Social Media
Reading a book is a solitary activity, not a social one. There are exceptions, like reading aloud to a child or a shut-in, but for the most part, reading is something you do by yourself.
Eighteen million readers and writers around the world spend 4.5-billion minutes a month publishing, collaborating and skimming text on Wattpad, the biggest under-the-radar e-literature community on the web.
The Toronto-based startup is a free publishing and reading platform allowing wordsmiths to share and collaborate on stories. It's probably the most active social site you've never heard of.
Random House has introduced a new online food community called TasteBook Blog. The site features content from its bestselling cookbook authors such as Martha Stewart and Bobby Flay, as well as from authors who touch on food such as Jay McInerney, along with community content. It is all curated by an editorial team.
Just in time for Banned Books Week, the Internet's largest book-review site is hosting a meltdown over a new policy that many of its members feel is a blatant act of censorship. The problem that Goodreads attempted to solve in its recently announced review policy update was one that has plagued the publishing community and book blogosphere for some time: the issue of authors and reviewers behaving badly.
MEXICO CITY: "I don't give a damn about the future of the book," was Argentine writer Hernán Casciari's dramatic statement to a surprised audience at the 3rd International E-book Symposium in Mexico City last week.
One way to really understand someone is to look at the books on their bookshelf. Here's a picture of mine and it's a picture of my soul: It's disorganized with technical books mixed in with science fiction, non-fiction, philosophy and art. Like many book lovers I tend to dive deep into an author and immerse myself in a subject in a way that social media and search results can't provide. After decades of this behavior I realize it's an addiction and respite from the trials and tribulations of everyday life.
With the Publishing Business Conference & Expo's rapid approach, we hope you've finalized your plans for NYC, but if you've been as busy as us this past month and have yet to register, then for today at least, you can breathe a sigh of relief. We're offering a 24-hour fire sale, saving you $200 on conference tickets. To take advantage of the sale, click here and use the code RAPIDFIRE.
John Pavley, CTO of Huffington Post and speaker at the Publishing Business Conference & Expo spoke with Gigaom yesterday on the Huffington Post's recent decision to end anonymous commenting in order to combat abusive "trolls," an effort that he will lead. Pavley will continue to stretch his technological know-how at the Expo's Mobile & Digital Magazine Symposium on September 23rd. He, with Livingly Media CEO Tony Mamone, will delve into the challenges and opportunities unique to digital-only magazines and may even impart tips to limit your own site's trolls. Click here to learn more.
Who knew the book industry was filled with such venom, such mayhem, such...death threats? Book discovery and discussion site Goodreads has been the battlefield recently for a game that is causing concern among both authors and readers alike. According to some reports from actual users, there are roving bands of "bullies" on the site, some of them actual moderators approved by Goodreads, who seek out titles to destroy with artificially low rankings and ratings. How is it artificial? Because some of the books haven't even been published yet, and ARCs were not sent out.
Wattpad, the Toronto-based social network based on writing and reading, has just announced a new crowdfunding platform called "Fan Funding" which offers authors on its network the chance to leverage their huge followings for raising capital towards creative works. It's like a Wattpad-housed Kickstarter for creative projects, but there's good reason Wattpad users would use it over the more established alternatives.