For those who haven’t heard Pottermore is the latest addition to JK Rowling’s empire. It’s a website she’s dedicating to the fans as a thank you and it’s entirely free. It is also the only location where you can purchase the Harry Potter series as ebooks. To watch J.K. Rowling’s introduction to Pottermore video click here.
Pottermore will essentially allow it’s users to participate in the Harry Potter world from the start of the first book, including activities like being sorted into a Hogwarts house.
 |
| Publicly Available Screen Shot: The unlocking of the Hogwarts Express |
Recently, over a seven day period, the website launched a contest for early access to the site. One million people were able to answer questions relating to the seven books of the Harry Potter series. One question was made available each day at a random time and only as long as it took to fulfill the quota of registrants for that day. The answers to the questions were entered into a web address that redirected the user to a Pottermore related site (e.g. Sony a sponsor of Pottermore) where the user can find a magic quill. The magic quill then took them to the registration page for beta users.I was lucky enough secure a spot as a Pottermore beta user. I’m more than a little excited and not just because I’m a Harry Potter fan and will be helping shape the Pottermore experience but because of what Pottermore means to the publishing industry.
So, what does it mean? Starlight CEO, Jeff Gomez, identifies in an interview to Forbes that Pottermore will be playing a vital role in the development of “transmedia story telling”. What is transmedia story telling? Gomez explains:
“In today’s interconnected world, our attention flows from our computer screens to our mobile screens to our TV screens without our giving such activity a second thought. The problem has been that the stories we enjoy don’t do that; they don’t behave the way we’ve come to need them to behave. So what we get is repeated and repurposed content: Avatar on our iPhones, High School Musical on Ice. Transmedia storytelling is a technique rising into prominence in Hollywood and on Madison Avenue that allows for the development of robust “story worlds” that play out across multiple media platforms."
Gomez identifies that the producers of Pottermore are creating "a communal storytelling engine". Pottermore is expected to succeed where most movie studios have failed, by creating an official, singular location where a large fan base can be galvanized to enter, and then have their widlest dreams fulfilled.
He concludes:
“It’s this unique and multi-tiered approach—one that can be accessed through any screen large or small—that makes Pottermore the most significant development in transmedia (and in storytelling in general) this year, and perhaps ever.”
So, what does this mean for other books and products? Pottermore is paving the way for any product to be launched with fanfare and for any aspect of massive continuity to be explored. If it delivers on its promise, Pottermore, will change the way entertainment content is produced, shared and sold.Is it any wonder I'm such a fan of J.K. Rowling's work?
The rest of that fascinating interview with Starlight CEO, Jeff Gomez can be found here.
Happy writing!
