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Beyond the Book: 5 Creative Ways to Publish Digital Content

When most people think about being an author, they imagine sitting in a cozy room, surrounded by books, typing away on an old-timey typewriter—or more realistically, a laptop. But here’s the deal: authorship isn’t just about writing books anymore. In the digital age, being a “creator” opens up a world of opportunities beyond traditional writing. Let’s explore five fun and creative ways you can publish “something” digitally. Spoiler alert: no typewriter required.

1. Create and Publish Journals or Planners

If you’ve ever used a cute journal to track your goals or a planner to schedule your life (even if you ignored it after January), you know how useful these can be. Now imagine making one yourself! Journals and planners are hot in the digital world, and you can design and sell them with minimal cost.

Platforms like Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) make it super easy to publish print-on-demand journals. You upload your design, and Amazon handles the rest—printing, shipping, and even customer service. Tools like Canva make designing covers and pages a breeze. Think about creating something specific, like a gratitude journal, a fitness tracker, or even a planner for cat lovers. The possibilities are endless, and honestly, who doesn’t need a planner that tells them, “You’re pawsome” every day?

2. Sell Digital Graphics and Printables

Digital graphics are like the Swiss Army knife of the internet. They’re versatile, easy to create, and in demand. Think wall art, stickers, social media templates, calendars, or even party invitations. People love downloading pretty or practical designs that they can print at home or use digitally.

Platforms like Etsy or Gumroad are perfect for selling your creations. You don’t need to be a graphic design pro to get started—tools like Canva or Adobe Illustrator are user-friendly and have tons of templates. Have a knack for doodling or a great sense of color? Turn those skills into cash. Pro tip: If you’ve got a funny bone, humorous designs tend to do really well. Who wouldn’t want a sticker that says, “Coffee first, adulting later”?

3. Launch an Online Course

Have you ever been so good at something that people constantly ask, “How do you do that?” Whether it’s baking the perfect sourdough bread or using Photoshop like a pro, you can turn your skills into an online course. Teaching doesn’t mean you have to be a college professor; you just need to know more about a topic than the people taking your course.

Platforms like Teachable, Kajabi, or Udemy make it simple to create and host courses. You can use video, slides, and downloadable worksheets to make your course engaging. Repurpose what you already know. That 10-step guide you made for your friends on how to declutter their homes? That’s your course outline! Bonus: You don’t have to deal with student excuses like, “My dog ate my homework.”

4. Publish eBooks or Guides

Okay, okay—this one involves writing, but it doesn’t have to be a massive novel. Think short and sweet: how-to guides, tip collections, or even a mini eBook about something niche. For example, “10 Easy Recipes for People Who Burn Toast” could be your bestseller!

Amazon KDP and Lulu make it easy to publish and distribute eBooks. You don’t even need fancy formatting skills; these platforms provide tools to help you. And since it’s digital, you don’t need to worry about printing costs. Plus, who doesn’t love a little passive income while they sleep?

5. Develop Audiobooks or Podcasts

If you have a voice that doesn’t make people cringe (or if you can fake it), audiobooks and podcasts might be your jam. Audiobooks are great for people who already have written content they want to bring to life. With tools like Audacity and AI-generated voice software, you don’t need a fancy recording studio to get started.

Podcasts, on the other hand, are like having your own radio show. You can talk about anything you’re passionate about—from conspiracy theories to knitting tips. Platforms like Anchor make it easy to record, edit, and publish your episodes. Just remember, a good podcast title can be the difference between someone listening to your show or skipping it. “The Yarn Whisperer” is way more fun than “Knitting Podcast #47.”

Conclusion

Being a digital author doesn’t mean you’re chained to writing novels. You can create journals, sell graphics, teach courses, publish guides, or even become the next podcast sensation. The digital world is your oyster—or your planner, or your podcast, or your… well, you get the idea.

So, what will you create? Whatever it is, start small, have fun, and remember: the internet is big enough for your unique voice, doodles, or planner puns. Get out there and publish something awesome!

Published inbecome a digital author

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