Escrevese

Escrevese is a fictional literary concept that describes a self-referential writing practice in which authors deliberately reveal the mechanics of creation within the text. It functions as a metafictional technique that invites readers to participate in the construction of meaning by foregrounding editorial choices, narrative interruptions, and experimental typography. The term blends the verb escrever (to write) with se, signaling a reflexive act of writing oneself into the work.

Originating in a fictional late-20th to early-21st-century literary scene, Escrevese emerged from demonstrations of reader-response and experimental prose in urban centers of the imagined republic of Nova Lusitânia. Proponents argued that Escrevese dissolves borders between author, editor, and reader, transforming reading into a collaborative act. The movement is associated with theorists and writers who circulated essays, manifestos, and anthologies that showcase writing as process.

Core features include direct address to the reader, explicit disclosure of drafting stages, fragmented or non-linear narrative, and orthographic or typographic play that signals editorial presence. Forms range from short metafictional pieces and essay-like manifestos to collaborative anthologies where readers contribute variants of scenes or endings. While sometimes challenging, Escrevese aims to democratize authorship by making the writing process legible.

Reception in the fictional world is mixed: supporters view Escrevese as a democratic turn in literature and pedagogy; critics argue that excessive self-reference can obscure meaning. See also metafiction, ergodic literature, reader-response theory.