Digital Media With Emma Dryden, Rubin Pfeffer, and Loreen Leedy
In the Digital Media Track at SCBWI Orlando, Emma Dryden reminded us the iPhone and the Kindle were first introduced in 2007, only four years ago.
Rubin Pfeffer added the prediction that by 2014 consumers would own 250,000,000 tablets.
Emma Dryden told us Laura Rennert, an agent at Andrea Brown Literary, has helped her client P.J. Hoover self-publish!
Even Kirkus has started reviewing apps.
I am left with the feeling we are tettering on the brink of a revolution almost as mind blowing as when the printing press replaced the handwritten book. Since we can’t stop the coming changes, the best strategy is to adapt.
Luckily, Loreen Leedy is a wealth of knowledge for authors. The following notes are from her talk:
Why Should An Author Develop an App?
1. As a companion to a print book.
2. To reissue an out-of-print title.
3. To explore a niche market that a traditional publisher may not be interested in.
4. To create something impossible any other way.
What Are The Differences Between A Picture Book And A Picture Book App?
1. A printed book’s format is static, but an app can be designed so that a reader chooses what happens next.
2. A picture book usually has 32 pages. The number of pages is optional with an app.
3. A picture book has double page spreads. An app has a single one-sized page.
4. An app has features that a picture book doesn’t (e.g. narration/sound, games/activities).
5. An app is much easier to update than waiting on the next print run.
When Designing An App Think Movement
1. Flowers bloom.
2. Birds eat worms
3. Wheels go around and around.
4. Puzzles are assembled.
5. Bikes are taken apart…and put back together.
6. Autumn leaves change colors.
For savvy content creators, the possibilities are endless!
For much more information about picture book apps check out the following links:
Loreen Leedy<
E is for Book<
Plus there’s a chat about apps on Twitter Sunday evenings at 9:00 #storyappchat.
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HI Shannon-I just discovered your blog. The info on the digital media is great! So much is changing it's absolutely mind-boggling. Thanks for sharing.
I never thought I'd give up physical books for a Kindle, but I have one now, and there I was in an airplane, stuck on the runway, downloading a book. Way to go!
Liz
Hi Liz,
I'll probably never completely give up physical books, but I do own a Kindle. I find myself first reading books on the e-reader, and then only buying the physical book if it's a book I love enough to read multiple times.
I so apologize for the spacing of this post. I tried to edit it, but Blogger is kicking my butt. I literally cannot fix it. Every time I try, Blogger simply reverts to this format.
Hi, Shannon. I was wondering how this track went. Thanks so much for sharing it! I was there for the MG track and got so much out of it… was kinda wishing I could've sat on on the digital media one as well. Maybe next time.
Nice to meet you tho! Maybe at the next one we'll know who each other are. 🙂
Hi Shannon, thank you so much for your kind words about my talk. I took plenty of notes because the Digital Track was a learning experience for me, too!
Hi PK, I usually attend both the Miami and Orlando conferences. I'd love to meet you.
And Loreen, You are the "App Goddess." I got so much out of what you had to say.