The Future! of Novels! Here!

-from Susan, despondently

 The Future Shape of Novels?

• Strictly 140-character chapters.
• Based on cartoon characters who ran for office in last election.
• Includes interactive graphics.
• Features short 3-D movies.
• Optional music.
• Optional out-loud reading of novel by Angelina Jolie (or, Brad Pitt. Your choice, but not cheap.)
• Customized with your name as protagonist. Or superhero, if appropriate.
• Streamed to your e-reader by Apple or Amazon, the only providers in business.
• Only 99 cents.
• Written by one of 10 best-selling We-Customize-for-U Authors.
• Comes with coupon: Buy 10 and get a free 32-ounce drink.

 

Comments

[Camille Minichino]

You need to copyright that list, Susan; a great wake-up laugh, except I can see it coming.

I probably should be more despondent than I am, but change is always like this. In the 15th century, the Church condemned the printing press, worried that it would make it easier to spread the devil's word. (OK, maybe they were right.)

[Ann]

Oooooh pleeeease, say it isn't so! Although, I'd go for the optional music. There are places in my books where I'd love to insert some classical music piece. But you can keep the other 9.

[Susan C Shea]

We're laughing all the way to the chopping block? Or, to the bank? Camille, you're right - change is a disturbance in the universe and the constant in it also. As you say, it comes with hazards. Ann, you're wonderfully flexible to have seen a potential benefit - why not propose something like that for your e-book versions?

[Mysti]

Enhanced ebooks will be the next rage. And twitter serialialization:

Tuesday: The queen died,

Wed.: and the king died--

Thur: of grief

Minimalism indeed. Actually, watching Thor, it occurred to me that the Twitter generation may CRAVE context the way the protest generation craved freedom of expression.

I keep trying to think what a form as satisfying as the novel might look like. Interactive, multi-player, or maybe we'll just be able to download the whole thing directly from the writer's brain in a few years. then we'll REALLY miss editing (at least, my brain is in savage need of editing!)...

[Susan C Shea]

Mysti - leave it to you, our technology queen - to take it to the next level. Direct downloads from the writers' brains. Disaster, I think, unless there's a software editor that's implanted first......

[Priscilla]

With the current decreasing respect for knowledge amongst many vying for leadership jobs, the 140 character book may become the joy of those still semi-literate! That rant aside, I love Mysti's new serial novel idea. This style might become known as "The New Tension". As for downloading from my brain, no sane person would ever want to see that... Loved the coupon idea though. Books might sell quite well with a few glasses of wine. Thank you, Susan, for your great post. As always, much enjoyed.

[Susan C Shea]

Priscilla - I'm pretty sure someone is or has written and posted a serial Twitter novel or story already. A.d the wonderful mystery writer Rebecca Cantrell has published a successful hybrid YA novel, Drakkula. The future is here.