Future of Books 3.5
Last weekend's "On the Media" took a look at books. The first part, "Book It" was an interesting look at the state of the industry, but the second part, "Books 2.0" is what really caught my attention.
By now you all know that I firmly believe the ink-on-paper book will have a place (just as the letter press book continues to have a place). When it comes to format, we human readers do not seem to completely move from one to another. There are, after all, still some few people around creating illuminated manuscripts (and here's a website to prove it).
Things certainly are changing. For one, there are so many, many books out there, no matter what format they are in. As a reader, it's difficult to find what appeals to you. As a writer, it's difficult to find your readers. And then, add in the element of collaboration that Bob Stein discusses and well, why would anyone become a professional, that is to say, someone who earns a living or part of a living from writing?
It's enough to drive one to drink.
On the other hand, in a way, if readers contribute to a work, then, in a way, the deconstructionists are right, and the author, as a single entity, is dead. However, if there are so many creators, then the other is not dead, but rabbit-ly multiplying. Schroedinger's writer anyone?
Now, time to go back to my quiet desk and my quiet notebook and plot.
By now you all know that I firmly believe the ink-on-paper book will have a place (just as the letter press book continues to have a place). When it comes to format, we human readers do not seem to completely move from one to another. There are, after all, still some few people around creating illuminated manuscripts (and here's a website to prove it).
Things certainly are changing. For one, there are so many, many books out there, no matter what format they are in. As a reader, it's difficult to find what appeals to you. As a writer, it's difficult to find your readers. And then, add in the element of collaboration that Bob Stein discusses and well, why would anyone become a professional, that is to say, someone who earns a living or part of a living from writing?
It's enough to drive one to drink.
On the other hand, in a way, if readers contribute to a work, then, in a way, the deconstructionists are right, and the author, as a single entity, is dead. However, if there are so many creators, then the other is not dead, but rabbit-ly multiplying. Schroedinger's writer anyone?
Now, time to go back to my quiet desk and my quiet notebook and plot.