What is a story? More importantly, what is publishing? Is it only books, and if so, are ebooks books?
Even better, can a series of 200 Instagram pictures be considered an ebook, if read altogether? According to author and creator Shelley Jackson, yes, they can. Jackson’s project, which portrays a different word exquisitely written in nature as a stand alone image in her Instagram account, @snowshelleyjackson, gives readers a full sense of the story, one agonizingly slow image at a time. Fortunately, Jackson is able to create and capture several separate images each day, a task she will continue as long as the oft-maligned weather cooperates.
Published in reverse in gorgeous but snow dependent font, Jackson is creating a story one picture at a time, as long as the snow lasts. In order to read the full story, users have to access the farthest photograph and work their ways forward. While certainly not a traditional digital book by any means, it is, however, another example of the creative control an author can exert of her work thanks to non-traditional forms of publishing platforms.
To read the full account, follow Jackson HERE and work in backwards order from the oldest to most current image.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
