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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Publishers Turn Internet Laughs Into Fast Cash

User-generated content sites can have publishers pounce within days

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(Newser) – The blog-to-book cycle is speeding up as publishers seek fast cash from Internet funnies, the New York Times reports. Sites like Pets Who Want to Kill Themselves—featuring user-submitted photos of pets in bizarre outfits—have gone from startup to print in a matter of weeks, with the "authors" doing little but coming up with the idea.

The Internet-spawned books are big sellers and just about every major publishing house is busy checking out hot properties online, seeking to get them into print before fickle online attention spans fade.  "You want to catch the wave while it’s cresting," said an editor who handled last year's hit I Can Has Cheezburger?

In this photo provided by Gotham Publishing, the cover of
In this photo provided by Gotham Publishing, the cover of "I Can Has Cheezburger?: A LOLcat Colleckshun" is shown.   (AP Photo/Gotham Publishing)
Booksellers say books generated from online humor are fast sellers and the trend is unlikely to fade any time soon.
Booksellers say books generated from online humor are fast sellers and the trend is unlikely to fade any time soon.   (AP Photo/Toby Talbot)
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We’re turning user-generated content into editorial content. - Ben Huh, who bought the Cheezburger franchise and plans a line of similar books

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Mad
Apr 18, 09 9:05 AM CDT
http://petswhowanttokillthemselves.com IS funnier than hell, but I don't see how anything online would make a good book, esp when the very same content can be found (duh) online! Reply
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vendetta
Apr 18, 09 4:46 PM CDT
i can haz residualz? Reply
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