When you read a great book, the story doesn’t stop there, you tell your friends, you discuss the book with others, and a myth is built around that book. This will largely be shaped by your close networks, what you have seen/read/heard about the book in other media etc. While the audience may not be actively communicating with the author, they are certainly shaping the subjective story that emerges. For the story, once read, becomes independent of the page and subject to the experiences, views and symbolic belief systems of the audience. In a sense, nothing has changed. Their are still people creating and people consuming. However, the crucial aspect is the currency of openness and speed. The creator must now use the feedback of the audience to refine, defend or promote their story and be clear in their reasons for producing the story in the first place.
