This shouldn't be news to you, but the Internet affects your ability to get published—whether for the first time or the second time. When editors/agents receive a query, proposal, or manuscript, they almost always Google the author, and check out the strength of the author's Web presence, reviews, and publication history (if any), and involvement with a particular community. Professionals can form an impression (and perhaps even reach a conclusion) before reading a word of the author’s actual manuscript, meaning:


Often, the most efficient and effective way to reach a readership is online, through Web sites, blogs, interviews, discussion groups, etc. If you haven't noticed, today’s pop culture thrives on multimedia entertainment, the interactivity of social networks and messaging, and the instant shiny gratification of iPhones and search engines. Progressive publishers and authors must look beyond the power of words alone to stimulate readers.

As a smart acquisitions editor and editorial director, I have to search for projects that can go beyond the printed book. The F+W sales and marketing division is no longer satisfied with a great print product; I have to envision how the content can be shaped and promoted online, in digital formats, and through multimedia channels. My company will eventually cease being a book publisher and become a media/content company. Will you, as an author, be prepared? How will you and your content be defined or delivered in an online or digital environment?

Larger life lesson: It's not just about the culture any more (or "young" people), but the very way we consume and create knowledge. Our very brains are changing. (Read this article in Atlantic magazine, Is Google Making Us Stupid?)

Related posts
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#3)
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#2)
How to Avoid Sabotaging Your Writing Career (#1)