Interacting with a blog fiction

Okay, I think it's time to discuss the concept of "suspension of belief", and, how it relates to Blog Fiction. If you've never heard of the term, I'll direct you to this media glossary article.

In the world of fiction you are often required to believe a premise which you would never accept in the real world. Especially in genres such as fantasy and science fiction, things happen in the story which you would not believe if they were presented in a newspaper as fact. Even in more real-world genres such as action movies, the action routinely goes beyond the boundaries of what you think could really happen.

In order to enjoy such stories, the audience engages in a phenomenon known as "suspension of disbelief". This is a semi-conscious decision in which you put aside your disbelief and accept the premise as being real for the duration of the story.

When it comes to Blog Fiction, the reader must also suspend their disbelief and accept that they are reading the blog of a fictional person. If the writer of a blog fiction wants the reader to believe that they are reading a blog of a fictional person, that illusion needs to be maintained as much as is practical.

So why do I see so many blog fiction sites where the *Author* is the one responding to comments? When this happens it completely breaks the illusion of reading a blog. It is a reminder that you are reading a blog written by a writer not a character. It jars the reader out of the illusion - and that is not good if you want to keep your readers interested. Evangeline's ride is a good example of how jarring it is. Almost every entry I am thrown out of the illusion when I read about how the Author has been busy, or how she's improving her writer, etc...

Some sites, like Fate's Acquittal, started out leaving comments as the Author, but transition to responding "in character" as the story unfolds. I think it got better when this happened as it allowed the writer a second tool to reveal what the character was thinking. It also gave some foreshadowing for the thorough reader.

To those who are reading blog fiction, this article is for you too. If you're reading a blog, be sure that your comments are left for the character as well. If you want to talk to the author directly try looking for an email somewhere on the site. Please don't be like Ian over at Flyover City. In this case you, the reader, are ruining the illusion for other readers.

Now THAT'S Interactive

How interactive are most storytelling mediums?

Movies? No matter how many times I warn them, that character always goes in the room where the killer is hiding.

TV? Have a great idea for your favorite television show? Just write them and tell 'em about your great idea, right? Wrong! TV writers and producers try to avoid unsolicited ideas out of fear of lawyers. From Writer's Weekly:

Shows will not accept unsolicited scripts from anyone off the street. They don't want to be held liable for theft of ideas.

"Hey, I sent my script to that show and they stole my idea. I'll sue their asses, get a bad rep, and never work in Hollywood again. I'll show them."

It is never a good idea to send a spec script to that particular show that is hiring a staff. Why? The Producers know the show better than you. They know every nuance that you don't.

You won't be able to compete against a show that's written by eight disgruntled, funny, bitter writers that are stuck together fifteen hours a day. It's not a good idea and they will not accept it. (Lawsuits again.)

Radio? Well, if you show me a fictional show on radio, I'll show you a newspaper dated circa 1933.

Books? The story has been finished, printed, and published long before you shelled out 20 big ones to read it.

Magazines? If it's a magazine or newspaper that prints short serials, I suppose you have a chance of giving feedback to the author. Although, chances are he completed the series long before he convinced anyone to publish it.

Live Theatre? I seriously doubt that a cast is going to change their well rehearsed performance based on a suggestion a drunken audience member shouts out.

One of the things that differentiates blog fiction from all other story telling is the huge potential for reader interaction. A blog, through comments and linking, is almost inherently interactive. A reader can leave comments, or link to and ping a post. This gives the author almost instant feedback. The author can choose to change the story based on feedback. Also, the author can decide to respond to comments in character.

So far, that's pretty much been the extent of blog fiction. But Now, look out! Make way for Space Haggis. A weekly installment about "renowned space scientist Alfie Haggis" who

has unfortunately been trapped in space ever since he had a near fatal accident when piloting the first manned mission to Mars.

Here's the cool part:

Alfie however needs your help!

After each of his blog entries the reader will need to help Alfie come to a decision for whatever predicament he finds himself in! Community driven blog fiction at its finest.

Readers will have chance to vote in a poll on the homepage and the decision that wins the majority vote will be the decision made by Alfie in the next episode of spacehaggis.com.

As I said in the title, now THAT'S! interactive. It'll be fun to see what other forms of interaction blog fiction takes on.