showing the craft process as part of the publication process

Even though I'm only in the second semester of the MFA in Creative Writing and Publication Design program, I've already started to think about the final project. I knew intuitively that I wanted to do something digital or web-based.

One idea that I have now is that I'd like to show the editing process (by showing pdfs of drafts of my work), and include audio components as well as visual. I have no idea how to do any of this at the moment, but hopefully my current level of intrigue will keep me from punking out.

Political Narrative

I first discovered Jack and Jill Politics.com during the often tumultuous and dramatic 2008 Democratic nominee and Presidential campaign seasons. I hawked all of the main avenues--Salon.com, CNN.com, The New Yorker, etc., but it was through The Root that I found this more homegrown, grassroots effort at chronicling the the narrative arc of the campaigns.

I was intrigued by their tagline: A Black Bourgeoisie Perspective on U.S. Politics. The site is unapologetically and unequivocally liberal (I'm not) and staunchly pro-Obama (which I was and am). It wasn't just the simpatico in this instance that kept me returning.

The frequency of the updates (often on the hour) made the site a dynamic source of instantly-published information that kept me abreast not only of the same recycled information that could be found everywhere, but provided textured, nuanced perspectives on those prominent stories.

The site, like a piece of prose, has a distinct voice. The site is layered in that there are numerous external links. There is an overt, intentional structure in place (there are daily Open Threads) that invites interaction. I think it's a wonderful example of leveraging the Web to reach the masses.

Graphic Storytelling

GrapeVine Industries
is a recent discovery of mine. In fact, I found it when looking for examples of ePublishing to write about in this space. Storytelling through static and dynamic images is its hallmark.

Postmodern Prose

Slowly Downward, to quote its own press, is "[a] site that contains short prose in surreal, irreal and stream of consciousness style, as well as a quiz that spent time in an art museum." It's intuitive, left or right navigation and TOC-like (Table of Contents) structure mimic a book. This isn't exactly an accident. The story cache is called a library.

Each library link goes to another set of links, that then lead to prose pieces. This "drill down" or layered effect is a staple of epubbing, I've noticed. It's an easy way to achieve dynamism.

One selection, on the main page, is available in audio format.

the first taste

by the time this is done, i'll know more than i do now.