Sarah: Hypertext for Linear Writers

Sarah (?) then discussed how she's used Storyspace and seen Storyspace used with tree-killing writers. Writing is a non-linear process, and Storyspace tools let a writer work in a virtual multi-dimensional space. You can create assets and then draw upon them-- creating spaces then creating paths through them (multiple paths, even) which then become the narrative flow. You can create aliases which you can then organize in various ways. You could place the spaces' aliases in a two-dimensional chart with characters along the y-axis and the flow of the story (or chapters) along the x-axis to show when characters come and go. You could lay the spaces out along the narrative flow in the x-axis and place them on the y-axis according to the tension to plot that in your novel. Or you could have your proofreaders do the same to show you their perspective. This is a process of organizing and filtering your assets, of bringing the words from data (about characters, places) to story. Plus, you might note that it's easier to get (and see) nonlinearity from this approach.

It would be really useful to watch authors working, especially together. In this roundtable we're working with abstractions, but seeing people work, try to make meaning out of interfaces, see how people share ideas when working physically together... that would really help us see how to make the tools facilitate what they do. How to build Tinderbox into a personal knowledge manager, beyond being just an information manager. At the same time, you need to be aware of and careful with your niche-- misspent expectations killed Agenda. Be careful about what is under your control vs. automatic, etc.