Innovative Book Crowdsourcing Ideas

At Beverly Hills Publishing, we’re always on the lookout for innovative book crowdsourcing ideas. The publishing landscape is evolving rapidly, and authors are finding new ways to engage their audience throughout the creative process.

In this post, we’ll explore cutting-edge strategies for crowdsourcing content, funding, and marketing in the book industry. These approaches are revolutionizing how books are written, published, and promoted, opening up exciting possibilities for both established and aspiring authors.

How Authors Leverage Crowdsourced Content Creation

Crowdsourced content creation transforms the way authors approach their craft. This collaborative method allows writers to tap into the collective creativity of their audience, resulting in unique and engaging books.

The Power of Collaborative Writing Platforms

Collaborative writing platforms serve as powerful tools for authors who want to involve their readers in the creative process. Websites like Medium make drafting, editing, publishing, and sharing writing easier than many other platforms. This iterative approach improves the quality of the writing and builds a loyal fanbase before the book’s completion.

Anna Todd’s “After” series, which started on Wattpad, amassed over a billion reads online before traditional publication and adaptation into a successful film franchise. This success story illustrates the potential of collaborative platforms to launch careers and create bestsellers.

Community-Driven Plot Development

Authors increasingly turn to their readers to shape the direction of their stories. Setting up polls, forums, or social media discussions allows writers to gather input on plot twists, character decisions, and even alternate endings. This level of engagement makes readers feel invested in the story and helps authors create narratives that resonate with their target audience.

Public authors today frequently use digital tools to seek to address social problems. As a result, scholars attend to the ways public writing can contribute to social change.

Reader-Submitted Character Backstories

An innovative way authors incorporate crowdsourcing involves inviting readers to contribute character backstories. This approach adds depth to secondary characters and creates a more immersive world for the story. Authors can host writing contests or dedicated submission periods where fans flesh out the histories of minor characters or even create new ones for upcoming works.

Hugh Howey, author of the “Wool” series, successfully used this method by allowing fans to write and publish their own stories set in his post-apocalyptic world. This strategy expanded the universe of his books and fostered a strong community of writers and readers around his work.

These crowdsourcing techniques elevate an author’s work and build a dedicated readership. The key lies in finding the right balance between author vision and reader input, ensuring that the final product maintains its integrity while benefiting from the collective creativity of its audience.

As we explore the next frontier of book creation, it’s essential to consider how authors can fund their projects and engage readers even before publication. The next section will discuss innovative approaches to funding and pre-sales through crowdfunding platforms.

How Authors Fund Their Books Through Crowdsourcing

Kickstarter: A Launchpad for Book Projects

Kickstarter has transformed the way authors finance their book projects. Most successfully funded projects raise less than $10,000, but a growing number have reached six, seven, and even eight figures.

To run a successful Kickstarter campaign, authors should:

1. Set a realistic funding goal based on production costs
2. Offer compelling rewards at various price points
3. Create an engaging video pitch
4. Use social media to promote the campaign
5. Provide regular updates to backers

Patreon: Sustaining Author Work

Patreon offers a different model, which allows authors to receive ongoing support from fans. This platform works well for authors who produce regular content or work on long-term projects.

Fantasy author N.K. Jemisin used Patreon to fund her writing full-time, which allowed her to quit her day job and focus on her craft. As of 2023, she has over 1,400 patrons supporting her work.

To succeed on Patreon, authors should:

1. Offer exclusive content to patrons
2. Set up multiple tier levels with increasing benefits
3. Engage regularly with supporters through updates and Q&A sessions
4. Consider offering early access to chapters or behind-the-scenes content

Equity Crowdfunding: A New Frontier for Publishing Startups

Equity crowdfunding allows individuals to invest in startups in exchange for equity. This model gains traction in the publishing industry, with platforms like SeedInvest and Republic hosting campaigns for innovative publishing ventures.

