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Self-publishing is another trend that has occurred as a result of these changes. Not only can people self-publish content on blogs and websites, but they can also bypass traditional book publishers and write books on their own. In the past, these “gatekeepers” would dictate what could and couldn’t be written and who could do it and who couldn’t. However, the dynamic has changed.

“Because of technology and the Internet, now anyone can go out there and take their own content and put it online and have it on Amazon and have it up in a bunch of other places in 24 hours or less,” said Jim Kukral, the CEO of Digital Book Launch.

“The gatekeepers are crumbling a little bit,” he added.

Kukral actually had a book called Attention! This Book Will Make You Money published traditionally last year. But, through the long and tedious experience, he realized that he, or anyone else, didn’t need a book publisher to publish a book.

“All the things that needed to make the book a success, I was really in control of,” he pointed out.

As he explained to WebProNews, writers can find freelance editors and people to create book covers. They don’t need a book deal because they can do it on their own, as he did.

Kukral has actually taken self-publishing to a new level by also pre-funding books before they’re even written. It sounds bizarre, but it has worked. He wanted to write a series of books about creating a lifestyle around a business, which is what he has done for himself.

He launched a campaign and asked people to pledge amounts ranging from $10-$10,000, and they responded. Kukral was essentially able to pre-sale the books before they were even written. The campaign has been live for around a month and has already raised over $20,000.

The people that have made pledges of over $100 receive recognition in the “Acknowledgement” section of the book. In addition, they get a copy of the book and get updates as it is written. Kukral said that it encourages engagement and makes them “part of a creative process.”

He went on to say that he would likely end the fund-raising at the end of this month but that he plans to do similar campaigns in the future.

In terms of traditional publishing, Kukral doesn’t think that the industry is dead.

“Newspapers aren’t gonna die,” he said. “Radio, television – they’re not gonna die. They’re just changing.”

He pointed out that the industry would have to adjust its model in order to stay relevant, which means that it will be even harder for a writer to get his book published traditionally. For this reason, he is a firm believer in this self-publishing trend and encourages others in this way as well.

“There are so many great things that happen for your brand and for your business when you put a book out there – it’s amazing,” he added.

What do you think about the rise of self-publishing?

WebProNews is partnering with BlogWorld and New Media Expo, the world’s first and largest new media conference, in an effort to broadcast how new media can grow your business, brand, and audience. BlogWorld takes place November 3-5 in Los Angeles and includes speakers such as Jim Kukral. Stay tuned to WebProNews for much more exclusive coverage.

You're right, I did lose a million dollars last year. I expect to lose a million dollars this year. I expect to lose a million dollars *next* year. You know, Mr. Thatcher, at the rate of a million dollars a year, I'll have to close this place in... 60 years.
-- Google would have to lose $13.7 million per year, based on Consumer Price Index, to match Charles Foster Kane's proposed burn rate

TechCrunch cited the HuoMah.com blog on picking up a new patent issued to Google. The patent’s abstract makes for a scintillating read:

A method includes receiving personalized content from a plurality of content sources. The personalized content is based on user input. The method further includes receiving a personalized advertisement based on user input, and creating a customized publication including the personalized content and the personalized advertisement.

Michael Arrington suggested this could be the harbinger of Google Magazine. Instead of being written and published by jaded New Yorkers, it would be written by whoever the reader liked reading, and published by Google with ads included as part of the copy.

(Any bets on how heavily this would be used for, ahem, adult content? Google is going to need to spend a lot on the myriad flesh-tone colors that exist. Time to buy stock in whatever company makes those printer inks, perhaps?)

"I also wonder how effective this patent would be if established magazines tried to allow users to customize content in a similar way – Google could step in and claim infringement. Their hope, of course, would be to license the patent and supply all the advertisements," said Arrington.

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