Kaven

Hello folks,

Recently i've been toying with the idea of including, for example, newspaper articles/emails/web pages in the story I am writing. I know that whether this would work or not depends on the kind of story being written, but i'd like your opinions/ideas/advice on it as a technique.

I'm writing a (rather epic) series of Young Adult genre fiction. Although it is 'fantasy', it has a lot of action in this world. There is a lot of emphasis on the dichotomy between this world (its technology, machines etc.) and the other world (nature, magic etc.). Whilst the characters are in this world they do things like: research things on the internet, communicate via email, appear in a newspaper article. I'm tempted by the idea of writing all these things as if they were real: graphics, format, design and all - so the newspaper article would appear as an image of a newspaper cutting, for example. I have seen this done before especially in Childrens' fiction and it can be effective and add an extra layer of depth and realism. I also like the work of people like Iain M. Banks, where he uses the font layout and style to indicate a different character or mode of communication (like the Ships' Minds).

What are your thoughts? Yay or Nay!

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

DawnMorningStar

I think that's interesting. Most of the time when I read books that have articles or similar things in them, the author uses the font technique, bolding and enlarging the title, and using a different font to set the article apart from the rest of the story. That is usually pretty effective. But to use an actual image of the newspaper clipping is unique (well, okay, so you said it's been done, but I haven't really seen it). I don't know how publishers feel about it, but I think it would be a way to make your book stand out, and I think that people are pretty receptive to visuals.

Talia_Brie

A publisher is probably going to question the expense of putting the book into print, but that isn't to say they won't do it.

I also think it's a good idea, because it will make the book distinctive.

One thing I'd point out (you've probably thought of this already) is that the different mediums you've discussed have different styles of writing. You'd need to be true to each medium, and develop a different "voice" for each of them.

Apart from that, I would say it's a good idea.

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Kaven

Yes I know, that's one of the things that I like most about this idea! It'd be good fun to write all those different voices - from newspaper article, to internet conspiracy theorist etc. I like getting inside different people's heads and trying their thoughts on for size ... must be my multiple personality syndrome

The cost of publishing is not really something that concerns me, seeming as it's not likely to happen anyway! I won't limit my writing for that, that's not really the point is it? Hehe.

Thanks for your thoughts.

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

Talia_Brie

That's the right attitude.

Get into it!! =D>

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