Inkshares, a hybrid publisher, raised over $1 million through equity crowdfunding in 2016. This approach allowed them to expand their operations and publish more books.

For publishing startups considering equity crowdfunding:

1. Develop a solid business plan and financial projections
2. Create a compelling pitch deck
3. Choose the right platform based on your target raise and investor demographics
4. Comply with all legal requirements (which vary by country and platform)
5. Plan for investor relations post-campaign

These innovative funding methods open new possibilities for authors and publishing startups. However, they also present unique challenges in terms of marketing and promotion. In the next section, we’ll explore how authors can leverage crowd-powered marketing strategies to maximize their book’s visibility and reach.

Harnessing the Crowd for Book Marketing

Influencer Collaborations: Beyond Simple Endorsements

Social media influencers play a pivotal role in book marketing. Successful campaigns transcend basic endorsements. Authors should strive for authentic collaborations that add value to the influencer’s audience.

Thriller author Riley Sager partnered with BookTubers (YouTube book reviewers) to create a series of videos where they solved puzzles related to his novel “Home Before Dark.” This interactive approach promoted the book and engaged potential readers in a memorable way.

When planning influencer collaborations:

1. Identify influencers whose audience aligns with your book’s target readership
2. Propose creative collaboration ideas that exceed standard reviews
3. Offer exclusive content or experiences for the influencer’s followers
4. Track engagement metrics to measure the campaign’s success

Readers as Content Creators

Reader-generated content serves as a powerful marketing tool. Encouraging fans to create book trailers, fan art, or short stories based on your book can generate organic buzz and foster a sense of community around your work.

Fantasy author V.E. Schwab used this strategy effectively for her Shades of Magic series. She encouraged fans to create and share fan art, which she then featured on her social media platforms. This increased engagement and created a visual feast that attracted new readers.

To implement this strategy:

1. Create a dedicated hashtag for fan creations
2. Host contests with prizes for the best submissions
3. Feature selected fan works on your author website or social media
4. Consider incorporating fan creations into official marketing materials (with permission)

Viral Challenges: Readers as Enthusiastic Marketers

Viral challenges can transform your readers into enthusiastic marketers. The key lies in creating a challenge that’s fun, easy to participate in, and closely tied to your book’s themes or content.

Jay Asher’s “13 Reasons Why” benefited from a viral challenge where readers shared thirteen reasons why they loved the book. This increased visibility and created emotional connections with potential readers.

When designing a viral challenge:

1. Keep it simple and achievable for most participants
2. Ensure it’s visually appealing for social media sharing
3. Tie the challenge directly to your book’s content or message
4. Offer incentives for participation (e.g., signed copies or exclusive content)

These strategies turn readers into active participants in the promotion process, creating a ripple effect that can significantly amplify a book’s reach and impact. Authors who embrace these innovative approaches often find themselves at the forefront of book marketing trends, setting new standards for engagement and visibility in the industry.

Final Thoughts

The world of book publishing evolves rapidly, with innovative book crowdsourcing ideas at the forefront of this transformation. Authors now have unprecedented opportunities to engage readers throughout the creative process, from collaborative writing platforms to community-driven plot development. Crowdfunding platforms revolutionize project financing, while equity crowdfunding opens new avenues for publishing startups.

These crowdsourcing strategies have the potential to reshape the publishing industry profoundly. Authors can build dedicated fan bases even before publication by involving readers in the creation and promotion of books. This shift towards more collaborative and interactive publishing models may lead to more diverse and reader-centric content, potentially disrupting traditional publishing norms.

At Beverly Hills Publishing, we understand the importance of innovative strategies in today’s publishing world. We combine groundbreaking publishing techniques with strategic branding and marketing to help authors become leading authorities in their industries. Authors who embrace these innovative approaches will connect with their audience, fund their projects, and achieve success in an increasingly competitive industry (the possibilities are limitless for those willing to explore new frontiers in book creation and promotion).