The Internet has changed the way we do many things. One such example is in the construction of creative work. Being the incurable bookworm that I am, it is difficult for me not to notice and appreciate the difference the Internet has made in the process of writing and publishing.
Not too long ago, I watched a movie about J.K. Rowling and her life before Harry Potter. Other than her personal life, the most interesting part of the movie was witnessing the obstacles she had to overcome in order to make Harry Potter a reality. After the actual writing of the book, Rowling sought an agent to represent her, and this agent then approached publishers. Despite initially encountering much difficulty, Rowling's work eventually made it, and the rest, as they say, is history.
But now, with the power of the Internet, aspiring writers no longer need to go through all that trouble. Websites such as FanFiction, FictionPress, and Wattpad allow absolutely anyone to submit their stories for people to read online. There is no monetary cost involved, and writers can use the Internet to "test the waters" and determine how well their stories are received before publishing them in hard copy.
The readers have it easier with this arrangement too. Since the stories are free to publish online, they are free to read as well. Uploading the story online also means that it can be read on pretty much any device with an Internet connection, such as tablets and smartphones. Goodness knows Wattpad has saved me from going out of my mind with boredom and helped me pass the time while travelling to and fro school everyday.
Of course, the quantity of stories to read in no way reflects their quality. Books are edited before publication, but stories submitted online are not. Faulty grammar, poor sentence structure, and downright ridiculous plots are abound, but the occasional hidden gem makes slugging through all the inferior ones worthwhile. And stories that are very popular do make it in to bookstores in hard copy too.
If you're a reader like me, I highly recommend Wattpad, if you're not already on it.
Great recommendations!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Wattpad user myself, and I can attest that there are indeed some memorable stories.
Nonetheless, the free and open nature of the Internet has proved to be both a boon and bane. While it aided in the discovery of talent that might otherwise have stayed buried, the quality of some stories have also left much to be desired.
I really like the title to this post ^^
ReplyDeleteSince I'm not so much of a reader, I'd go with something along the lines of, "So many dramas, so little time" xD But yes, thanks to the Internet and the advancements of technology, we are able to gain access to content(s) that might interest us.
P.S. I recently finished a comic series on a free app by a Korean search portal, and similar to how some authors at Wattpad are able to publish their stories in books, the artist was able to release his comic series in 3 volumes. And that's not all! He was also able to link up with a director who has decided to turn his story into a movie. I thought it's pretty amazing ^^bbb