A series of live dispatches by if:book’s own Meg Vann from the O’Reilly Tools of Change Publishing Conference in New York City. Kate Pullinger has helped establish The Writing Platform, funded to provide neutral information about digital transformation.

Publishers have been busy addressing digital by focusing on issues like digitising workflow etc, but not working a lot to develop what digital transformation might offer writers and readers.

Works of digital fiction:

An emerging market – new forms of literature emerging – apps, web apps, new types of narrative games – new forms of business models and content
But there is a collision between old market (in a state of extreme transition) and the new or emerging markets. Digitisation transforms the industry and the state of the art itself – what new forms will emerge?

Ebooks are created of the web but without the advantages of the web – what can you do with a book that lives on line? – what does it mean to move beyond, to a webby book? – content, connections, audiences. Have a look at Hugh McGuire’s TOC blog piece on books as API.

Exhortations:

Writers, grab a technologist and hug him or her! Learn how the technology and mechanics of your own industry. See what happens when you work together.
Make your work spreadable.
Start thinking beyond the book. You can apply for a new bursary through The Writing Platform for writers working with technologists.

Kate is now working on a new project "Duel" with Andy Campbell. To facilitate the collaboration they have developed a script format, which includes a screenshot and the text to appear on screen, the type of media, and down the bottom of the script pages there are many columns that outline the required development across different platforms.

Amazing!