My humble suggestions to Helium Management
By scheng1
@scheng1 (24650)
Singapore
June 14, 2009 1:15am CST
This is my post in Helium forum:
"Helium has accumulated stock of content.
I hope that the management of Helium can team up with publishers in print market to compile the articles, print them in book formats.
The success of Chicken Soup for the Soul series show that readers are hungry for comfort, and they want articles written by common people for common people. There are many articles in Helum which are written in the styles of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Even while readers read online, they still buy paperback books to read on the way to work, or as bedtime reading.
Many self help books have flooded the markets in many countries, and people are grabbing them, as soon as the prints dry. Popular titles in Helium (eg love, saving money etc) have more than a hundred articles. A compilation of these to sell as self help pocketsize, paperback books will meet the demand of market.
Many of these articles are not written with SEO in mind, but reflect wisdom and passion which will sell well in print market."
What do you think of this? Actually my intention is not so pure, I hope that Helium can pay us (hopefully more than the $5 for stock content) if they select our articles for publication.
Plus I love to see my name in print!
Do you think the suggestions are practical?
3 people like this
5 responses
@arcideaco (1257)
• Singapore
14 Jun 09
Brilliant idea there. I think it can go on to publish for a fair number of volume judging from how many content Helium has.
Cheers.
2 people like this
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
14 Jun 09
Good suggestion. But I think Helium was designed to be Online. Anyway, you must take the idea to Helium. They may give it a thought. the stock content will be paid small due to non-exclusive rights.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Jun 09
Nishdan, I hope the management of Helium will find it workable.
Actually they have some partners from the publishing world, and some articles were purchased through stock content for both online and offline publishing. It is not that hard to team up with some publishers, and print a few books.
I think for us, as writers, the motivation of seeing our names in print is greater than the $5 payment for stock content.
2 people like this
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
14 Jun 09
I think this could be a very viable idea. They need a marketing manager over at Helium who can think up new projects (like this one) that are a little more "out of the box" than the way they are used to thinking. They've got a lot of content to work with; surely there are many ideas that could be generated to sell this content in multiple ways.
@AnythngArt (3302)
• United States
15 Jun 09
I think that it is totally within the realm of possibility. I am a member of Gather...do you know that site? They held a contest, and actually published several books (2 novels, 1 mystery, 1 romance...4 all together by its members). The books were marketed in Borders Bookstore. Gather is not a publishing company. It's a social networking site (even less involved with writing than Helium). It can be done if somebody is interested!
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
15 Jun 09
Hi Art, first time I come across Gather. I think the management in Helium does not really want to go through all the trouble, that's why words remain words, no action taken.
I feel they should take more actions to make money out of existing articles than to try to cut payment. Once the new scheme starts, they can save a lot of money from paying upfront.
Many writers with 5 writing stars are really unhappy with it, since they can make between $200 to $500 with upfront payment now.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
15 Jun 09
Hi Art, actually the idea occurs to the management of Helium long ago, see Janice reply:
"We have been talking about Helium books and assorted publishing projects for a long time. Unfortunately, that's about as far as it's gotten -- great idea, we all love it, who's got time to work on it? The best idea we had was a process where the members would select and edit a book themselves, think of a Zone on steroids! But, in the bigger scheme of what gets prioritized right now, this one is a little further down on the list.
Janice"
Personally I think it's a lame excuse, they have to partner with some publishers to get the books out. Helium specializes in online publishing, they may not have the experience with the print market, or the distribution channels with print market. Once they can get the right publishers and form a partnership, then the books will be selling in the bookshops soon.
2 people like this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
15 Jun 09
I think it is an interesting idea and even if helium doesn't agree you could always organize some writers and publish ebooks that people could download for $5.
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
16 Jun 09
Hi Canellita, actually the idea was discussed among Helium team for a long time, but nobody has the time for it.
If Helium intends to do without outside help, it's going to be difficult. The print market is a completely different market from the online market. Even if those in Helium had experienced with print market, they would not have stay up to date with the market demands.
I much prefer they can team up with some publishers, and enter into print market.
1 person likes this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
16 Jun 09
Hi Canellita, I am not familiar with print market, and I do not own the rights to the articles in Heulim, even though I can make suggestions on selecting articles for publishing.
Publishing ebook is out of question, since the articles in Helium are available for free reading.
The best is that Helium teams up with publisher, then get the Channel Stewards to shortlist the articles for the publisher. When the books are published, the Channel Stewards can get a commission from the sales, in addition to the stock content sales or whatever that Helium wants to pay the writers.
1 person likes this
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
16 Jun 09
You could be the one to take initiative and get something going.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
14 Jun 09
I think you're a genius! As you say, people still like to read books as well as reading online, and if articles are popular online, they will sell in book form. I cannot see why Helium would object, as obiously they would make money from it as well. Many of the articles on Helium are too good to just be read on the internet, and they deserve a wider audience. It would also encourage writers to keep standards high if they thought there was a chance of 'real' publication.
I make a modest income from internet writing, but I would love to break into traditional publishing. I'd really feel like a writer then! Like you, I do like to see my name in print, although obviously that is not the main reason we write, otherwise we would not find it very rewarding. Excellent topic, thank you.
2 people like this
@scheng1 (24650)
• Singapore
14 Jun 09
haha Sandra, thanks for your compliment, however, I'm not a genius!
I'm not even a good writer, just a normal person who enjoys reading and writing.
It's a pity for many writers who write for those Reflections titles in Helium, they not made upfront, and their articles are too well-written, even better than most of the Chicken soup for the Soul articles.
Somehow I feel that Chicken soup for the Soul books are better read on printed pages, than online.
Hopefully there are more ways for Helium and us to earn from the articles.
2 people like this
