Useless Press is thrilled to announce the launch of PCKWCK, a serialized novel written in real time by Joshua Cohen, author of the acclaimed Book of Numbers.

PCKWCK is a reinterpretation of Charles Dickens' first serialized novel The Pickwick Papers. That's about all we know so far, because it hasn't been written yet.

Beginning Monday, October 12th at 1pm EST, Cohen will write PCKWCK over five days in front of the entire internet. Every day from 1pm-6pm EST visitors to pckwck.com will be able to watch Cohen write in real time, offer feedback that may affect the outcome of the novel, and talk with Josh and other readers in the chat room.

At the end of every day, Leon Chang will create an illustration based on Cohen's text.

PCKWCK is governed by rules for both the writer and readers, as outlined below.

Reader Terms of Service

Our Services allow you (the Reader) to provide Feedback while interacting with the Writer and his Novel Text.

By visiting pckwck.com you grant permission to Useless Press as Publisher to use the content and data you generate here to provide the Writer with Analytics for the purposes of improving and expanding his Novel Text. Analytics will additionally be provided to subscribing Readers via email, and may be made available on pckwck.com, and through other channels at the discretion of the Publisher.

Pckwck.com offers Readers three mechanisms for generating Feedback.

1. Readers may critique the work by clicking anywhere on the text. Critiques will instantly appear to other readers and the author.
2. Readers may comment by entering text in the Comment panel on the righthand side of the console.
3. Readers may respond to the Questionnaire, which is obtained by clicking the button on the lefthand side of the console.

Reader Privacy Policy

Readers may comment pseudonymously or using real names. We do not attempt to identify Readers other than using the names which they provide, and rely on only the data which they provide under these Terms.

By visiting this site, you (the Reader) assent to the Terms of Service and agree to follow the Rules outlined above.

Writer Terms of Service

Our Services facilitate your work as the Writer of a serialized Novel Text, "PCKWCK."

By using our Services, you agree to write daily during the period of 12-16 October, 2015. You agree to write for the duration of each Session, from 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm EST. In order to verify the fulfillment of the Terms you assent to be photographed by the Publisher at a rate of once per second during each Session.

You will be able to modify one Chapter of the Novel Text per Session.

You will be granted access to a day's Chapter at the start of the Session, and access will be blocked at the end of the Session. It is not possible for the Writer to modify the previous Chapter or any part of the Novel Text after the end of a day's Session.

As Publisher, we (The Useless Press) will provide you (the Writer) with Analytics generated on the basis of Readers' usage and their Feedback on the last Chapter of the Novel Text. Analytics on the last Chapter will be provided no later that four hours before the start of the next Session. Analytics are provided for the purpose of improving and expanding the Novel Text. The Publisher reserves the right to evaluate the responsiveness of the Writer in relation to Reader Feedback at any time, in keeping with our commitment to data driven literature.

You are strictly prohibited from translating the Novel Text into languages other than English. You are also prohibited from physically reproducing more than 250 copies of the Novel Text.

By using our Services through pckwck.com, you (the Writer) assent to the Terms of Service for the Writer and agree to follow the Rules outlined above.

Writer Privacy Policy

The Writer retains no rights to privacy.