Dispatch.com and The Columbus Dispatch have launched a new take on reader participation with Create a Classic. Essentially, the community is writing eight novels together this summer.
Members of The Dispatch editorial department were asked to write the first chapter to four separate novels ranging in genres from contemporary fiction to mystery - and even an homage to Thurber and Hemingway. Three more novels will also begin on the site Thursday, July 14.
Through print ads in the newspaper prior to the July 10 release date, "Create A Classic" also enlisted the aid of non-published central Ohio writers, to help contribute a chapter – 1,000-1,500 words in length – with hopes of ultimately completing seven, 10-chapter novels. The stories will be available online for free at
dispatch.com/novels.
"We're very excited and proud to stoke the creative fires of budding central Ohio scribes ranging in ages from their teens through 88,” said Phil Pikelny, Vice President of Corporate Marketing/New Media. "The response to this online experiment has been overwhelming and, through our Create A Classic message boards, we’re hoping to develop an online community for readers to trade compliments, and of course criticisms, as to the outcomes of the stories."
Among the stories - and genres - submitted by The Dispatch editorial department are:
After all the novels are completed, The Columbus Dispatch will award prizes to the writers of the best onlinenovel, as voted by dispatch.com readers, during a reading celebration at the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main Branch.
