Recommended Transmedia Reading 12/29

A few recommended pieces for the end of December:

Transmedia Storytelling Weaves Powerful Brand Connections – Toy Industry Association

A brief summary of how the major toymakers are dealing with Transmedia.  It will be interesting to see if the Kidscreen Summit yields any major developments in Transmedia aimed at the younger demographic.

Should I Self Publish? – Chuck Wendig

Many Transmedia creators may wish to circumvent the traditional publishing processes when releasing the text-based part of their stories.  This is an extremely balanced and comprehensive look at the pros and cons of self-publishing.  NOTE: NSFW language throughout.

Using Transmedia to Ignite Change – Laura Fleming

I was taken to task by Laura for excluding education from my 2011 Transmedia predictions post, but the classroom is very much in my thoughts.  In this piece, Laura considers how Transmedia education advocates might be able to mobilize change.  It’s something I will be considering in a forthcoming blog post, and I expect Laura to continue to pioneer in this area in the new year.

5 eBook Trends That Will Change the Future of Publishing - Philip Ruppel

The author is President of McGraw-Hill, so it is perhaps unsurprising that this list is composed of trends that the publishing industry would like to see (publishers more important, higher eBook prices).  Nonetheless, my imagination was sparked by point four:

E-books allow publishers to interact with their customers in new ways. Imagine customers who are trying to learn statistics and get stuck on a particular formula. They ask friends but no one can explain it well. They’re stuck.

They click a help button, which points them to the publisher site where they can download relevant tutorials about specific formulas for $2.99. They choose the one they need and get a new learning tool, which helps them progress in their class. Multiply this by hundreds of thousands of students who share similar learning gaps who will purchase through the book (“in-book app purchase”) and it becomes an interesting new marketing opportunity.

There are fascinating opportunities here that comport with the Transmedia ideal of consumers being able to “delve deeper” into certain aspects of a property.  I imagine that this could dovetail seamlessly with community engagements as well, as users help, inspire and engage each other around the text.

Tron: Evolution Adds to the Legacy of the Grid – LA Times

This review of the Tron videogame outlines how its story dovetails with that of the movie – something we will see more of in the years to come.  Pay attention especially to the chronology chart at the top of the article.

Richard Matheson Storyteller – The Twilight Zone Years - Tor.com

The Twilight Zone is one of my favorite shows of all time, and this is a great look into the life and creative works of one of the driving forces behind it.

Best Posts for Writers 2010 - Writer’s Digest/Jane Friedman

A great roundup of posts on creating and marketing work, and developing a personal brand.