As a storyteller who still loves the old-school feeling of writing in a physical notebook, a self-identified analog writer, the universal truth is that we have been in the digital age for some time now. However, with technological advancement comes experimentation and pushing the boundaries of what narratives can be. I believe we’ve always done that; it’s ingrained in us as part of the human experience. The Epic of Gilgamesh is a wonderful, classic example of this. An epic poem that told an overarching narrative.

While it’s been on my radar for a while, I’ve recently dived into the weird world of Twitterature. A portmanteau on Twitter and Literature, it makes flash fiction stories look like epic fantasies. While Twitterature can be many things, I’ve been interested in studying authors who use the platform to write novel-length stories (a consequence of studying in an MFA program), and I was delighted with the results. Many scholars actually study Twitterature and are more informed than me. From Hemingway to Twitterature: The Short and Shorter of it. To simplify it, it’s like writing a novel; however, you’re confined to the 280ish characters in every post. Authors thread multiple posts to make vastly interesting and experimental stories.

However, as someone who loves experimenting with my writing, I’ve decided to embark on this journey, making a Twitterature piece of my own. So, here is my elevator pitch for you, dear reader.

Erik Stormblood works a simple job aboard the ISS Antigone as a digital archive specialist. He is tasked with the great responsibility of transcribing The Epic of Galactic Gallagher, one of Earth’s greatest and most revered stories, lost in the annals of time. While the job is not difficult, Erik must share the tale; the fate of soceity depends on his success.

If you’re interested in reading on, I’ll leave the first four posts (or tweets, do they call them that anymore?) for you to enjoy.

Tweet 1

Thus, the Epic of Gallagher begins. A parable as old as the galaxy. Nay, Gallagher is not a man, but a monomyth. I, Erik Stormblood, shall recall the events as I transcribe this ancient tale to the digital world. I fear the loss of this Epic would mean the end of society.

Tweet 2

As I sit at my desk and painstakingly transcribe this tale for your consumption; the stylus on my VoidFi decided to malfunction. I will now be writing a letter to the department lead so they may resolve this great issue. I fear that this tale may never be told. I must wait.

Tweet 3

The wait is over — Huzzah — I must admit, all of this downtime has made me tired. My co-worker Ronnie sits at the desk across from mine. His job is to upload cat videos to the VoidFi. I’ll pay him a visit, society can wait another day for the voluminous parable.

Tweet 4

It’s always a wonderful morning here at the ISS Antigone. Indeed, I start my morning with a good cup of StarBrew Orbital Roast. Imported from the planet Starbuk, it’s very delicious. At least I don’t drink Jump Juice, unlike some co-workers of mine—Ronnie. Now, work awaits.

If you want to follow the account Galactic Gallagher: X is the working title of the experiment. We’ll see where this crazy, pulp fiction-induced story goes.

As always, make sure you’re drinking water.

🙂