Literature via Twitter?

I admit it - I do not follow anyone on Twitter. I have no account, I don't post to it, I don't read it. I've never even been to the web site. But I am hearing about some interesting uses for the web site that is expressly a way of communicating to people via 140-character phrases. This is a version of the cell phone novels being written in Japan.

For instance:

On June 16, aka Bloomsday, two ULYSSES fans recreated a chapter on Twitter. They used a software program to help them post tweets from many of the characters in the book. First, they created accounts for 54 characters from the novel. Then, they planned out and executed the lines from the novel as they would have taken place in real time. You can find more at the blog by one of the creators here.

JunkDNA is another writer/blogger who is using Twitter to write fiction. He has a book available, too, but mostly he gives away his content in an effort to reach more people.

Penguin is planning to release a book in the fall that reduces literature into 20 tweets or less. It's the idea of two 19-year-old college students (of course). It will be called TWITTERATURE - and frankly I am scared. A lack of attention span is blamed for fewer books of long length being published nowadays and this book takes that theory and runs with it. I see it as more of a gimmick than any real potential literary trend, but I am sure my 14-year-old sister would love it. Who needs Cliffs Notes when you can just read Twitter?

There is even a web site that lets you crib literary quotes for your tweets. You don't even have to actually read anymore - you can just fake it and make the world (or at least, your Twitter followers) think you actually read Shakespeare, Kerouac, or Twain.

Do you use Twitter? Do you use it to write fiction, follow favorite authors, brainstorm with strangers? Tell us about it in the comments!

Nicole