The Internet factor
Jul 14, 2011
LITERARY arts have grown, rather than die, with the advent of the Internet. It has given many young writers an opportunity to have their works published without going through the red tape of publishing houses. <br>
LITERARY arts have grown, rather than die, with the advent of the Internet. It has given many young writers an opportunity to have their works published without going through the red tape of publishing houses.
There are several blogs run by Ugandans, most of which are listed on http://blogspirit.ug/.
However, most of these blogs are about commentaries and are not into creative writing (like short stories, poems and novels). But because there are no checks and balances with blogs, most of the quality of writing is questionable.
That said, some of the writers are very cautious and have their works “edited†by fellow writers, critics and book lovers before submitting them.
Online publishers are more lenient to writers and Ugandans have also found favour there. The writers can tell friends and family to access their works free - of- charge.
There is always that excitement when you find a poem that was inspired by events that took place in Uganda a few hours ago online! What we now have is a big body of online writers and soon, very soon, some of these are going to become celebrated online authors.
But a few Ugandans have taken advantage of this free publishing to actually push creative writing forward. Joseph Ssemutooke, a young features writer with New Vision, early this year started the country’s first ever online literary website at
www.writinguganda.com.
It is dedicated to the publication of creative writing as it is traditionally understood. It publishes poetry, short fiction, literary reportage and literary criticism.
And now, with the many book groups on social networks, the literary arts are growing like never before. Second hand books have become a hit, of course alongside the established bookshops like Aristoc. Most writers (plus wannabe writers) run blogs too. The sky is the limit for literary arts in this country.
Compiled by Ssemutoke
There are several blogs run by Ugandans, most of which are listed on http://blogspirit.ug/.
However, most of these blogs are about commentaries and are not into creative writing (like short stories, poems and novels). But because there are no checks and balances with blogs, most of the quality of writing is questionable.
That said, some of the writers are very cautious and have their works “edited†by fellow writers, critics and book lovers before submitting them.
Online publishers are more lenient to writers and Ugandans have also found favour there. The writers can tell friends and family to access their works free - of- charge.
There is always that excitement when you find a poem that was inspired by events that took place in Uganda a few hours ago online! What we now have is a big body of online writers and soon, very soon, some of these are going to become celebrated online authors.
But a few Ugandans have taken advantage of this free publishing to actually push creative writing forward. Joseph Ssemutooke, a young features writer with New Vision, early this year started the country’s first ever online literary website at
www.writinguganda.com.
It is dedicated to the publication of creative writing as it is traditionally understood. It publishes poetry, short fiction, literary reportage and literary criticism.
And now, with the many book groups on social networks, the literary arts are growing like never before. Second hand books have become a hit, of course alongside the established bookshops like Aristoc. Most writers (plus wannabe writers) run blogs too. The sky is the limit for literary arts in this country.
Compiled by Ssemutoke