter Cheat Sheet for Writers, in which I give a refresher/intro lesson on using Twitter
• Blogging Tips for Writers, in which I share some tips and encouragement for writers new to blogging

Both Twitter and blogging are important tools for today's writer. They are free and available to all.

*****

Not free, but worth checking out are:

• Kindle e-reader
• iPad e-reader
• Nook e-reader

After all, that's where the future is headed. Might as well see what it looks like.