Writing in the Digital Age

Six months ago I embraced digital technology and social media as a means of accessing a wider audience for my work.  My first foray into the field was a family story sent to the Census 2011 website.  Not only was the story published within a week of submission, it was immediately read by a number of people who expressed the fact that they ‘liked it’.  this unexpected boost to my motivation spurred me on to explore other means of promoting my work online.

I discovered the Art House Co-op Sketchbook Project, signed up to the theme ‘A Day in the Life’ and completed a notebook in diary format.  This was posted back to an address in Brooklyn and became part of the 2011 Tour around various states in America including Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago and Winter Park.  The sketchbook was exhibited in various museums and art galleries and is now permanently housed in Brooklyn Art Library.  While the idea of the project is to share a handwritten story, of which 51% must be words, the author is free to express his/her ideas in any medium.  The organizers consider words to be an art form.  Sketchbooks can be digitized, i.e. scanned and uploaded to a virtual archive, so that visitors from anywhere in the world can read them online.

I was attracted to the idea of having the freedom to create around a theme, without having to follow submission guidelines, and of being both part of an art tour and virtual community.  I was delighted when I received the first e-mail notification to inform me that a reader in Florida had checked out my book.  This would not have been possible had I followed traditional publishing methods.

The success of this project in bringing my work to a new audience, and the practice of creating an online portfolio as part of the website promotion, inspired me to learn how to create a blog.  I bought a domain name and linked it to a free WordPress site.  I then set about building a blog with the use of a template and step-by-step guide to produce an online presence that resembles an interactive website.  The blog focusses on reading and writing.  It also provides a professional platform for promoting my poetry, fiction and non-fiction writing in one forum.

The advantage of this method is that I can communicate directly with readers and develop a community of followers.  Feedback to date has been positive and the blog has opened up new avenues for me as a freelance writer/tutor.  It has enabled me to seek out virtual residencies and made me aware of the possibilities of guest freelance blogging opportunities.  It has given me the confidence to develop new skills in the field of digital technology and to consider Twitter as a micro-blogging medium.

Writing posts has altered my creative process.  Previously, I would have written in long hand before typing up the same text as a word document.  Now I transfer my thoughts directly onto the screen, and uploading regular posts means that I produce more words more frequently.

As a result, I recently volunteered to become an online mentor for young people whose work I read and assess online, in order to provide them with support in their chosen genre.  I have also included a section on blogging in the Life Writing course that I run for adults.

Writing in the Digital Age is a bit like following Ariadne’s thread through the labyrinth.  Many twists and turns can be taken en route.  While it is fun to navigate organically, the opportunities are endless and the exercise can be time-consuming.  The trick is to find the outlets that are right for you and to be disciplined in your use of them.

I have decided to continue blogging and to participate in the Sketchbook Project 2012.  The exhibition is showing internationally for the first time next year.  I have signed up to the theme ‘Time Traveller,’ which I perceive as a science fiction story.  The tour takes in 14 cities, including London, so I will be able to visit it and browse the actual work of fellow contributors.

An added bonus this year is the option to select a community group who receive a free sketchbook so that they can participate in the challenge.  I have signed up to be matched with Harmony Science Academy in Houston, Texas.  The students there hail from all over the globe and the majority are from low-income backgrounds.  This matching provides them with a creative outlet for their imaginations.

Reciprocity and audience engagement are what I enjoy most about experimenting with routes to e-publication.  Therefore, I encourage you to set aside a block of time and explore your digital potential.  It may exceed your expectations.

First published in Writing in Education, Issue Number 55, Autumn 2011 and online at www.nawe.co.uk