Surrey Reads & Writes 1February 25, 2012

If you Twitter will they come?

Surrey Reads & Writes 2February 25, 2012

Does Twitter live up to its claims?Or are we that flock of little birds lifting a gigantic whale out of the ocean? Before every tweet I should ask myself:

• What do I really care about as a writer?• What’s fast?• What’s easy?

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What do I really care about?

February 25, 2012

As a writer I care about creating stories that come to life in the minds of readers. Can Social Media help me do that, or am I wasting time on Twitter, Facebook and WordPress?

To answer that question I have to consider:

• My goals and needs as a writer.• How tweeting, posting and blogging further those goals.• How much time I have to invest making Social Media work.

To understand my take on Social Media I have to talk about my exploration of Dynamic Creative Writing. So let’s drop in on my WIP, The Cosmic Chicken…

What’s he on about now?

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Dynamic Creative Writing

WordPress and Social Media as a platformsfor a literary Work in Progress

Craig Spence Writer

February 25, 2012

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What is Dynamic Creative Writing?

February 25, 2012

In September, 2011 I posted the first episode to The Cosmic Chicken web site, launching what has become for me an experiment in Dynamic Creative Writing.

This next few slides will talk about:

• What the term Dynamic Creative Writing means.• Why WordPress makes a superb Dynamic Creative Writing environment.• How Social Media tie in to the Dynamic Creative process.• Who might want to engage in Dynamic Creative Writing.

The Cosmic Chicken is located at www.cosmicchicken.ca. Although I was pleased to acquire the domain name, I wasn’t really surprised to discover no-one else had claimed it!

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A little bit about me…

February 25, 2012

Published Author• Josh & the Magic Vial (2006, Thistledown Press)• Einstein Dog (2009, Thistledown Press)• Three novels in progress

Supporter of Arts & Letters• Langley Arts Council Board Member• Community Arts Council of Greater Victoria member• Federation of BC Writers Past President

Retired Journalist & Communications Manager• Community Newspaper Journalist (1981- 1996)• School District Communications Manager (1996 – 2012)• Full time writer from January 2012 on…

My last board meeting ever!YEEHAW!

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A Dynamic Writing vignette…

February 25, 2012

Imagine yourself in a department store display window on a busy downtown street. You are sitting at your desk clattering away feverishly on the next episode of your work in progress. Your computer console is wired to a second screen that shows passers-by your every keystroke. A big sign welcomes them to text, email or phone if they want to comment or make suggestions.

Someone taps on the window. You look up…

That’s Dynamic Creative Writing.

What Craig means to say is: “Involving audience while a work is still in progress.”

Original artby Diana Durrand

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Why get Dynamic?

February 25, 2012

CREATIVE WRITING AS EVENTWe live in a networked, collaborative world. Dynamic Creative Writing derives authenticity by opening itself to the chatter of the network. The novel evolves in its audience’s mind as a work-in-progress, allowing readers to influence outcomes. The act of writing-as-event challenges the author to become a guide through real time story-telling toward an uncertain conclusion along undefined pathways.

Perhaps what Craig really means is he just didn’t know where to begin.

Flickr, MJM Photographie,

Melissa M

So when’s this guy gonna start his twittertalk?

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OK, let’s get practical…

February 25, 2012

WHY WRITE DYNAMICALLY?• Build audience as a novel is written.• Make the outcomes of your story relevant.• Extend context by including ‘outtakes’.• Build a process of self-evolution and growth.• Develop momentum.• Incorporate graphic and media elements.• Provide links to supplementary resources.• Position WIP for alternative modes of publication.• Achieve global reach.• Build creative relationships.

OK. Maybe he did know where to begin, but does he know how to finish.

Flickr, MJM Photographie,

Melissa M

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Ins and Outs of Dynamic Writing…

February 25, 2012

I really appreciate that my WordPress workspace is just another web page on my open pages bar. The walls to the writer’s room have become transparent. Information Flows in and out. Blogging, Twitter and Facebook are part of that dynamic in-out dialogue.

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The Blog…

February 25, 2012

Blogs tend to an episodic, sequential style of writing. They also tend to a plot oriented structure. Not every novelist can work within those constraints.

However, the blog’s timeline makes it effective for dynamic creative writing. Readers can follow characters and events, with the current episode always at the top of the stack.

The blog has evolved as a medium for the exchange as much as the presentation of ideas, which will encourage audience participation in the emerging story.

WHAT’S NEXT!

Flickr imageNightFall404Richard Hopkins

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Comments…

February 25, 2012

The comment function of the blog works two ways for the dynamic creative writer. Readers interacting with the work in progress can post their ideas for the writer and others to see. The author can also respond to readers ideas.

As important is the potential for the author to post his own ideas by initiating comment threads. This makes the process of revision overlap with the process of creation. It also makes the author’s revision notes public and open to comment.

Comment? I’ll give you a comment: Just write the damned book and forget about all this palaver. Cosmic Chicken indeed!

Original art by Diana Durrand

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Media imports…

February 25, 2012

A great novel doesn’t need photographs or illustrations, just as great paintings don’t require a whole lot of words.

That said, the judicious use of graphics can cue readers, giving them visual elements to build a scene around. WordPress’s Media functions make it easy to place images and video clips into a story.

The Cosmic Chicken was inspired by the art of my partner Diana Durrand, and the main character in the story echoes my own fascination with portraits of Gallus Domesticus – the domestic chicken.

Lovely, I’m sure, but is

it art, dear?

Original art byDiana Durrand

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Menus…

February 25, 2012

A thoughtfully developed menu to a web-based work of dynamic creative fiction invites readers to explore beyond the storyline of the novel. It can even become a standing reference for readers who want to gain perspectives into a published work that would otherwise remain part of the back story.

The Cosmic Chicken has navigation links to a ‘Glossary’; a page that describes ‘The Cast’; and a page about ‘Places’ in the novel. Readers can also learn about the author. The interested reader can access layers of information that are outside the book proper. Flickr image by Mary Margret, Double-M

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OK, let’s get into the twittering bush

February 25, 2012

Tweeting is a quick way of beaming new episodes and thoughts about my story to followers. In try to include:

• A link to topics or episodes• Hashtag references• Photographs• A catchy, relevant tweet

It’s about time! Is that it? Isn’t there more to say?

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And let’s take up some Facetime

February 25, 2012

Facebook is another venue for dialoguing with audience as my work is in progress. I try to:

• Invoke or provoke dialogue• Respond to comments• Refer to current episodes• Broaden the conversation

Hey! Why did you have to bring those guys into the picture?

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Thanks for listening & participating

February 25, 2012

Is Dynamic Creative Writing a method that might be used by others? Or is it a one-off experiment that will result in a single work of speculative fiction?

If Dynamic Creative Writing does become a useful mode, are blogs, tweets and posts the best ways for engaging audience, or is there a better context? Wikis for example?

I don’t know at this point. But my experience so far makes me think I will be writing more novels using WordPress and Social Media as my creative media.

Flickr image by o5com