Storytelling in the digital age

What are you doing?

I'm working on the first chick-lit transmedia project. It's a novel that will be fragmented across a series of media (both on and offline). It's the ultimate 'lean back' (relax and unwind) and 'lean forward' (get involved, chat in forums and engage with story threads) experience.

Do you blog?

AN: I used a blog for my 4th novel - Staying Single. I blogged this story as it seemed the obvious choice. Blogging works especially well for chick lit - diary tone, no tech skills required - and it was FREE!

And what’s your grand plan?

As far as a grand plan goes I want to see stories remaining within the confines of the page/printed book, but also to maximise the potential what the internet can offer in terms of accessibility and enhancing the entire storyworld experience.

Sounds complicated, is it?

To the reader/consumer? Transmedia storytelling offers everything - choice, freedom and accessibility - YOU choose how, where, when you receive fragments of the story and YOU choose how deeply you want to become involved.

To the writer? Transmedia storytelling only works if it's upheld by a strong strategy and architecture - to simply slice up a storyworld and scatter it randomly means that you will miss reaching your potential audience.

Why should we care?

The publishing industry is struggling a little with harnessing digital, as to simply 'cut and paste' words on to a screen doesn't offer the same intimate, relaxing experience as holding a book and curling up in an armchair or on the beach with it.

To find ways to fragment stories and strategically place teasers, fragments, user-generated content, perhaps even video, is to allow publishing and books to stand up there shoulder to shoulder with other entertainment industries that are already using 'e' to add value to their properties.

Books are beautiful, tactile objects we love to hold - that’ll never change, surely?

Yes they are and I don't believe that will change. There is a tactile, even personal, relationship we have with a book that we're especially fond of and I'm not suggesting that print is dead. I am just excited at the possibilities that transmedia storytelling can offer to deepen the experience of a well-written story.

Where will technology take writing in 5 months, 5 years, 50 years?

While technology is moving fast, especially with the launch of the iPad, I feel that publishing is struggling to keep up. I think in 5 months we'll begin to get used to the idea of downloading eBooks on to our iPads, but don't think it will be widespread - perhaps more so in the USA.

In terms of where we'll be in 5 years - I'd like to think that it will be second nature for us to EXPECT to be able to receive our stories how and when we want - on a selection of devices, in bite-sized chunks or 500 pages of print. For me, the success lies in the availability of choice.

And 50 years? It's far too advanced for me to even begin thinking about!

How will authors get book deals in the future?

I think the jury is still out on this one. Some believe that publishers are looking for writers who already have a fan-base or blog followers. Also there are publishers that are now being more cautious in terms of the book deal, offering 50/50 splits on royalties and no advance.

There are also the options of self-publishing on sites such as lulu.com. It's really an open market right now. Publishers offer a legacy and tradition of the filter system - the keen-eyed editor, the visionary marketing department and then the whole host of PR and promo guys to make sure your new novel hits the shelves and speaks to the right people. This can be built online through blogging or by embedding yourself into strategic social networks, but right now, I don't believe that there is anything to rival the professional attention authors get from a publishing house.

Which writers should we keep an eye on?

Cory Doctorow has been pushing the boundaries for a while, and of course, me! I'm consulting to publishers and authors to help them make the transition into transmedia storytelling.

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