Technology Has Ruined Readers’ Attention Span

Technology Has Ruined Readers’ Attention Span

This is an interesting article that poses an important question to authors, especially those who tend to write stories that contain philosophical, theological or metaphysical themes and ideas and/or those whose stories have a greater focus on the interiority of their character(s) and/or the relationship dynamic between people - by default, the type of stories that are usually more dependent on the intricacies of language and frequently require more complex sentence structure.

It's been suggested that a writer always needs to write to his or her audience, but that a writer also must write what's in them to write. So, if the above types of stories are what an author is called strongly to write, how does he or she present these ideas, which inherently require more focused attention, a slower, more careful reading and deeper thought (more "work") on the part of the reader, to a growing audience of readers who are more familiar with and expect what technology presents as the norm: rapid absorption of concise bits of information, immediate gratification and a more exterior, visual transmission of ideas rather than one which is more interior and language-oriented?

Definitely a fascinating question for me as I don't feel I've figured that out yet. Are there many writers who are challenged by this, pre-modern technology readers who find more recently-released books to be lacking in certain respects because of it and what modern authors are known for succeeding extremely well at combining the two, seemingly at odds, facets of writing?

Thanks to The Passive Voice for the share.

The Horrors of Self-Promotion

Not every indie author will agree with this article in its entirety, but I imagine most will find one or two points of empathy. Or, if not that, at least enjoy the author's sardonic wit. With a nod to the U.S. movie industry's vague - and, I think, unintentionally funny in its PC-ness - terminology, this article is rated PG-13 for occasional language. And thank you to  The Passive Voice  for the share.

The Horrors of Self-Promotion

What is metaphysical fiction?

For a really interesting article about a little-known genre that's been gathering more attention lately, check out this great post from Tahlia Newland (Lethal Inheritance, You Can't Shatter Me).  For those who enjoy reading (and/or writing) magical realism, mystical realism, spiritual or visisionary fiction and supernatural novels and stories, there are some wonderful insights and recommendations.  And I thank Tahlia so much for the kind mention!

http://tahlianewland.com/2012/11/28/what-is-metaphysical-fiction/

A Short Defense of Literary Excess

Another interesting article about the beauty of language from the New York Times, by way of  The Passive Voice:

A Short Defense of Literary Excess

An Ode to the Complex Sentence

An interesting and, ironically, short article in the Los Angeles Times by way of  The Passive Voice  on the reason it's a good thing not all modern fiction embraces the short, declarative sentence - an idea for which many would say I have an apparent (and extensive) appreciation.  Hats off to all writers who like to capture the human mind's tendency towards tangents, ruminative driftage, paradoxical ambivalence and addendums.

The point of the long and winding sentence