Photograph: Short Édition
I found in the Guardian a fascinating article: Readers in Grenoble can now nibble fiction instead of vending machine snacks, after publisher Short Édition introduced eight short-story dispensers around the French city.
The free stories are available at the touch of a button, printing out on rolls of paper like a till receipt. Readers are able to choose one minute, three minutes or five minutes of fiction. Two weeks since launch, co-founder Quentin Pleplé says that more than 10,000 stories have already been printed.
“The feedback we got has been overwhelmingly positive [and] we are thrilled to see it working so well,” said Pleplé. “There are only eight dispensers in the city of Grenoble for now but we are planning to introduce way more. We are getting requests from all over the world – Australia, the US, Canada, Russia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Chile, Taiwan – that we are processing meticulously one by one.”
The French publisher hopes the stories will be used to fill the “dead time” of a commute, “in a society where daily lives are moving quicker and quicker and where time is becoming precious”. “In the bus, the tram or the metro, everyone can make the most of these moments to read short stories, poems or short comics,” said a statement from Short Édition. “And they can be sure to enjoy the ending.”
Thanks to The Passive Guy for the tip!
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Excellent idea.
I thought so, too 🙂
Brilliant idea like lending libraries in old phone boxes
Oh yes, that’s another good one!
That’s such a cool idea! Must cost a fortune in printer paper and ink though …?
I can’t imagine it being all that expensive. All you need is a laser printer, a vandal-proof box and some real cheap paper 🙂
That’s so funny Nicholas. I thought I was the only one who read shampoo bottles! 😉 This is such an interesting concept. Maybe it will inspire more people to read… ~Elle
Oh no, shampoo contents are fascinating. When I really want to relax, I even compare them. “Ooh, this one has Geranol!” Only problem is, the older I get, the smaller the print seems to be 😀
True!
What an interesting concept. I’m wondering if this can compete with those who already have their readers and mobile phones filled with books, wattpad shorts and the like. And how would those stories get to the respective vendors?
For me, it’s all about availability. When I’m taking a bath, I’ll read the shampoo contents out of sheer boredom. Likewise, for many, this will probably be the perfect opportunity to read something, simply because it’s so easy to do so.
I’m sure. And then there are still those who prefer not to read on a device too. 🙂
I confess to being one of them, unless the device is my Kindle 🙂
🙂
I LOVE this idea! I hope it takes off all around the world. Would love to see it in every bus and train station.
It would probably do wonders for reading 🙂
I think it would. Everyone can find 5 minutes for a short story. Even those who don’t normally read. (Can you imagine there are actually people out there who NEVER read???)
Sad… *shakes head*
Although, to be fair, mostly everyone reads. It’s just that they may prefer to read, say, Facebook posts on their phone, rather than books 🙂
True, very true.
Oh my, this is special. Short stories are quite fashionable. Lunchtime reads. Flash fiction with your coffee break. These dispensers would be great in a dentist office!
Lol – what, no more news from the 90s? 😀
This is a cool idea! An interesting way to boost the amount of people reading. It can come to the UK as soon as it likes!
Greece, too 🙂
Well, this is really a different way to promote stories 🙂
I know. Pretty creative, huh?
Although I generally think it’s a great idea, I can see it being abused, at least in big cities like London. Bored vandals will just keep printing these off, and flinging the paper around, I am sure. If not, they will try to empty the machine, or damage it in some way, as they used to with ‘phone boxes, and other vending machines.
Perhaps they would be better sited in places like bookshops, supermarkets, and airports, all of which have some element of security?
Best wishes, Pete.
I hate to admit it, but you have a point 🙁
That’s so interesting! At least people are reading. I prefer a book, but if I was in a jam without one, I’d definitely print off a short read. Another way for writers to get exposure too 🙂
I agree completely 🙂
I’ve never heard of this, but it might just be the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. I wonder how, or if, the authors get paid. Or if they donate stories for the exposure. Either way, I love it.
Me too, even though I suspect it’s the latter 🙂
It’s a genius way to use as an ad byte for up-coming authors, although I too would be cagey about this being available just on paper… Would make much more sense to have it as an app too for non-technophobes and to cut down on the physical running costs
True. I think there’s plenty of apps doing that, mind you 🙂
I so wish there were these initiatives in my country where people don’t read at all.
Same here 🙂
I’ve read about these dispenser before and shook my head. Free? For how long?
