"Bit o' Lit" is a new literature, reading, and book promotion venture aimed at Washington DC Metro commuters tired of solving puzzles and reading comics and news while bumping along the rails. It is hoped that bored commuters will make this book-appetizer project survive and thrive.
Will "Bit o' Lit" thrive or dive? Many literature and book business fans have their eyes on "Bit o' Lit"'s meal ticket for readers and investors. Will there be enough good book writing to satisfy potential customers?
Just when trend-watchers predicted the demise of print media, signs of this possible new trend emerged. The idea coincides with efforts to raise demand for e-books and hand-held reading gadgets, and it puts a twist on an old tradition.
In the 19th century, works by Charles Dickens and others were serialized, installments placed on pages in shop windows for passersby to read. In the 1900s, the novels of Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others were serialized in magazines like Collier's and Saturday Evening Post.
The Washington Post (July 1, '08) reported the latest method to get stories to the public for mass readership quickly. This new way intends to give a taste of new books in hopes of developing a full-blown appetite for the offerings of participating publishers.
Named "Bit o' Lit," the project brings the new, free bi-weekly book-excerpt magazine to Metro rail commuters in Washington, DC. As they pass through the stations en route, they can look for the "Bit o' Lit" display and grab a copy of the latest edition---free.
The project's launch caught the interest of Publishers Weekly and others. One reporter suggested the idea should spread to other parts of the U.S.
For now, publishers of featured books will carry a huge chunk of the costs. The excerpt idea will be another book promotion effort to appeal to readers' interest.
Will the idea thrive and survive? I am keenly interested in the answer.
Success will likely depend on quality of writing, as with general book sales. Imagine the excitement for a new writer whose publisher invests in "Bit o' Lit" excerpts for his or her book!
The next time I use the Washington Metro system, I hope to grab a free "Bit o' Lit" and try the samples inside. If you get there first, will you let me know what you think?
Books and reading are not dead. Talented new authors need wide exposure. "Bit o' Lit" will allow tests for every writer involved!
To learn more about Shannon MacDonald, who cooked up "Bit o' Lit," and the venture, search the Web. It's got it covered.
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