SOOP Sets Crowdsourcing Publishing Trend Ahead of the Curve

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News that Amazon is developing a crowdsourcing publishing program has certainly made waves among industry observers and authors, but the program won’t be the first of its kind. Something or Other Publishing introduced crowdsourced publishing as our main business in 2012, and we have been refining and enhancing our program ever since.

As reported by Publisher’s Weekly on September 22, 2014:

“The initial report about the program, from The Digital Reader, says the soon-to-launch initiative will offer authors the chance to have their work reviewed and then, possibly, published by Amazon. A note from an Amazon spokesperson described the program as ‘reader-powered’ and said it would have ‘transparent, fixed contract terms.’ Through the program, titles will be submitted for review and, within days, those with the highest ratings will be chosen for publication.”

Something or Other Publishing’s author program, already in motion, features a similarly open-ended submissions process, but the path to publication involves more interaction between author and publisher.

In SOOP’s program, authors submit their book ideas via soopllc.com and solicit feedback, while readers pledge support and vote for their favorites. As authors achieve various voting milestones on the path toward 1,000 votes (and publishing contract eligibility), they receive guidance and benefits and complete related check-in activities. SOOP’s process focuses on educating and empowering authors to master production, platform, and pitch, because we recognize that an author’s work doesn’t end when his or her manuscript is complete. Authors who come through SOOP’s program emerge with the tools they need to sell their books.

Amazon’s focus on transparent, fixed contract terms and a 50% revenue split also mirrors SOOP’s current program. But while Amazon’s program is only slated to cover eBooks and audio formats, SOOP also offers authors print distribution.

“It’s gratifying to see that author-driven publishing frameworks are gaining traction,” said Wade Fransson, founder of SOOP. “Not to say we told you so, but we obviously feel that this is the future of publishing.”

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