# Author Aid Innovations helping new authors create, sell and promote their books. By [Katherinev123](https://www.trendhunter.com/katherine), Contributing Editor | Published Aug 24, 2012 | Category: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/business-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/author-aid ## Key Figures - Trend score: 1.8/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Author Aid trend? **Author Aid:** Book authors are increasingly finding it more difficult to break into the publishing world. Luckily, a wave of innovations helping new and existing authors publish and promote their books are coming to fore. These innovations, which include everything from disappearing ink to encourage quick reading to fansourced book tours, consequently augment the conventional publishing process so that burgeoning new authors actually have a fighting chance despite the growing popularity of ebooks and digital content. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Jun 27 to Aug 12, 2012 - Published: Aug 24, 2012 - Patterns: [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Experience](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/experience), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Themes within the Author Aid trend ### Disruptive Ink Technology New promising ink types (like disappearing ink) are being developed to augment the book publishing process. ### Print On-Demand Digital printing innovation (like Espresso Book Machine) is making self-publishing easier, more efficient, and affordable. ### Crowdsourced Direct-to-Consumer Marketing Social commerce platforms (like Togather) that facilitate direct communication between authors and readers, in addition to crowdsourced book tours. ## What the Author Aid trend means for industry ### For Print Industry Opportunity for print industry to further create disruptive technology for the book publishing industry. ### For Packaging Industry The packaging industry can consider new types of packaging that use disappearing ink and reflects a sense of urgency and importance to reading a book. ### For E-commerce Platforms like StoryBundle represent emerging opportunities for e-commerce companies to incorporate customer-determined pricing and subscription services for customers. ## Trend signals for Author Aid Trend score 1.8 out of 10, from popularity 32%, activity 14%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 32% - Activity: 14% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Author Aid trend 4 featured examples from Jun 27 to Aug 12, 2012. - [Disappearing Ink Tomes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-book-that-can-t-wait): The Book That Can't Wait Helps New Authors Get Their Work Read Quickly (Category: Business) Implication: The publishing industry can explore the use of disappearing ink as a unique marketing strategy to attract readers and generate excitement for new book releases. - [Crowdsourced Book Tours](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/togather): Togather Helps New Authors Connect With Readers & Promote Their Work (Category: Business) Implication: The publishing industry can benefit from using crowdsourcing platforms like Togather to help authors promote and sell their books. - [Customer-Determined Pricing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/storybundle): StoryBundle Allows Readers to Choose What They Pay for Books (Category: Business) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Embrace customer-determined pricing and digital bundling platforms to revolutionize the book publishing industry and provide more autonomy to in… - [On-Demand Literary Printing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/espresso-book-machine): Harvard Book Store Espresso Book Machine Prints in Four Minutes (Category: Business) Implication: The on-demand printing trend facilitated by the Espresso Book Machine offers disruptive innovation opportunities for print shops and companies in the printing services industry. ## Recent trend clusters - [Autumn Teasers](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autumn-teasers) (Business) - [Errand Leisure](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/errand-leisure) (Business) - [Category Mashups](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/category-mashups) (Business) - [Automated Upkeep](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/automated-upkeep) (Tech) ## Trending in Business - [Performance-Based Creator Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creator-ad-platforms) - [Repairable Hardshell Jackets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sperro-sv) - [Natural Deodorant Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/target-beauty-studios) - [Mini Beauty Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-luxuries-store) All articles: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business)