New way to write books - The "crowdsourced" book!

[Dien Rice]

I just came across this ... which is really a new way to write books...

This is about recipes - but I don't see any reason why you couldn't create a book this way about any topic...

From http://www.foodista.com/blogbook ...

Cookbook Contest

Have you dreamed of being published in print? Want to see your writing in a book?

Foodista and Andrews McMeel Publishing are thrilled to announce The Foodista Best of Food Blogs Cookbook! Food bloggers worldwide are invited to submit their favorite blog posts, recipes and photos to compete for a spot in a Foodista.com cookbook.

From December 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010 Foodista will be accepting submissions. Then, Andrews McMeel will publish the winning blog posts in a beautiful full-color, internationally distributed cookbook!

So, the basic idea is that people who have food/recipe-related blogs can enter recipes into the competition. Those considered the best entries will be published in the book.

The organizers of the competition get a book to sell - which they didn't have to write!

The people who enter recipes, if their recipe is included, get a free copy of the book - and presumably free publicity for their blog...

Not a bad way to write a book!

I don't see why you couldn't write a book this way on any topic the public is interested in... Especially any kind of book that lends itself to many independent entries (e.g. collections of inspirational stories, collections of tips, etc.).

New ways of doing things are just constantly evolving...

It's an example of the new-ish phenomenon called "crowdsourcing"...!

How could you use this in your business?

Best wishes,

Dien

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

I just came across this ... which is really a new way to write books...

This is about recipes - but I don't see any reason why you couldn't create a book this way about any topic...

From http://www.foodista.com/blogbook ...



So, the basic idea is that people who have food/recipe-related blogs can enter recipes into the competition. Those considered the best entries will be published in the book.

The organizers of the competition get a book to sell - which they didn't have to write!

The people who enter recipes, if their recipe is included, get a free copy of the book - and presumably free publicity for their blog...

Not a bad way to write a book!

I don't see why you couldn't write a book this way on any topic the public is interested in... Especially any kind of book that lends itself to many independent entries (e.g. collections of inspirational stories, collections of tips, etc.).

New ways of doing things are just constantly evolving...

It's an example of the new-ish phenomenon called "crowdsourcing"...!

How could you use this in your business?

Best wishes,

Dien

This game has been going on in the Photography world for years and years. The exception is that the BOOK is the PRODUCT that is SOLD to the WINNING entrants.
Here is how it works......
Offer a photo contest to amatuer photogs
After submission-
Send letter stating that they WON or will be PUBLISHED in the HARD COVER
the only place to purchase is from sellers addy,
Lets see, 500 photos (or photogs) x $60 = $30K -$15k in expenses and net $15k for 2 months worth of work.
How could your NOT purchase a $60 book when your photography is in it????
It is worth twice that just just to swell the EGO of said subjects for BEING PUBLISHED

Great gig and can be applied just about anywhere!
Great post Dien!

Chicken Soup books worked on this... people sent their stories hoping they'd be published. Nothing new here.

Slightly different profit model from the Photography Model already mentioned. But both still use buyers/user created content for their books. The good old "interview many people and put their answers in a book" method is also part of this quick book system.

Michael Ross