A tale can be replayed up to five times. After that, it is deemed old and discarded. Ephemera are short stories or poems that are intended to convey a message for only a limited time before they disappear. They were often produced as part of a publication deal with printers who would charge more if they could limit the number of copies printed to fewer than one thousand. Nowadays, ephemera can also be found in small press publications and on self-published ebooks. Many ephemera are written by celebrities who want to have some fun with their fans or promote new products. Others are written by journalists who need to get their ideas out quickly while they are still hot off the press! Some ephemera are even rewritten or revised after their first appearance to reflect changes in the author's mind or new information coming to light. There are two types of ephemera: single-issue and serial. A single-issue piece is published once and then never reprinted. It usually contains enough drama or adventure to keep readers interested but not enough for them to feel cheated if they don't see everything that happens.