Over at poetbloggs they are trying to develop a conversation between readers and writers over the possibility of a digital future. In a series of three posts he has wondered:

Do audiences want to move print online, or like most writers, simply use the internet to compliment what they read in print? Would an audience want be involved more in the writing process of their favourite author, being able to comment and interact with them as the novel/poem/script was written? Would other writers/students like to be able to have that insight to others work?

Personally the most entertaining entry and freshest is from Robert Bruce who along with saying much about how the web is opening up new readership and audience fro his work says the following in the comment section:

I’ve not given up on trad. publishing completely. Quite the contrary. For instance, if, in 2 or 3 years I approach a publisher with my regular readership of around 100,000 folks a month (or more), said publisher will most likely be more inclined to take a glance at my stuff. You see, I’ve done all the marketing, footwork, and building for them. Of course, it goes without saying, the poems have to be good. And that is not up to me to decide. I write them and move on.

I like it because I have had this experience as an editor. A writer of a soon to be released Dublin Archaeology book approached us with an amazing idea, a wonderful website which acts a showcase and bundles of passion. What was more his website has over 100,000 unique visitors a month. Most publishers would have ignored the topic as being slightly off track, but as we have some experience with it and we liked the additional revenues of worldwide web sales, we will publish his book in October as the first of several. So Robert you speak the truth.