Criminal Minds

 

 

 

How do you think the publishing industry is adapting to the “attention economy,” and how do you feel about those shifts? Are books an antidote to shortening attention spans?

The simple answer, yes! Books are definitely an antidote to shortening attention spans, if they’re read in the traditional way. Now, hold on audio readers before you get your knickers in a twist. That was not a dig at people who choose to listen to their reading verses sitting down and cracking open a book. I do believe that listening to audio books count as reading. But when thinking about an increase in attention span, I believe taking that time to sit in one spot, completely focused on a world that you are creating with every word you read is training your attention span in way that few other activities can.

But let’s face it, as the world is constantly changing and expanding. So many of us have so little time that each second becomes more valuable, often-times leaving very little time or space for the leisurely activities we once loved, like reading. But I feel the publishing industry has taken note to adapt to this attention economy with a variety of ways to still enjoy good stories.

 Flash fiction, is one way that immediately comes to mind. It’s the amuse-bouche of the literary world. A perfect little bite of the story all done and dusted in one page, sometimes less, with a beginning middle and end. I find it fascinating and I’m often awestruck by some of the work that is accomplished in such a short space. If you haven’t ever checked any out, I highly recommend Lisa Ferranti, she’s been featured in multiple flash journals and won many contests. Her work is always thought-provoking with a lot of heart.

When I was growing up, I only had access to my local libraries with their glorious rooms filled with books upon books, paper back or hard-copy or comic, those were my choices. Now there are so many options with streaming, and gaming, and social media, there is a veritable mountain of choices, but never enough time.