Brian Niemeier's Blog: Kairos - by Brian Niemeier, page 7

How Big Tech’s Novelty Obsession Killed Software

If you’ve used pretty much any consumer software or internet search engine in recent years, you’ve noticed a decline in user friendliness and utility. What was once a simple matter of navigating intuitive interfaces and obtaining relevant information has become a frustrating ordeal. From constant updates that seem to break more than they fix to search engines returning an avalanche of ads…

Source

Why Major Tabletop RPG Publishers Are Losing Longtime Fans

The tabletop roleplaying game industry has grown significantly over the past decade, fueled by blockbuster franchises, mainstream exposure, and the popularity of series like Critical Role. But this explosive growth has come with a price, particularly the loss of longtime fans who feel alienated by the companies they once supported. Nowhere is this tension more evident than with Wizards of the…

Source

Why People Are Fleeing Streaming Services in Droves

Over the past decade, streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ changed the way people consume media. TV viewers flocked to streaming’s promise of liberation from rigid programming schedules and endless entertainment on demand. Yet today, the same platforms that once dominated the media landscape are facing a crisis. Subscribers are leaving in droves, and streaming outfits are left…

Source

How Rock and Roll Lost Its Groove

In the late 20th century, rock and roll was still the dominant force in music. If you belong to the Baby Boom through Y generations, rock music formed the soundtrack of your life. But since the late 1990s, rock’s popularity has steadily declined, overtaken by other genres like hip-hop, pop, and electronic music. What caused this shift? Many factors played a role, but rock’s increasing…

Source

Why Millennial Devs Can’t Make Authentic Retro Games

For many gamers who grew up with the classics of the 1980s and 1990s, 8 and 16-bit video games hold a special nostalgic charm. Yet despite the recent surge in retro style indie games, it’s apparent that even talented Millennial developers struggle to recreate the authentic look and feel of original titles from the 2D era. What makes capturing the magic of old-school games so challenging? Let’…

Source

Nietzsche Bros Fail the Nietzsche Test

A vocal online contingent Christians have had to contend with in recent years are the Big-brained Nietzsche Bros. In general, this group can be defined as wanting to enjoy all the benefits of living in Christendom while also living unfettered by Christian morals. This related item from X was brought to my attention in a discussion between my valued neopatrons: Related: Dark Ages The…

Source

Why Christian Authors Shouldn’t Write "Christian Fiction”

Christian authors these days often have a hard time discerning how to base their stories on the foundational morals of Christendom without writing “Christian fiction”. “What’s wrong with Christian fiction?” you ask? The fact that such a genre label is deemed necessary illustrates the problem. And it’s no help that said label has become synonymous with “unoriginal” and “preachy”.

Source

To Build Your Audience, Differentiate Your Brand

Everybody knows that the book market is saturated. That means a major challenge facing authors is standing out from the crowd. In an environment where readers are spoiled for choice, building a long-term audience requires differentiating your brand. Let’s examine why differentiation matters and how to make it work for you. First the basics: Your brand is how readers perceive you and your…

Source

What Authors Can Learn from McDonald’s

When you’re trying to make a name for yourself as an author, it’s tempting to aim for creating a single masterpiece that will set you apart from everyone else. But from a marketing standpoint, the better long-term strategy might be to focus on producing consistently good work. One of the best examples to illustrate this point is, believe it or not, McDonald’s. McDonald’s doesn’t sell the…

Source

Newpub Strategies: How to Launch Your Book

On occasion I raise the velvet rope and give regular readers samples of the insider newpub strategies normally reserved for patrons. Today’s de-paywalled post offers pro advice on perhaps the most important yet least understood parts of publishing. Launching a book successfully as an indie author requires careful planning and strategic execution. Here are some key steps to ensure your book…

Source