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DamaNegra
12-12-2005, 07:18 AM
Some time ago I read about a guy who was selling his novel via SMS, you sent a message to X number with the guy's name on it, and every week you would get a chapter of his novel via SMS.

Has anyone else heard of this way of publishing novels?
PeeDee
12-12-2005, 07:48 AM
:Wha:

Well, I guess there are stranger ways to do it...I mean, it's a fairly original idea...I think.

No more opinions, I'll just go back to the safety of my :Wha: face. That sums it up. :)
Garpy
12-12-2005, 04:57 PM
Sheeesh, I hope it's not written in text-ese.

LO MATE. WOT U DOIN? IM FEELING GR8. IS U GOIN 2 DA MALL L8ER?

At some point in the future, I really can see some service provider distilling Dickens or Shakespeare down into, proto-english SMS-digestible chunks for the mobile phone gonks out there.
MadScientistMatt
12-12-2005, 05:16 PM
I've been known to print out PDF's since I found reading them on paper easier than reading them on a computer screen. Reading a novel on a screen scarcely bigger than a postage stamp sounds downright painful.

When considering a new technology, my first question is usually, "What problem does it solve?"
aadams73
12-12-2005, 05:33 PM
To me, reading is a pleasurable activity. Reading on a tiny screen would be downright agonizing. It's a big thumbs down for me.
Maryn
12-12-2005, 07:16 PM
Recently I read my first-ever book-length manuscript on the computer. While I'll do it again for critique purposes (if there's a reason a paper copy isn't feasible), even a full-size monitor and a comfortable desk chair is no way to read a book.

Until someone can make reading on a screen better in some way for some people and consistently problem-free, I think bound paper books are not in any danger.

Maryn, fan of pulp and fiber
DamaNegra
12-12-2005, 09:54 PM
I get pains just reading SMS messages sent to me, I agree that reading a novel would be a downright torture. I think that guy was from Japan, though.
zeprosnepsid
12-13-2005, 12:41 AM
Yeah, I find it hard to read at length from a computer screen.

But there is a place called keep it coming that has serialized novels e-mailed to you twice a week. I think it's kind of a neat idea. Serialization has gone a bit out the window (any US newspapers do it?) but some great novels came out that way.
PeeDee
12-13-2005, 10:34 AM
Yeah, I find it hard to read at length from a computer screen.

But there is a place called keep it coming that has serialized novels e-mailed to you twice a week. I think it's kind of a neat idea. Serialization has gone a bit out the window (any US newspapers do it?) but some great novels came out that way.

You know, I was actually flabbergasted to find that my local St. Cloud newspaper was serializing a goofy pirate-sort-of-camping story. It's not the greatest piece of writing ever, since it has to be very bland so as not to offend anyone, but it's there. Every Tuesday. Surprised me a lot, to say the least.
James D. Macdonald
12-13-2005, 05:07 PM
At some point in the future, I really can see some service provider distilling Dickens or Shakespeare down into, proto-english SMS-digestible chunks for the mobile phone gonks out there.

It's been done. (http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/news/article327525.ece)
Spookster
12-13-2005, 06:10 PM
I think that may be one of the most depressing developements of modernization to date.
PeeDee
12-13-2005, 06:56 PM
....right. Well. I'm going to the hills, to talk to squirrels and read full books. Anyone want to come? There's got to be more than one cave...
DamaNegra
12-13-2005, 07:10 PM
It's been done. (http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/news/article327525.ece)

Argh!! I bet Shakespear would die at least three more times if he was able to read that.

PeeDee, wait for me!! I'll bring the animal skins to keep us warm!!