Before taking this course, I used to pride myself on reading 'non-typical' literature and strange texts. However, after being introduced to hypertext fiction and digital narratives, I've come to realise that many texts I would have previously considered to be adventurous and radical are, in many ways, still very traditional and conventional.

Hypertext novels aren't simply novels written in a different medium, but actually help structure a truly unique way of thinking. Reading hypertext novels has helped show me how important it can be to read between the lines. I've learned to take note of what isn't shown and to see links and connections in places where I previously would have just seen gaps or holes.

I've always enjoyed writing fiction and poetry as a sort of hobby, and studying hypertext fiction in the course has given me an entirely new perspective on how to read and write narratives. Ideas I never would have thought of using in a narrative before are becoming incorporated into my writing, and when reading novels, I now see connections I wouldn't have seen before. In particular, I had never before really considered how important a narrative's medium can be in the message or meaning of the work. I always took a work's medium for granted; it never entered my mind that it could have such a significant impact on the story. Now, however, I find myself taking note of not just the story being told, but how it is being told and how, as a reader, my interactions and input affect how the story plays out. I'm finding that both the way I write and the way I read narratives has changed since the beginning of the course. I'm finding that my writing is becoming more involved, and reading texts to be far more rewarding.