The article discusses how the internet has fundamentally altered the landscape of fiction. Eight writers offer insights into this transformation, noting that readers have shifted from being solitary witnesses to becoming audiences shaped by social media. The traditional role of critics and tastemakers has diminished, leading writers to adapt their work to wider public opinion. This change complicates the writer's task of expressing private truths without the shadow of a public audience looming large. The discussion highlights both the challenges and opportunities presented by digital engagement in the literary world.
The internet has turned "readers" into "audiences," making personal taste public and influenced by social media, complicating the writer's relationship to their craft.
Writers must write as if a vast judging public doesn't exist, but this is difficult in today's age of social media and immediate reactions.
The overwhelming influence of mass opinion has diminished the role of traditional tastemakers, leading writers to cater to audience whims rather than challenging norms.
The evolution of fiction must now contend with social media dynamics, reshaping the intentions and processes behind storytelling, including how challenging work is received.
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