the Omikuji project

[newroticgirl.livejournal.com]

I wanted to point out yuki_onna's nifty project:

the Omikuji project

Some details:

The Omikuji Project is an experiment in cyberfunded art. It is an old-fashioned approach to new-founded literature, the shortest path from author to reader. It is a secret and marvelous communication, a unique way for you to read stories unavailable in any other venue, in any other way. It is a network of tales, a community. It is whispering in the dark; it is a fireside confession.

On the first of the month, subscribers will receive either a PDF or a mailed letter containing one short story not less than two-thousand words, a small piece of illustrative art by the author (and occasionally by her friends), and any other literary flotsam I can find to send you. The mailing, however, is the heart of the project: printed on high quality archival paper, autographed, and sealed with a scarlet wax stamp, they are stunning collectible artifacts.

The stories will not be published in other arenas, so this is the only way to read them. I will continue this project so long as a minimum number of subscribers are interested (approximately 30).

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My favorite part of the idea: On top of that, since the real omikuji are "sacred lotteries," one person from the subscriber list will be randomly selected to receive a gift each month. It'll always be something different, related to the story, so don't ask, they're surprises.



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Seeing things like this makes me wonder if a similar project would work for me. Go, little brain hamster on little wheel! Make ideas happen! :)

Comments

Good idea!

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

This sounds interesting. I think some people will like the elaborate construction of the postal version, in a time when most stuff is merely mass-produced.

I couldn't resist looking up the original omikuji:
http://www.jun-gifts.com/others/favoriteplaces2/favoriteplaces2.htm