A Human Drama

What if you could witness the birth of a new type of book – something that hadn’t existed before? Not a new book. A new type of book. Imagine reading “Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes in an original copy, arguably the first novel. Or other books that gave us the first memoir, the first murder mystery, the first this or first that. Exciting, yes?

You do have that chance, at no cost, if you begin reading our website’s “A Human Drama.,” an original form of story called a “webtale.” To the knowledge of anyone at The Humanity Project, nothing quite like “A Human Drama” exists anywhere on the Internet. So we think it’s something unique and special.

As a lifelong professional writer, I believe that reading communicates information and feelings in a way no other medium can match. I also think the Internet can be an important new means for creating and distributing art, especially quality writing. So when I began figuring out how to create this first webtale, as I eventually dubbed it, I wanted to preserve the idea of a book. That is, text for reading. I think of those who visit “A Human Drama” as our readers, just as if they were reading a book online.

But our webtale experience is much more than just reading. We use sound, music, graphics and other elements, not to merely embroider the story, but to advance and enrich it. These elements become integral parts of the work itself. I want “A Human Drama” to be something that connects directly from our website to one reader at a time, giving our visitors an intimate, exciting new way of reading. And, in this case, a powerful new way to experience a character who is struggling to change his life for the better. Part book, part movie, part broadcast, part music.

We’re proud of Cantos I and II, the first two chapters of “A Human Drama,” which you can read now. (This is a serialized work, like the novels of Dickens and others that were first published chapter by chapter as they were written.) But “A Human Drama” will only become more exciting-looking and exciting-sounding, with the storyline growing even more gripping, as new chapters are posted in the coming months.We’re already finding more effective ways to blend visual and audio elements with the text, improve and vary the sound, tweak the timing and generally upgrade other elements of this new literary form. And I’m pleased with progress on the story itself so far. I’ve nearly completed writing the next six chapters (which I call “cantos” because the story is based on the 100 cantos of Dante’s immortal “The Divine Comedy”). I think you’ll enjoy our intensifying storyline when those new chapters appear. Cantos III and IV are in production for posting online around mid-September.

If you’re interested to see what I mean, just close this blog to return to the main website, then click the tab at the left that says, “A Human Drama.” (Unlike “Don Quixote,” our story can only be read with a broadband connection to your computer, with your speakers on, please. Times were simpler back then … ) Cantos I and II await you. I like to think that Cervantes would approve. – RSK