Are books the new business card?

Also, The New York Times has given writers a lot to think about, a new contest for writers, and more.

Books are the new business card: You can still make money writing books. In fact the market for non-fiction, advice-based writers is likely as good as ever. This article from Fast Company details how many authors are turning their books into new careers on the speaking and consulting circuit, and making way more money than they do with book sales. Ryan Holiday makes the point that, in fact, writing books today is more for the writer than it is for the reader. “Today, authors are in the idea-making business, not the book business. In short, this means that publishing a book is less about sales and much more about creating a brand.” By the way, Holiday is the author of a much maligned book on media manipulation. Read the story here.