Becoming a Writer in the Digital Age

Abstract

Becoming an author in the new millennium, when traditional print literature must compete with a panoply of online venues for readers’ attention, presents both challenges and opportunities for young writers. The career trajectory of German author Tobias Hulswitt reveals a decidedly different path, leading away from print literature and standard public readings toward an authorial milieu fueled by electronic communication (e-mail), the Internet (websites and blogging), social media (Facebook and Twitter), and multimedia shows onstage. This article interweaves an examination of Hulswitt’s work with interview commentaries exposing the potential for literature and literary theory to thrive in the Digital Age.