Writing as a spectator sport

digital visualization of eyes

Joshua Cohen wrote a novel with the Internet reading over his shoulder

“Viewers at PCKWCK.com could comment, “heart” text as on Periscope, answer survey questions, and watch a tiny livestream camera of Joshua Cohen as he wrote and edited his story, a cigarette usually dangling out of his mouth—Hunter S. Thompson living in a Brooklyn basement. ”

I couldn’t do it. I have to turn my cat around when they watch me work on the computer, so I don’t think I could write or type well with people watching me. More power to Joshua Cohen for doing this “performance” piece that interacted with his viewers and fans, and even more amazing that he was able to produce a novel at the end.

Can you see it now…. A family in front of the TV. Loud music starts to play while various literary pictures weave in and out of the screen. You see the gaggle of sports announcers sitting at their desks. A booming voice announces “Welcome To Wednesday Night Writing Live – The Playoffs!”

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