LITERATURE: e-lit

So this post on the death of electronic literature from Nick Montfort on Grand Text Auto has stuck in my mind for a couple of days and while I may not be clear exactly what e-literature encompasses, I know that I for one want to help it through its revival.  Its time has more than come.

I believe in hypertext and interactive fiction, as well as reading material via Kindle (though I’ve not as yet allowed myself the luxury) and story and poetry mixing with graphics and sound to enhance the literary experience.  But then, I’m a recent student of this sort of thing and with the flame of introduction comes a bit of interest that doesn’t always grow once the Bic’s flicked off. There are more like me, however, who have indeed attempted to carry the torch via education and trying our hands out in the various mediums. My problem seems to be the lack of medium to start the fire of interest and fan the flames until they’re glowing coals.

In other words, once it’s done, where to put it.

At least in traditional fiction there are still publishers interested in reading.  Your options with e-lit are either submitting to the very limited few publishers, or to find a way to give it away free on the web. Now that’s okay, I suppose; since all we writers really want is that pat on the head that says "write on!" Without the education of the reader–beyond the college campus required reading–it’s difficult at best, impossible at worst, to convince the straight reader to attempt a hypertext or IF piece.  Sure, a precious few of my friends have read my work out of love and loyalty, but they’ve been close enough to as well admit to not really understanding how–or why!–it works or is supposed to work that way.  Folks still have the centuries of written word behind them that included story arcs that the author has carefully laid all out for them.  They still don’t trust that hypertext is well-thought-out and thus two things will frustrate them: 1) getting lost and 2)missing something.

What we need is to encourage more new writers that have expanded and improved upon the original formats so that the work is enjoyable and not intimidating.  We need to be able to get it out there along with simple instructions on how to enjoy it.  We need to get it all available at Amazon.