Running Commentary in a Book
Nearly all DVDs include additional audio with comments from directors, stars, experts, and/or producers. These people add opinions, anecdotes, fun information, and behind-the-scenes details. There is also a new form of running commentary called reaction videos. This is when somebody (on, say, YouTube), watches something popular (we get to see what they are watching) and makes comments about what they are seeing.
Running commentary is popular with viewers because it offers insights into the film/video, and I can only see such entertainment becoming more popular. Well, why not put running commentary text within a book? Not going to happen.
Wait, a moment. Books have footnotes, notes marked with an asterisk (*), study guides, and introductions. This added information fills the same entertainment void. Right? No, because these additions are for clarity, not for entertainment. There might be one exception. Some textbooks have a margin with notes, but this kind of “entertainment” is never found in a fictional book (romance, science fiction, western…).
How about an audiobook with a running commentary? I listened to an audiobook that included an interview with the author at the end, but again, this does not really qualify.
I have also read a sloppy book. Meaning the author gets way off tangent with random stories, extra material, and topics unrelated to the plot. As a reader, I am not too fond of this format, and I think other readers agree because I have only encountered one such book in my lifetime.
I find it amusing that such a simple addition has never been tried and will never be. I suppose this is because if a comment is important enough, the author should be able to “write it in.” For example, I got this article idea while writing another article. That last sentence might be considered running commentary, but it does not read that way unless I point it out.
Alright, I can be flexible. Let’s insert some running commentary!
“In the above paragraph, you read all about my struggles to get my point across. What a disaster! I probably should have done an article about my favorite science fiction book.”
Wow, that sentence read utterly out of place, yet it contains some insight (value); perhaps it is comic relief. Yet… Are those extra sentences really considered running commentary? It sort of meets the criteria, but the reader cannot turn off the sentence, as they can with a DVD, or choose to view the original YouTube video instead of a reaction video.
Still, this sentence was easy to add, and I could have improved the experience by using red font. Yeah, no. It still reads out of place.
Why are books so rigid? Why are they rectangular and not square? A square book would probably use less paper. How about a standard size? Looking at my meager bookshelf, I see at least 10 different sizes. Yet, no running commentary.
“Hey, readers. I got a bit off-topic there. Sorry, I tend to ramble. Remember from above? Yeah, it is possible to have running commentary. I did it twice! Proof positive.”
One might say, “Books have never had running commentary and never will. It is a tradition. Don’t rock the boat!” This is as ironclad as the rules in physics. F = MA, D = 2π, V = IR, E = MC^2, and books do not have running commentary. Case closed. So we are robots who follow a rigid program that cannot be changed? Yes, and here is the proof: failure to comply = no sales! Exterminate, exterminate!
Do I want to write a book or an article with running commentary? I guess it would be nice to have this freedom, but every freedom has pitfalls, starting with the format. First-person or third? Should I publish two books: one with and one without? Is it taboo to discuss other books or have advertisements in a running commentary? Are swear words appropriate? What topics are off-limits? And most importantly of all: What would readers want? I have no idea because it has never been done before.
“Yeah, you probably hate it when I get all informal. Like we are friends or something. You probably prefer the Oxford Standard running commentary format. Want healthy teeth? Use Crest toothpaste!”
Well, let’s invent a format and rules to fill this entertainment void. From now on, all books must have running commentary. The text will appear at the bottom of each page in a footnote format. The content will be thoughts about each scene (what is on that page), the writing process, and deleted material. There will be no spoilers of upcoming content.
Yeah, that does not sound like something I would want to read. Well, how about stuffing all that into an additional chapter or a greatly expanded about the author section? That still does not sound appealing.
Where is the pain coming from? I suppose readers like books the way they are. I think a big part of it lies in the way we read. It begins in the table of contents and ends at the epilogue. Little snippets of unrelated text on every page would trip up the reader.
Could I be completely wrong? After all, the Choose Your Own Adventure book series opened up a whole new genre of literature. Life is full of surprises, but I think books will never have running commentary because writing a normal book is hard enough. Still, this is a fun area to experiment with mentally. Well, this seems like an excellent place to end this article. Hey, you know what else is not at the end of books that every movie has?
Credits
Written by: Bill Conrad
Staff Writer: Bill Conrad
Story: Bill Conrad
Director: Bill Conrad
Producer: Bill Conrad
Editing: Bill Conrad
Proofreading: Bill Conrad
Beta Reader: Bill Conrad
Typesetting: Bill Conrad
Legal: Bill Conrad
IT Support: Bill Conrad
Catering: Bill Conrad
Keyboard Cleaner: Bill Conrad
Wardrobe: Bill Conrad
Musical Score: Bill Conrad
Finance: Bill Conrad
Soundtrack available on Columbia Records.
No animals were harmed in the writing of this article.
Typed on location in San Diego, California.
