OF WORDS AND WORLD-SHAPING

Hello everyone

Something I want you to consider is how do you read when you're on the Internet.

A website such as ours where there is so much going on, it's logical to accept that you all scan the various items for what you want and then link into the page you want to read.

When you find the page, do you still scan the contents or do you really read? Are you a block reader or are you a line reader?

A line reader is someone who reads each sentence like you would with a real book. Maybe using the cursor to keep track where you are on the page.

A block reader looks at the entire paragraph and just picks out the odd detail or fact. This is fine for news items but brings some odd question marks if you're reading a story.

It makes a lot of the content redundant. If anything, it can make stories shorter. After all, if you're picking up the information faster and only need it once, the story needs to be reconfigured and made simpler.

What would happen is you start the story with a brief description of the characters that can be called up by link whenever you want to be reminded what they look like.

Skip that, it would be just as easy to link in to a computer generated picture. Pictures give information faster than words, don't they? The same would also apply to setting the scene. Cuts the words down even further, especially if there are pictures again.

As to the plot. Down to the bones. List the actions. Intersperse the dialogue. That's all you really need for the block reader. They don't really need to read any more than that. Even the dialogue needs only concentrate on the important things relating to the exact event.

Not much point in developing characterisation or developing the characters as it takes up too much time reading it. No one is going to read such details so why should the writer waste time doing such trivial things.

No doubt a skilled storyteller will show some character development but it would hardly be subtle. By this technique, it should be possible to bring in a novel length book to 20 to 10 pages depending how long the novel each writer was intending to write. I suspect a 20 page novel would be considered as being too verbose.

The breakthrough would come from getting the novel as small as possible.

[Before anyone says anything, yeah, I do know there's a website that does plot synopsises in only a couple lines but we're talking new material here not precising an existing book.]

For any author, it's going to make novel writing for the Net just a conversion of plot notes and a few uncopyrighted pictures. For prolific writers, it'll be a field day. Any conceivable story thought up can be done in a matter of days.

The block reader can read several 'novels' in a matter of minutes and then move onto whatever else take his or her interest knowing that they've read their book quota for the month. Reading skills would be minimised because the writer would have to use as simplified form as possible to ensure as many people as possible could read the book quickly.

Novels as an artform would be seen as an anarchism that's out of touch with today's society. The problem with 'block novels' is there won't be much satisfaction from what you've read. It'll be like 'The General' from 'The Prisoner' TV series. [OK, so you've got your SF reference. Everyone happy now?] Everyone will know the content but will they know what it all means?

It'll be facts not opinion or emotional response. Where will we get the writer's insight and understanding of culture or people? The way we read our books has immense bearing on our society. It's an ingrained part of our culture.

Editorially, I can read both line and block, switching freely between them both as and when required. It depends on what I'm looking for and at. All part and parcel of the job and a developed skill. The normal reader, which is you reading this, may be only one or the other or veering that way.

I can hear someone saying, 'Well, I only block read on the Net...and er...maybe newspapers.' How soon before it's convenient to read everything that way. We are continually bombarded with information that to digest it, block reading is easier but should it interfere with reading for pleasure?

If you think you're picking up on a bad habit of just being a block reader then how do you resolve this? With the expense of phone and server bills, it might not always be wise to stay on the Net that long.

That's why pages can be downloaded or even use e-books so you can read them off-line cheaply. Then again, how many of you employ this system? The Net can be seen as a means to get information and communicate quickly.

We're adapting to this all too well and treating everything alike than as a special instance. The Internet is a servant to us. We should never be a slave to it. It's not as though there aren't both sorts of material available so can't really blame the web-page designers yet.

The question is are we going to encourage block reading and minimal text or allow our reading muscles work when we need them to work?

Make the distinction for yourself and remember your decision will shape the world.

Thank you and good night.

Geoff Willmetts
editor: SFCrowsnest.com

PS Those of you waiting for your book samples to be read. I'm catching up slowly but surely. Your patience is appreciated.

Hologram Tales e-mail: gfwillmetts@REMOVE.FOR.SPAMhotmail.com
terrestrial address:
74 Gloucester Road,
BRIDGWATER, Somerset TA6 6EA, UK.
SAEs (International Rates: include at least 2 IRCs or enough to cover return of manuscripts if sending in material) will always get replies.

Geoff Willmetts

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