With the publication of my new book, How to Blog a Book: Write, Publish, and Promote Your Work One Post at a Time, I’ve been spending a lot of time speaking , teaching and writing blog posts and articles on this topic. No matter where I go and and what I do, I get asked the same question over and over again related to blogged books, previously published work and traditional publishers. Many aspiring authors considering blogging books feel concern over publishing their the work they intend to include in a book on their blogs. They feel sure a publisher will then consider it “previously published” and not want to offer them a book contract.
You see, blogging a book involves writing your book from scratch in post sized bits on your blog. In the process, you gain a fan base, or an author’s platform. This attracts a publisher or allows you to successfully self-publish your book if you don’t.
Because of all the questions I receive, I planned on interviewing several publishers or acquisitions editors on this topic, and I will probably still do so. However, this issue was handily addressed for me last week by Michael Hyatt, chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers, on his weekly podcast. So, I thought I’d share his answer to the question today.
One of Michael’s regular listeners asked the following question (which I’ve paraphrased):
If I turn existing blog content into the basis of or the early draft of a book for a publisher, are there any restraints on the fact that the content has already been published?
Michael responded:
“I can tell you as a publisher, it doesn’t matter if it’s been published somewhere else before as long as its not a book and as long as the rights are not encumbered. If it’s just been published on your blog, you’re fine. I think it’s a great way to field test content. It’s a way to get reader input. It’s a way to more carefully target and polish your content so it even more attractive to publishers.”
That’s basically what I’ve been repeating over and over again…
I met Michael at Blog World & New Media Expo in New York last week. He actually mentioned me and my book in that podcast.
Prior to that event, I attended to Book Expo America educational events. At the first, I ran into my publisher, Phil Sexton, from Writer’s Digest Books. I mentioned to him how often I’m asked about previously published content and blogging books. He told me that F & W Media, the parent company to Writer’s Digest Books, doesn’t mind at all. They’ve made several blog-to-book deals, including The Plot Whisperer, The Art of Manliness, and, of course, How to Blog a Book.
During the BEA Blogger event, I stood in line with two editors from Wiley. They were thrilled to hear about my book—one of them pocketed the copy I handed her, and told me what I already knew: Wiley loves to contact bloggers to write books based on their blogs. They probably make more blog-to-book deals per year than most other publishers.
If you are worried about blogging a book, I hope Michael’s response assuages some of your worries. Blogging a book really is the quickest and easiest way to write a book and promote it at the same time.
I will be looking for more publishing pros to interview on this topic, by the way, and those posts will likely end up on my blog.
The key here is to begin making some decisions on your own. What is it you want to do? Sounds like you have the insurance thing figured out, are you seeking agreement? concensus? There are no "shoulds" only decisions based on rational/critical 
Oh my gosh! I felt your inner pain ... and I apologize for the fact that when I got to the part about setting your hair on fire, I laughed. I'm so glad you weren't hurt, and hair grows back. Perhaps a new hair-do would not only rectify the situation 
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I feel so
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Hey Nina, I’ve been away for a long time, so it’s nice to see (hear) you again. I love, love, love blogging books. I think it’s a brilliant way to get it done instead of facing that big blank bulk of page after page. My new book “Bitch Please” (Jacqui Brown–official release date June 24, 2012 on AMAZON in paperback and kindle) was written first as a blog so I could get feedback. That feedback also propelled me to keep writing. I am writing the sequel to it in the same fashion. It takes a lot of the stress away.
jbwritergir,
I’ve been away, too…busy with my book. Congrats on your book! I’d love to know more about it. Did you write it in post-sized bits and publish them on your blog that way or in full chapters? If you did it in posts-sized bits, I’d invite you to write a blog post for me at howtoblogabook.com and tell my readers about your experience. There are guidelines there on the blog. I’d love them to hear about how your readers and feedback kept you writing and how that also affected the book and your stress. (I swear I left this comment before, by the way.)
thank you, I WILL BE BLOGGING SOON WITH MY NEWLY EDITED VERSION
OF MY BOOK TRUE BLONDES… PLEASE CHECK OUT MY NEW WEBSITE
TRUEBLONDESNY.TUMBLR.COM THANK YOU, CAROL HOLLENBECK
AUTHOR OF TRUE BLONDES….
Working on a blog post for you Nina. My book debut’s today, “BITCH PLEASE!” on Amazon both in paperback and kindle. I’ll send my post as soon as I can. Self promotion absorbs a lot of time as you very well know.
Great! Check out the guidelines on my blog. I’m looking for your story and for tips and tools others can use! Unique stuff hopefully I haven’t said before, but if it is your unique angle it should be fine. Good luck with your launch.