I also read about an app(s) by which commuters can get free shorts to read during their ride(s). Not sure what happened to this one.
On the other hand, the paper waste and machine upkeep doesn’t make sense when everyone has a mobile device of some kind. What’s left to say?
One last thing: the author sits out in the cold waiting for compensation. 🙁
I was just talking about this to Diane, actually 🙂
As I was saying, giving away free samples of our work in the hope that we’ll hook people and get them to buy our books, is one of the oldest marketing tricks around. I’d be more than happy to give away a few of my shorts, if that creates awareness of my work as an author.
As for the environment, you’re right. It’s a sad fact that we’re a wasteful society. I hope the app takes off, although there’s something to be said for the immediacy of this approach.
In Europe, at least, paper tends to come from sustainable sources. As a further plus, it’s biodegradable. And finally, I can think of far worse ways to waste paper 🙂
Agreed, I’ve just created a free shorts page on my blog and put the first one up last week. I like this vending idea. Now that’s what I call “print on demand.”
Like one of the other commenters mentioned then there’s the question of getting people hooked and then who’s going to collect revenue. These machines need manpower to load and upkeep. *sigh*
There’s always a cloud over that silver lining 😉
*grin*
That’s a cool idea. I’d participate if we had something similar,
Me too 🙂
From my understanding, these stories are offered free to readers. Who is paying for this: the machines, the upkeep, the paper, the electricity? The publisher? That won’t last. The company that owns the stations where these machines are? The project may last longer.
Other questions: How is the author compensated? Are they once again expected to give up their work for free? Marketing, you say…well, free is the buzz word. Everyone loves free. Unfortunately my local meat market won’t give me anything for free. They expect to be paid.
The other side of the coin is: what a waste of paper. Remember about 20 years ago, they boasted we’d be a paperless world with these new fangled things called computers? I laughed at them then and I laugh harder now. Like Tim Horton’s this idea will produce a lot of garbage, more than 10,000 pieces of paper being trashed or littered about already. The trees are crying.
This is the perfect idea for our disposable society. Everything is becoming temporary from eBooks to MP3s.
Don’t get me wrong, encouraging people to read is a wonderful thing. I applaud them. Offering long commuters with something to do with their boring ride, also excellent. So while the commuters benefit, who suffers? There can be no gain without an equal balance of loss somewhere. The losers will be the trees, the environment and the unpaid authors…but who cares about those things. They’ve got something to take their minds off the boring ride.
Thanks for that! You raise a number of interesting points.
First of all, you’re right. the meat market doesn’t sell meat for free. However, it does give away free slices of, say, salami, in the hopes of encouraging people to pay for the whole thing.
Personally, I’d be more than happy to give away a few of my shorts, if that creates awareness of my work as an author.
As for the environment, again, you’re right. It’s a sad fact that we’re a wasteful society. However, in Europe, at least, paper tends to come from sustainable sources. Also, at least it’s biodegradable. And of course, I can think of far worse ways to waste paper 🙂
I see this being a paid thing if it ever hit the US. Though I’d be more interested in sustainability. It’s a great idea, but I question if the initial rush was more out of curiosity about the machine instead of a desire to read. Then again, I’ve heard of nearly everything else being put in vending machine form.
I see authors (esp. Indies) loving it, even paying to sustain it as a freebie. It would be the perfect way to reach new readers, and hopefully hook them so you can create that all-important brand awareness.
Definitely would be useful for excerpts. Guess the question would be, how does one get into it?
Wait for it to be available in your country?
Guess we’ll see what happens. Probably depends on where they test it.
What a great idea.
Just going to whip some of my short stuff up and send over 🙂
Go, girl! You know, I’m becoming a big fan of Roxy (I know, I’m such a girl). The characters are at the same time so over the top, and yet so believable, that I just can’t stop reading. Thanks for that perfect start to the week 🙂
I try to put myself in Roxy’s decision making skills – not sure what this says about me – sigh!
Lol – don’t go there. In Pearseus, I describe a psycho ruler…
Now this is what I call a fabulous idea 🙂
I know, right?? We should totally do that over here, as well 🙂
I”d be interested to know if these dispensers are to be converted to accept payment after a trial period. If not, how is the trial being financed and to what end? Is it intended to make the average commuter a new reader, perhaps to buy books of the short story authors they like?
Hugs
I haven’t read anything about payment, so I guess the point is to promote an author (and hopefully their other works). More marketing, I guess 🙂
Hugs!