Experts in digital fiction and literary-linguistics at Sheffield Hallam University have been given funding to study how people read fiction that has been written specifically to take advantage of new technology, such as computers, tablets and smartphones.
The Arts and Humanities Research Council has allocated £194,527 to the Reading Digital Fiction project, with the University providing further support, bringing the total project value to £239,930.
The study, which is organised in partnership with Bangor University, Sheffield Central Library, Bank Street Arts, The National Library of Wales, and Pontio Arts and Innovation Centre, is one of the first of its kind in the UK. It aims to raise awareness of digital fiction, and understand how readers process fiction in different formats.
The study will include a series of digital fiction exhibitions, public educational workshops for readers and writers, and a public lecture as part of the Off The Shelf literary festival. The research team will also commission a series of digital fiction works throughout the study.
For more information on the project, including details of the exhibitions and events, visit www.readingdigitalfiction.com.
For more information visit the Media Centre.