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Michael Merschel: Michael Merschel is The Dallas Morning News books editor. September 2009
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I'm slowly warming up to Twitter. But it does have its limits. Take, for example, this fascinating feed from Dan Baum, author of Nine Lives: Death and Life in New Orleans, one of the year's best books so far. The author has posted a series of Tweets explaining why he no longer is a staff writer at The New Yorker. It's a fascinating peek behind the curtain of the most esteemed magazine in America. It's also annoying to read as a series of 140-character bursts. Serial novels? I'm down with that. Serial paragraphs? Maybe not so much. Still, I'm pleased to see someone of Baum's stature visiting the frontiers of communication. It's a worthwhile experiment, and the details he's revealing are worth the hassle. For my money, though, if you're looking for a narrative genius to follow on Twitter, Susan Orlean is the way to go. Her combination of zingers and personal confessions has become one of my favorite feeds. Would be interested in getting your suggestions for other writers to follow. Also wondering whether you see this as the exciting wave of the future or further evidence that our society is sliding down the Teflon-coated chute to oblivion, one mindless technological development after another. E-mail entry: |
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The interest in Twitter novels will probably continue to grow. As the winner of the first-ever western cellphone novel contest (through Textnovel.com) I've watched the growth of technology as it's blended in new fun and fascinating ways with writing and publishing over just the past year!
I don't want to suggest the death of traditional publishing is on its way, but I do think a new breed of "books"--with more interaction and probably greater serialization will continue to grow in numbers and the writing will only improve with greater competition. I expect a higher rate of crossover works, too--published traditionally AND with ancillaries online.
I used Textnovel.com to not only write a highly interactive abbreviated YA paranormal novel (and win an agency contract and now, a three book deal with a major traditional publisher) but also to learn about the potential for online writing and publishing.
I'd suggest trying Textnovel (and writing exercises like having your characters Twitter to better get a handle on their "voices" and build buzz) to most aspiring authors.
Publishing is a rough field to break into. We need to keep looking for new and inventive ways to meet our goals--take some chances with online writing!
~Saoirse