ABOUT 52

I wanted to go back to Dickens and the idea of a serial novel run each week over the course of a year, and I wanted to go forward to the Internet possibilities of publishing a book in a non-standard format. 52 is available each Saturday in the Guardian, and on Guardian on-line. Every month the up to date version will be here on the website.

I first thought about writing it all myself, then I thought it would be more fun to bring in some friends, so Ali Smith, AM Homes and Jackie Kay have joined me in this experiment, and each week one of us will write the chapter. But which one of us? We will swap weeks and we aren’t saying who is when...

52 is now well under way in the Guardian UK, and you can access it via the Guardian on-line anytime and get the up-to-date installments. Here, for your interest and delight are the first 5 parts, finding the rest is up to you – at least until next month.

Do write to the Guardian about this with any feedback, and of course put your thoughts on the message board. For Dutch readers, 52 is also published each week, in translation, in VRIJ NETHERLAND. Welcome to 52...