In an interesting experiment that you knew had to happen, British publisher Penguin has initiated a project to write a collaborative novel based upon "wiki" software, the same type of technology used by Web encyclopedia Wikipedia.
The new novel will be called, "A Million Penguins,' and has started being written by fans at this time.
"This is an experiment. It may end up like reading a bowl of alphabet spaghetti," Jeremy Ettinghausen, head of digital publishing at Penguin UK said, "We are not making any predictions. It would be utterly fantastic if we could at the end create 
a print remix." Yet, there are no definite plans to publish the work when it's completed.
Penguin claims that it is the first "Wiki novel" started from the beginning by a major publishing house. It will be a temporary project online for a minimum of six weeks.
The purpose of the project is to use the novel as a testing ground to see if a variety of people speaking from many perspectives can create a "believable fictional voice."
What I like about it is the possibilities that are offered in a project like this which could be used for marketing purposes. It's the powerful incentive of people being to add their touch and personal input into something that makes projects like these so attractive.
I think that wikis can have a potential huge value to marketers that would allow them to empower users to get involved with their products and services in all sorts of ways that are just beginning to be embraced.
In the case of Penquin, it's a great brand-building effort that will put them in the minds of those that are contributing to the effort. It offers them an opportunity to reach out to them beyond the normal channels of communication and marketing. If the work is good enough, it could even create more buzz by being the first wiki book published by a major publishing firm.
Comment Preview