You are currently browsing the monthly archive for December 2008.
The National Year of Reading ends with a look at the future of reading and writing. Are new technologies, like texting and blogging, bringing readers and writers closer together or is the future of the book in doubt?
Technology has certainly changed the way we read. Rainy City Stories uses the latest technology to publish new writing by using a Google map of Manchester to organise stories into places. Rainy City Stories publish pieces by well-known Manchester authors, as well as people who have just started writing. You can send in your own story too.
Why not tell your own story on a blog? Loads of people use blogs to publish their innermost thoughts and to publish poetry and fiction. Blog host services like Blogger and WordPress are completely free and it only takes a few minutes
to sign up and get online.
In Japan half of the Top 10 best-selling books are mobile phone novels. You buy a novel and receive a new chapter by text message every day. Perfect for the bus or packed tram! Corduroy Mansions, Alexander McCall Smiths’ latest novel, has been published completely online. A new chapter appears here each weekday. The best-selling author also welcomes your suggestions as the story unfolds.
Technology can also let other people see what you are reading and what type of books are on your bookshelves. Log on to LibraryThing or BookJetty to connect with people with similar reading tastes or discover new authors. Even
libraries are getting in the act. Manchester Libraries has a blog – The Manchester Lit List and you can also become a fan of libraries on Facebook!
