Electronic Literature

Electronic literature (e-lit) is a term used to describe creative works of online and interactive fiction (IF) or poetry that use digital media to their advantage. This entry describes electronic literature and the ways in which it is intended to be read. It breaks down several of the form’s key genre categories and details prominent literary examples that highlight these specific genres.

Separating itself from the simple act of writing or reading on the Internet, electronic literature is defined as fiction or poetry with important literary value that cannot be read or understood in a printed format. The imagery, sound, movement, and reader interaction afforded (or some combination of these) are as integral as the written text itself, and it is in combination that they form ...