Show Me the Money
"Publishers are getting more savvy about ways they can mine their intellectual property for reusable content," writes David Marlin by way of introducing a new three-part series on content monetization beginning this week on TOC.
In this first installment, Marlin addresses the concept of chunking, or repackaging already extant backlist content. He considers Harvard Common Press as an example, suggesting it could mine its 20,000 recipe archive to produce new cookbooks.
That's curating content in addition to producing it. And Marlin says that's good news.
What do you think? What innovative new ways can publishers use to create new revenue?
Join the conversation at our happy new TOC community site.
Cheers,
Kat Meyer and Joe Wikert
Chairs, Tools of Change
TOC 2013
Be the Change
Do you feel like technology is pushing the publishing industry a little too quickly? Come to TOC to get a handle on the big picture. We promise you'll come away with inspiration, actionable insights, and valuable new connections.
New for 2013: Author (R)evolution Day, for those taking an alternate path to publishing.
You know you want to be there.
Register by November 8 for guaranteed best price.
Hot Type
Kat & Joe's Must-Reads
Hot Stats
"Pricing models may still be in limbo (and in court), but publishers are finally making real money from ebooks." No kidding. For fun, smart, and surprising publishing biz stats, there's nothing more timely than Aptara's new survey infographic, Revealing the Business of Ebooks.
Not-So-Humble Bundle
There are only seven days left in the inaugural Humble Ebook Bundle. Pay what you want for eight great sci-fi novels and not only do you set the price, you decide who gets your money. We say: Genius!
Traditional Experiment
Tumblr co-founder and Instapaper creator Marco Arment started a new publishing experiment with a rather traditional publishing model: He launched a magazine. The Magazine app contains four stories and publishes every two weeks for just $1.99 per month. And if the project doesn't fill the coffers by issue number four? Arment says he'll close up shop.
Change a Constant
Following the Frankfurt Book Fair, OR Books co-founder Colin Robinson calls for a reformation in publishing. Evoking Martin Luther, he offers 9 1/2 precepts for publishing's road to salvation.
Brave New World
Among other pleasures, author Robin Sloan explains why he made the print version of his Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore glow in the dark.
TOC Video: It's the Law
Consume/Communicate/Engage
October's theme is the law and so we offer "What's New, Copyright?" a free video download of a TOC 2012 presentation by Edward Colleran (Copyright Clearance Center) and Ned May (Outsell) that takes a 10-year view at the future of publishing, using the meltdown of mainstream news as a cautionary tale against which to measure success.
The Final Bit
Our Weekly Nod To Literal Architecture
Netherlands architecture firm MVRDV has designed a literary destination: a glass pyramid public library, aptly named Book Mountain.
The library, built in Spijkenisse near Rotterdam, not only offers visitors a five-story mountain of books, but a glorious perch with a panoramic view intended to inspire discovery.
This is definitely a contender for Beautiful-Libraries.com, don't you think?
Looking for more? Visit toc/oreilly.com.
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