“Great, the article ended with some humor, and I am going to conclude my running comments as the credits roll. Wow, we really had a fun time today. Hey readers, look forward to more articles with running comments. Thanks for all your support!”
You’re the best -Bill
January 13, 2022 Updated May 24, 2026
Running commentary is popular with viewers because it offers insights into the film/video, and I can only see such entertainment becoming more popular. Well, why not put running commentary text within a book? Not going to happen.
Wait, a moment. Books have footnotes, notes marked with an asterisk (*), study guides, and introductions. This added information fills the same entertainment void. Right? No, because these additions are for clarity, not for entertainment. There might be one exception. Some textbooks have a margin with notes, but this kind of “entertainment” is never found in a fictional book (romance, science fiction, western…).
How about an audiobook with a running commentary? I listened to an audiobook that included an interview with the author at the end, but again, this does not really qualify.
I have also read a sloppy book. Meaning the author gets way off tangent with random stories, extra material, and topics unrelated to the plot. As a reader, I am not too fond of this format, and I think other readers agree because I have only encountered one such book in my lifetime.
I find it amusing that such a simple addition has never been tried and will never be. I suppose this is because if a comment is important enough, the author should be able to “write it in.” For example, I got this article idea while writing another article. That last sentence might be considered running commentary, but it does not read that way unless I point it out.
Alright, I can be flexible. Let’s insert some running commentary!
“In the above paragraph, you read all about my struggles to get my point across. What a disaster! I probably should have done an article about my favorite science fiction book.”
Wow, that sentence read utterly out of place, yet it contains some insight (value); perhaps it is comic relief. Yet… Are those extra sentences really considered running commentary? It sort of meets the criteria, but the reader cannot turn off the sentence, as they can with a DVD, or choose to view the original YouTube video instead of a reaction video.
Still, this sentence was easy to add, and I could have improved the experience by using red font. Yeah, no. It still reads out of place.
Why are books so rigid? Why are they rectangular and not square? A square book would probably use less paper. How about a standard size? Looking at my meager bookshelf, I see at least 10 different sizes. Yet, no running commentary.
“Hey, readers. I got a bit off-topic there. Sorry, I tend to ramble. Remember from above? Yeah, it is possible to have running commentary. I did it twice! Proof positive.”
One might say, “Books have never had running commentary and never will. It is a tradition. Don’t rock the boat!” This is as ironclad as the rules in physics. F = MA, D = 2π, V = IR, E = MC^2, and books do not have running commentary. Case closed. So we are robots who follow a rigid program that cannot be changed? Yes, and here is the proof: failure to comply = no sales! Exterminate, exterminate!
Do I want to write a book or an article with running commentary? I guess it would be nice to have this freedom, but every freedom has pitfalls, starting with the format. First-person or third? Should I publish two books: one with and one without? Is it taboo to discuss other books or have advertisements in a running commentary? Are swear words appropriate? What topics are off-limits? And most importantly of all: What would readers want? I have no idea because it has never been done before.
“Yeah, you probably hate it when I get all informal. Like we are friends or something. You probably prefer the Oxford Standard running commentary format. Want healthy teeth? Use Crest toothpaste!”
Well, let’s invent a format and rules to fill this entertainment void. From now on, all books must have running commentary. The text will appear at the bottom of each page in a footnote format. The content will be thoughts about each scene (what is on that page), the writing process, and deleted material. There will be no spoilers of upcoming content.
Yeah, that does not sound like something I would want to read. Well, how about stuffing all that into an additional chapter or a greatly expanded about the author section? That still does not sound appealing.
Where is the pain coming from? I suppose readers like books the way they are. I think a big part of it lies in the way we read. It begins in the table of contents and ends at the epilogue. Little snippets of unrelated text on every page would trip up the reader.
Could I be completely wrong? After all, the Choose Your Own Adventure book series opened up a whole new genre of literature. Life is full of surprises, but I think books will never have running commentary because writing a normal book is hard enough. Still, this is a fun area to experiment with mentally. Well, this seems like an excellent place to end this article. Hey, you know what else is not at the end of books that every movie has?
Credits
Written by: Bill Conrad
Staff Writer: Bill Conrad
Story: Bill Conrad
Director: Bill Conrad
Producer: Bill Conrad
Editing: Bill Conrad
Proofreading: Bill Conrad
Beta Reader: Bill Conrad
Typesetting: Bill Conrad
Legal: Bill Conrad
IT Support: Bill Conrad
Catering: Bill Conrad
Keyboard Cleaner: Bill Conrad
Wardrobe: Bill Conrad
Musical Score: Bill Conrad
Finance: Bill Conrad
Soundtrack available on Columbia Records.
No animals were harmed in the writing of this article.
Typed on location in San Diego, California.
“Great, the article ended with some humor, and I am going to conclude my running comments as the credits roll. Wow, we really had a fun time today. Hey readers, look forward to more articles with running comments. Thanks for all your support!”
You’re the best -Bill
January 13, 2022 Updated May 24, 2026
