the unbook

[henry quirk]

http://theunbook.com/2009/02/18/what-is-an-unbook/

the unbook: in the old days we called that 'the first draft', 'the second draft', 'the third draft', and so on...

'the first draft', etc., are the working drafts...raw, undisciplined, and not for public consumption

*sigh*

seems nowadays: everything is fodder for committee and, to that end, a writer’s initial compositions (the beginning of an idiosyncrasy) are -- by way of this 'unbook' concept -- supposed to be accessible to (and readily accessed by) anyone with a mind to participate

how depressing...not everyone with a mind to participate actually has something 'to' contribute

as a model: i guess the 'unbook' might work well for nonfictions (manuals, teaching materials, etc.)...but: i predict the model would be disastrous for anything else

one more prediction: most of the 'unbooks' that pop up will never see a version 2.0...the 'authors' of such things -- having attention spans less impressive than a mayfly’s life -- will move on to the next awkward, flash-in-the-pan, internet/real life, hybrid as soon as such a thing rears its ugly head

unbooks -- as concept -- will end up as a cultural cul de sac: a curious artifact of a misguided desire to see 'the people' empowered beyond 'their' competence... -henry quirk