Published by deborah.woehr on 10 Nov 2006 at 09:59 pm
Blooks: A New Trend in the Publishing Industry
I found “Blooks” Are in Bloom while researching for information to answer a question for an interview. Yes, I’m being profiled. More on that later.
Big-name publishers such as Putnam and Little, Brown & Co. have begun releasing books based on blogs. “I am now more open to blogs than I would have been [before],” says Judy Clain, executive editor at Little, Brown. And a dozen new businesses have sprung up with the intent of helping scribes turn their blogs into books. Blogbasedbooks.com, specializing in blooks, has set up shop on the Net.
I checked out their website and found one blook about the stewardess who got fired for posting “inappropriate” pictures of herself in uniform on her blog. That doesn’t interest me in the slightest, but the Reality TV crowd will surely love it.
I’d be more apt to buy one of the Iraqi soldier blooks or the Julie & Julia blook (a blogger’s experience with cooking Julia Child recipes). It’s comforting to know that sensationalists aren’t the only ones who are attracting publishers.
I’ll be watching this trend over the next year to see if it “takes off” with the public eye. If it does, then we may be witness to a new publishing revolution.
How many of you have written a blook or are writing one right now? If you’re not, would you consider this option?
7 Responses to “Blooks: A New Trend in the Publishing Industry”
Lee on 12 Nov 2006 at 1:51 am #
I’ve considered writing a serialised novel for a blog, though I’d probably want to have it finished before posting even the first chapter.
The idea definitely appeals and maybe one day I’ll get around to doing it.
fred Charles on 13 Nov 2006 at 5:31 am #
I’ve never heard of this until today. Seems kind of weird. I know of bloggers who use their blogs as fiction blogs. They post a new chapter every week or so.
deborah.woehr on 13 Nov 2006 at 6:55 am #
Lee: Having a rough draft of your novel would be helpful in knowing what you’ll be posting each day/week. Not only that, but it will allow you to edit any plot holes or typos that occurred.
Fred: My first NaNo project was started on a blog. Since then, I’ve seen character blogs as well as serialized novels. I’ve yet to see a novel get picked up by a publisher, but I imagine that will come in the future.
Lee on 13 Nov 2006 at 3:57 pm #
That’s true I had thought of that. Post it as you complete the final edit.
Marti on 15 Nov 2006 at 8:37 am #
I think it’s a great idea! I think a finished product that is written, but not yet published would be perfect, so the author could get some feedback before going to press.
Thanks for sharing!
Andrea on 15 Nov 2006 at 1:07 pm #
I think I read an article once not too long ago stating that blooks are just fad or something like that. Who knows if it’ll stick around.
I don’t think I will. I don’t mind posting some of stuff on my blog but I don’t think I would go as far as making a blook out of it.
deborah.woehr on 15 Nov 2006 at 5:51 pm #
Marti and Andrea: It would be interesting to see how long blooks remain popular. I think that if this fad is to evolve into another publishing venue (like POD and ebooks), it will have to branch out to include other genres besides mainstream and/or sensationalist topics.
God’s Last Twilight started off as a blook when I signed up for my first NaNo marathon. I didn’t put the whole thing up, but the first 7-10 chapters. I managed to get some great feedback from this project.
That said, I wouldn’t be against posting teaser copy. But I wouldn’t post my entire book.