Why Books Are More Than Books: The Power of Intellectual Property
A valued patron recently pointed me toward a video by a YouTuber called the Nerdy Novelist. He's been in the newpub scene for the better part of a decade now and frequently rubs elbows with some of the bigger players.According to him, the advent of A.I. is forcing authors to reconsider the value of their work. As the tools for creating written words spread like wildfire, the competitive advantage of producing books—even at pulp speed—is rapidly diminishing. The Nerdy Novelist’s recent video underscores a hard but vital truth: Authors need to stop thinking of their books as standalone products and start recognizing them as intellectual property assets. Take a few minutes to hear him explain why:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2mgV_EsfuwUpon watching Nerdy Novelist's video, the main revelation I had was that this is no revelation. In fact, smart authors have always understood the value of the bundle of rights that comes into being the instant they create each book. And you can bet publishers alwys have.Related: Authors, Control Your IPsHistorically, successful publishers and authors have leveraged book-derived IP to create new revenue streams and expand their reach. Think of how you first consumed classic literary works like Treasure Island. Were muppets involved? That's what I'm talking about.A single book can inspire not just multimedia adaptations, but all manner of potentially lucrative merchandise. Everybody knows that George Lucas got rich on the toy rights from Star Wars. But few remember that the novelization by Alan Dean Foster preceded the first movie's release and helped pave the way f0r its success. That shows how well-established the idea of using a book to promote related IP has been for decades.Unfortunately, most newpub authors overlook their novels' IP value, focusing instead on immediate sales volume. But as Nerdy Novelist confirms, the 20 Books to 50K rapid release model is dead. Pumpting out more books no longer gives authors an advantage since A.I. tools have leveled the playing field. So the strategic cultivation of IP is more important than ever to generate lasting value.Related: The Pros and Cons of Rapid ReleaseWhile Nerdy Novelist is right that authors must see their books as springboards for other opportunities, his encouragement of newpub authors to seek film and television deals should be seen as aspirational at best.Contrary to his rosy view of the industry, we've documented how the big studios and even streaming platforms are in crisis mode. Not only are they not starving for new IP, they're drastically cutting back the number of new projects produced each year.Related: "Hollywood Is in Shambles"On the other hand, ideas like YouTube adaptations are positioned to thrive in the A.I.-saturated environment. By refocusing from book sales to broader IP exploitation, authors can tap into new markets and spread their eggs beyond Amazon's increasingly overcrowded basket."What kinds of projects can I turn my book into?" you ask? IP are so versatile, we don't have room for all the answers in one post. Just consider that a single book can be adapted into ...Films and TV Shows: While production is slowing, and Hollywood connections are hard to get, Nerdy Novelist is right that you don't actually have to get your show or movie made. Just licensing the film or TV rights can be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Keep in mind that while John Scalzi, Larry Correia, and Brandon Sanderson have yet to see their books adapted, they've all sold screen rights. So Hollywood's diminishing output shouldn't stop you.Alternate Formats: Like NN said, A.I. tools make it easier than ever to create translations, young reader adaptations, or even coloring books based on your existing work.Multimedia Projects: Creative uses of A.I.-generated imagery and motion graphics can transform a book into a whole animated series, which can double as marketing material.Merchandise and Licensing: Characters, unique items, and even settings from your book can grace every kind of product from t-shirts to coffee mugs to collectible figures. The only limit is your imagination, which, if you're a professional author, is no limit at all.The main takeaway is that thinking of books as intellectual property sources opens up opportunities that go far beyond traditional publishing or even newpub. Too many authors prioritize short-term gains by aiming to write and publish quickly to meet reader demand. While this strategy had its merits, it often came at the expense of long-term planning.Thinking of your book as an font of IP requires a broader vision that includes potential adaptations, licensing deals, and multi-format products.For instance, a newpub author could branch out into graphic novels, serialized podcasts, or even tabletop roleplaying game settings. That way, you not only generate additional revenue, you also strengthen reader engagement with the original work.The tools to grow your books' value beyond Amazon are more accessible than ever. A.I. is making it easier to explore these possibilities, but the mindset shift required to treat books as IP predates current large language models. The most successful publishing enterprises have long understood the importance of intellectual property. This is a wake up call for more authors to seize this once-in-a-century opportunity.So stop thinking of your book as an endpoint. Instead, see it as a foundation. Your stories, characters, and worlds are more than mere text; they are assets with income-generating power just waiting to be unlocked. That's how you stay future-proof in a wildly changing market.
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