Word of mouth is an invaluable resource, especially when it comes to picking out your next read, whether it be a trashy romance paperback or a great American novel; for fans of the latter, there's the Connu literature app, an apparatus that curates short stories by some of the best contemporary writers out there.
The app offers recommendations from respected authors such as David Sedaris and Joyce Carol Oates. The suggested stories are penned by little-known writers with great potential and a quickly rising star; however, the app also includes never-before-published stories from the bigger names. Users can decide whether they want to read the story or have it narrated to them.
The founders of the app explain their creation by saying, "what we dreamed up was a hub where short stories would feel personal, exciting, and real; where anyone could come and easily slip into reading (and listening to) fresh, original writing."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Literature Curation
- Apps that curate literature from respected authors and rising stars for readers.
- Personalized Reading
- A trend of creating personalized reading experiences for users via narration and recommendations.
- Short Story Resurgence
- A trend of reviving the art form of the short story and promoting it among readers via apps.
Where This Applies
- Publishing
- Publishers can innovate by creating specialized curation apps that promote lesser-known writers' short stories and expand readership.
- Audio Narration
- New audio narration technologies could emerge, allowing more immersive personalized experiences for readers.
- App Development
- Industry professionals can focus on developing more literary apps that foster reading in new forms and might be the future of publishing.
