Andrew Fitzgerald: Adventures in Twitter fiction

Introduction and Background

The speaker discusses their interest in experimenting with storytelling online and working with authors and storytellers at Twitter. They highlight the potential of flexible identity and anonymity on the web to blur the lines between fact and fiction.

Exploring New Digital Tools

• The speaker experiments with telling stories online outside of Twitter.

• They work with authors and storytellers at Twitter to push the boundaries of experimentation.

Evolution of Storytelling Formats

• Radio in the 1930s connected millions of people through broadcasts, introducing new formats for storytelling.

• Radio's unique formats were specific to the medium, combining live plays and serialized written fiction.

The Online World as a Medium

• The internet provides a new medium for storytelling, where thousands of users can broadcast their own stories.

• Access to tools is now the only barrier to broadcasting, leading to a wide range of possibilities for storytelling formats.

Frontier for Creative Experimentation

• The internet offers a wide-open frontier for creative experimentation in storytelling.

• New structures are being built on this wild land of the internet, allowing for innovative storytelling formats.

Renaissance of Short Stories

• E-readers and digital marketplaces have led to a resurgence in short story popularity.

• Author Hugh Howey experimented with releasing a short story called "Wool" on Amazon, which evolved into a series based on audience demand.

Twitter as a Platform for Fiction

• Author Jennifer Egan wrote "Black Box," specifically tailored for Twitter's 140-character limit.

• Serialized by The New Yorker's fiction account, readers could tune in every night at 8 p.m. for a short story experience on Twitter.

Multiple Perspectives on Twitter

• Author Elliott Holt created a story called "Evidence" on Twitter, featuring multiple characters and perspectives.

• The story unfolded in real-time, capturing the voices of different characters leading up to a significant event.

Conclusion

The speaker concludes by highlighting the unique opportunities for experimentation and storytelling offered by new digital mediums like Twitter. They emphasize the importance of embracing these new formats and pushing creative boundaries.

Embracing New Formats

• The internet enables experimentation to become part of the storytelling format itself.

• Authors can directly connect with their audience, receiving quick feedback and building on enthusiasm.

Pushing Creative Boundaries

• Twitter allows for innovative approaches to fiction, such as serialized stories with suspenseful live experiences.

• Multiple perspectives and real-time storytelling create engaging experiences for readers.

This summary provides an overview of the main points discussed in the transcript. For a more detailed understanding, please refer to the original transcript.

The Authenticity of Spontaneous Creation

The speaker discusses the authenticity brought by spontaneous creation and multiple perspectives in storytelling on Twitter. Flexible online identities and interactions with the real world add to the interest and experimentation in this medium.

Spontaneous Creation and Authenticity

• Spontaneous creation of characters' voices lends authenticity to the characters and the format of multiple perspectives on Twitter.

• Flexible online identities allow for experimentation with storytelling.

• Interactions with the real world, such as political commentary or engagement, enhance the authenticity of fictional characters.

Examples of Creative Experimentation

• "West Wing" Twitter is an example where fictional characters engage with politics and comment on real-world events.

• Parody accounts like Mayor Emanuel during the Chicago mayoral election started as commentary but evolved into a multi-week science fiction narrative.

• Turning a Twitter parody account into a book highlights the narrative potential of this medium.

Absurdism and New Formats

The speaker explores examples of absurdist storytelling on Twitter, such as Crimer Show, which combines television tropes with text-based episodes. Additionally, nonfiction real-time storytelling blurs fact and fiction, creating new possibilities for storytelling.

Absurdist Storytelling on Twitter

• Crimer Show is an absurdist parody that tells the story of a supercriminal and a detective using strange lingo reminiscent of television shows.

• Borrowing tropes from television creates something new in text-based episodes presented on Twitter.

Nonfiction Real-Time Storytelling

• RealTimeWWII provides detailed documentation of historical events as if they were happening today.

• Teju Cole experiments with adding literary twists to news events, blurring fact and fiction.

• These examples demonstrate how nonfiction content can be transformed into new forms of fictional storytelling.

Tools for Storytelling

The speaker discusses the tools available for storytelling on platforms like Twitter, including real-time storytelling, blurring boundaries between fact and fiction, flexible identity, and anonymity.

Building Blocks of Storytelling

• Real-time storytelling allows for immersive experiences by blurring the lines between the real world and digital platforms.

• Blurring boundaries between fact and fiction opens up new possibilities for storytelling.

• Flexible online identities and anonymity provide creative freedom in exploring different perspectives and narratives.

Timestamps are provided at the beginning of each section to help navigate through the transcript.