Over the last month or so I’ve been working closely with Kat Meyer at O’Reilly Media on the TOC for Publishing conference. It’s almost been like a dream come true, mostly because I’ve now got an opportunity to align my freelance efforts with the future of e-publishing. In some ways, I’ve been moving towards the publishing industry ever since I picked up a 35mm SLR camera, waaaayyy back in high school. Back then I graduated with the full intent of moving into the world of photojournalism. The problem is I got side-tracked in college, convinced myself that computers was a better career path and have been circling back towards journalism, writing, and publishing ever since.

Through my connections at O’Reilly and my participation in their Open Source Conference, I think I’ve finally come full circle. I’ve been welcomed into the TOC for Publishing community and I feel a real affinity, I feel like I belong. I don’t think it is too much of a stretch, but I feel like working on the future of publishing is what I am supposed to be doing, at least for now. I have three main motivations for this feeling:

1. First, it’s now very clear to me that I need to setup my own alternative publishing business. One of my best friends here in Puerto Rico is a prolific and very talented writer. We’ve already started one book, which I hope to finish very soon. However, recently he informed me that he’s already working on another collection of short stories as well as some other projects. More importantly, he’s determined to develop a steady income from his fiction writing. So he needs a publisher, and I need to learn how to publish. Thankfully he’s given me the opportunity to become his publisher. For your trust, I thank you Gil.
2. Second, once I’ve learned the ins and outs of this brave new world of publishing, I’ve got quite a few projects of my own to get published. I’ve done most of the research required to launch those projects, so once I’ve got the how-to piece mastered, all I lack is the discipline to put my arse in front of my computer and write. Easier said, then done, but I’m running out of excuses.
3. Finally, as I’ve written about already over at the O’Reilly Broadcast here and here, the future of e-publishing is going to be immense. Not since I sat in my office back in 1994 cruising the early Internet, have I seen such a clear opportunity unveil itself before me. It’s my humble opinion that I see this new opportunity clearer than most people and I’m determined to become an expert in the future of publishing.

I’m really honored for the opportunity to participate in the TOC Publishing community. I hope that as Tim O’Reilly frequently says “I’m able to add more value to this community, than I hope to get out of it.”