Web 2.0 Technology Changes the Nature of Writing

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 04, 2009 – The internet is changing the nature of communication. As the technology grows more advanced, people are interacting in new and exciting ways, not only talking to one another, but telling stories across a variety of media. Using web 2.0 communities, people are able to go beyond merely relating an event that occurred, they can describe it using pictures, videos, blogs, comments, and polls. While this was originally intended as a way of sharing real lives with one another, there are some individuals who are experimenting with these technologies in the world of fiction.

The traditional method of storytelling has a single individual proving an entire world, complete with cast or characters, as well as the entire series of events that occur within the framework of the story. This can often be a lonely process, with a writer living inside of their own head, and the story limited by the breadth of their own imagination.

Over the years, several attempts have been made to change the nature of fictional storytelling, in order to make it more interactive. Improvisational acting is one example, where a story is told in real time, with almost no preconceived plot or characters used. It is often performed by several different people, all adding their own creative take to the situation. Sometimes the audience is even used as a prop to further the telling of the story. Roleplaying in games such as Dungeons and Dragons is a similar idea, although in a more formal and structured environment.

The advent of the internet has created a vast array of communication devices, and has been the catalyst for a number of intriguing experiments in interactive fiction. The invention of wiki’s has allowed people to create stories which can be edited, added to, or subtracted from by anyone who has access to the wiki. Forums have allowed for tandem fictional creation, in which each member takes on the role of a character and then interacts with other characters to further the plot. There is also blog storytelling, where a single narrator dictates the scene, and then the comments section is used to flush out the action of that scene.

With the advent of web 2.0 technologies, all of these disparate methods have been brought together into cohesive communities. A single website could allow for updating a wiki, uploading pictures, posting videos, writing in a forum, interacting in chat rooms, and much more. This allows for world creation which goes beyond merely telling a story in a one dimensional way. Instead people can create characters that live and breathe across a variety of media.

One example of experimental fiction using web 2.0 technology is http://www.RolePages.com – A social networking community, RolePages provides its members with a vast array of communication tools, which are all brought together through the sue of activity feeds on the home page, and on individual members profile pages.

The idea is to create a standard profile around a fictional character. Then members tell the story of that character using blog posts, pictures, and videos. Interaction with other characters takes place in forums, chats, and across a series of “worlds” which are really mini social networks that can be created by members as necessary. These uploads provide depth to the characters, while the interactions allow for the exchange of ideas, and the furthering of stories.

Other venues for interactive fiction include such popular portals as myspace, facebook, twitter, and wordpress, although these sites tend to be geared towards people who wish to display reality, rather than works of fiction.

As the technology gets more and more advanced, the methods of communicating fictional stories get more complex and innovative. The nature of the tale is becoming multidimensional, stretching across broad tiers and involving a wide range of multimedia devices. As it does so, it gives the creative and talented individuals of the world greater freedom to express themselves along a variety of novel pathways.