# Crowdsourced Megacity Narratives 'New York Writes Itself' Asks Big Apple Dwellers to Contribute By Christopher DeLuca | Published 2011-08-20 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-york-writes-itself References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2011/08/creative-project-lets-new-yorkers-write-the-script-of-their-lives.html) & [youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q61FhKPp8F4&feature=player_embedded) The 'New York Writes Itself' project was born from observing the diversity of people in New York City and a desire to find a way to communicate their collective story. The project is asking New Yorkers to go to the website and submit their tidbits that will be included in the story. What I particularly like about 'New York Writes Itself' is that it is a [collective effort to tell the tale](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/talespinner) of a city. What's more, it appears to be phenomenal way to tell the many stories that run through the veins and soul of the Big [Apple](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paragraphai). **Implications** - [Crowdsourcing initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-product-city) are a remarkable way to get consumers actively involved. The 'New York Writes Itself' project taps into this idea and has the potential to go viral as a result. Companies should use this as a template for future marketing initiatives. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 16% | Activity: 59% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Regional](https://www.trendhunter.com/regional) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Crowdsourcing:** The success of the 'New York Writes Itself' project demonstrates the power of crowdsourcing in engaging consumers and generating content. - **Collective Storytelling:** 'New York Writes Itself' showcases the growing trend of collective storytelling, allowing diverse individuals to contribute and shape a city's narrative. - **Viral Marketing:** The potential for the 'New York Writes Itself' project to go viral highlights the effectiveness of utilizing unique and engaging initiatives to capture consumer attention. ### Where This Applies - **Marketing:** The success of the 'New York Writes Itself' project in engaging consumers through crowdsourcing provides marketing professionals with an opportunity to explore innovative campaigns. - **Publishing:** 'New York Writes Itself' demonstrates a disruptive approach to storytelling, presenting an opportunity for the publishing industry to explore new narrative models. - **Tourism:** The 'New York Writes Itself' project showcases the potential to create immersive and authentic experiences for tourists by incorporating crowdsourced narratives into city exploration. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Digital City-Inspired Art Works](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grand-central-station.md) - [Collaborative Creative Writing Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crowdtales.md) - [Local Story Creators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/word-oh-mouth.md) - [Crowdsourced Restroom Code Maps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/restroom-code-maps.md) - [New Yorker-Approved Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-yorks-streeteasy.md) - [Creator-Friendly Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creatorcentric-billboard.md) - [Collaborative Art Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/everyone-draw.md) - [Interactive Storytelling Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neverending-stories.md) - [Essay-Integrated Dynamic Chairs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pax-new-yorkea.md)