The Blockchain as a Game-Changer for Writers (A Writer's Perspective)

_{Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash}

As a writer AND a Steemian, I'm constantly faced with a dilemma. I love Steemit and I love posting on the blockchain. In fact, I find I work really well when I have a clear goal (to upload s story) in mind. But that poses a problem, because if I make a piece of my work available online, then I am drastically reducing my chances of getting it published. That's one of the reasons I went with self-publishing when I got 'Grimmest Things' out, I feared that publishing houses would reject it because it already exists online. That and I lacked the patience for the necessary research.
If you look around at writing contests, magazines that accept submissions or indeed, most publishing houses, you will find it specified that they are looking for original work. Which means, everything posted here, on your blog, on your Facebook page (wherever, really) doesn't qualify. And it seems a shame because I'm really proud of some of the stories I've posted on here.
So, this is a real issue when deciding to post original fiction on the blockchain, the fact that in the process, you might be closing a lot of doors later on. And yet, here I am, still posting. I put a lot of fiction on the blockchain, which is quite the surprise as I never intended to do that. When I joined, I was only planning to write blog-y stuff, none of my fiction. I feared rejection so much in those days. Now, I don't.

The greatest benefit of posting your fiction on the blockchain

Immediate readers. Now, I know, things are slow, there aren't a lot of folks actively reading blogs. But there are some and if you're lucky and if you work hard at building a following, you get people reading your posts. And that is simply amazing for any writer. That's the thing we most need. Feedback. Readers. Engagement. And for that, I can't stop posting. I know that maybe I shouldn't because that might screw up my publishing chances, but I want to. I've never been one to sacrifice the opportunity in hand for some shoddy maybe in the future. And that's how I view Steemit, as an immense opportunity for writers. I mean, I can write this and in just five minutes, it can reach the whole world. It's in your computer, provided you have Internet access, in wherever you are. Delhi, New York, Amsterdam. You can read the story while it's still hot. Now, how brilliant is that?
And you can comment on it, you can offer your opinion, talk to the author directly, no waiting, no going through publishers to contact a writer, no nothing. It seems to me that the blockchain is a win-win situation for both writers and readers. And then, I ask myself, why – if it's so good – should I refrain from posting?

So that I might get a chance to put a book out the old-fashioned way?

But that is an old method. It's the way of the past. We no longer have to rely on the printing press to get our word out, we can get it out ourselves. Immediately.
But then, it awards you respect. It's different saying that you write a blog or that you self-publish from saying that you've got a book out with Penguin. It makes others respect you. But that respect is outdated, too. It belongs to a dying world.
We are living very interesting times, not sure if good or bad, but undoubtedly interesting. And we should adapt to them, we should take change in stride. If you go around, hoping for such old-fashioned respect, then you're not evolving, you're not moving further.

Today, writing a blog or self-publishing can be the same as having a book out with Penguin.

Why is the blockchain the future of writing?

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It cuts out the middle man. I no longer need to wait for a publishing house to get my book out, whether I'm a reader or a writer, I can have instant access to it. Now, today. I don't have to depend on the publisher printing it or on the nearest bookstore having it in stock. I can have it right now, in my pocket. And in case you hadn't noticed, the future is all about instant access and having things right now, in your pocket.
I really believe that's where writing is headed, which is why I keep posting on Steem.

One of the biggest things you need, as a writer, is publicity. It's not so much the house itself that puts out your book, but rather what they do for you. Now, taking care of your own publicity is a hassle (I'm planning a video on that soon) and honestly, not many of us know how to do it, which makes it all the more convenient when you sign with a publishing house. They'll do it for you. Sure, you have to do your bit, but it's much less than you would if you were an independent.
But publicity too has evolved. You no longer put up an ad in the paper, you go digital. And then, if publicity has evolved and the future of publicity is social media (which is very, very different to what it used to be), then why wouldn't publishing itself evolve?
I truly believe that's the writing industry we're headed for. Digital and on the blockchain.

The blockchain as a game-changer

If you're reading this, chances are you already view the blockchain as a game-changer in many respects. Not least, the financial system (yet another world that is evolving in an unexpected way).

What does a writer look for when writing a story?

Readers, sure. But also, money. Sadly, readers don't feed you or pay the bills, so you need money to survive. And so, you hope a publishing house will pick your story up and broadcast it to millions of readers, thus bringing you money.
But not anymore. Now, you're in direct contact with those potential readers, again cutting out the middle man.
You've noticed I keep talking about the blockchain in this post, when in fact, blogs have existed for years. Not new at all. But it's very hard to have a successful blog and even harder to earn money off of it.
But on the blockchain, I (the writer) am in direct contact with you (the reader) and you have a quick, easy way of rewarding my fiction. You don't have to get your wallet out or even swipe your card. You just have to click. Now that changes the game for authors big time.

And because it's so convenient, I can't help but think this will only grow in future. So why then should I keep my stories in a neat folder with hopes of publishing them in the traditional sense at some later date? When by then, things might evolve exclusively to the blockchain.

This is our financial future. Which makes me think it has to be the future for many, many professions. I, as a writer, need two things – readers and money. They're both here. Why then, shouldn't I be here, too?

Thanks for reading,