The benefits for publishers to move to "XML First" workflows have been floating around for awhile now (see my post from November 12th). This type of workflow supports the easy and efficient creation of alternatives to the print book such as the eBook. It was only a matter of time that an "eBook First" discussion started.
According to the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), year-over-year eBook sales have grown to 300%. This certainly raises the interest of any publishing CFO who now sees the importance of electronic revenues. But it will surely raise the interest of authors and editors who until now built the content around the printed book and not the eBook. The shift to creating an eBook first, taking advantage of its creative possibilities has begun. No longer does the content have to fit within the constraints of the printed book.
Mike Shatzkin writes a very thought provoking post on his blog titled What it will mean when the ebook comes first. He predicts a huge upheaval for editors and authors when they start thinking about eBook First.
I've recognized for years that prevalent thinking is that the eBook is only an electronic version of the printed book. This is an artifact of the workflows that created the eBook from the print. With eBook First the content will surely be different than what is possible in print.
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