[OT]Would you be interested in group writing fiction?

[Enkhidu]

This is more of an information gathering mission (and truthfully I'm not so sure if it belongs in the Story Hour forum or this one), but would anyone be interested in starting a "cliffhanger" style serial that could be classified as "gaming fiction?"

The reason I ask is that I've had the itch to really begin writing in earnest (I blame it on the WotC call for submissions), and feel I need to practice. My sidekick, dshai527, and I have already begun practicing by writing a Story Hour based on the campaign he is running (try it - you'll like it: it's the Small Beginnings Story Hour), but I feel that I need, well, more.

So here's my proposal - someone would begin writing about some predetermined, agreed upon character(s), and leave the hero(s) in a cliffhanger situation - physical, political, relational, what have you. The next person in line would then take up the story, and likewise leave a cliffhanger. Ideally, the serial would then continue indefinitely, with the story rotating through each writer's hands.

If enough interest is generated, I'm all for multiple serials going on at the same time. Hey, maybe it's time ENWorld had it's own iconic d20 characters...

So, sound interesting? If so, let me know by post or email (please title any emails you send "Story Hour" so that they don't accidentally get junked!).

Look forward to hearing from you, and working with you!

 

[Son_of_Thunder]

I Like It

Howdy Enkhidu!!

Sounds good. My group and I did something similar. The problem we ran into is people in the chain not writing then holding on to the story for too long. Thus the story eventually collapsed. If you could get a firm commitment from people it would work.

Son of Thunder

 

[Enkhidu]

I've been thinking about that, and think that the best way to do it would be for each person to have a time limit from when they received the story. After that time it would move on to the next person in line. Miss your turn 3 times and you're out.

Hopefully that would take care of that problem!

 

[darklight]

That's a brilliant idea! I'd certainly be willing to participate.

Let's hope more people will be interested.

darklight

 

[Son_of_Thunder]

Three strikes and your out!!

Three strikes and your out? Sounds good to me.

Son of Thunder

 

[KnowTheToe]

It is a good idea but its success would be difficult to pull off. Finding people who will actually do what they say and in the time they should is very different than finding volunteers. Commitment and interest/intent can be hard to tell through email transactions, just look at the colossal failure of most PBeMs because people don't follow thru on their commitments.

 

[Enkhidu]

Well, we've at least got a few people interested in the idea. Here's the list of people I know of who have expressed an interest in the idea:

Son of Thunder
Darklight
(myself)
dshai527

I was hoping for about 10 or so, but we'll work with what we can. I plan on letting this ride for the rest of the week, so hopefully we'll get a few more takers.

 

[Bob Aberton]

Maybe...

Don't mark me down yet, though...

What would we do about vacations and such? I mean, the details, y'know?

3 strikes your out sounds good, but will there be extenuating circumstances? Like vacations or computer troubles?

Also, what would the time limit be? A few days, like, say, 3 or 4 days limit would be good, but if the time limit is like a day, then I prolly couldn't do it. A writer gets writer's block, you know?

 

[GWolf]

I've Done similiar

I've done something similair but it just died. if you wouldn't mind my few typos, then please put me down!

Love to work with you's if I could.

 

[Enkhidu]

Cool, more victi... er volunteers!

Bob...

The way I figure it is that the turnaround time would likely be a week or so (it would need to be worked out as a group) at the most - enough time for even someone with writer's block to come up with something, or failing that for a responsible party to make other arrangements.

Plus, I figure that this would be a sort of "writer's support group," so I figure that extenuating circumstances could be worked out, switches with another willing writer to a later slot could be done, etc. To me the important thing is learning to write unexpected material with a deadline, and helping others develop the same skill. And, failing that, it's also an exercise for us to deal with the setbacks that often interfere in dealine work...

I hope your still interested.

And GWolf, welcome aboard!