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

[Altmann]

OK for the rules and to start simple.

I'd say two heroes would be just slightly less "oh, yeah, yet another team of adventurers". Having them both women might also be marginally original (what did you say ? Xena ? never heard of it).

Maybe having them be in the same family could do the trick. Sisters-in-law ? Mother / daughter ? Grand-mother / grand-daughter ? Lovers of the same man ? ...

Of course, we could add other characters later. But maybe just not yet.

BRY,
YA

 

[Tonguez]

I think we need to start discussing heroes. How many? - we could start with 4 and let it become a form of companionship or company as heroes come and go (and die).

Okay should we go for a standard spread -
Brawn character- Fighter, Barbarian, Ranger, Monk
Arcane character- Wizard, Scorcerer
Divine character - Cleric, Druid, Shaman
Skills character- Rogue, Bard, Expert, Aristocrat

or something more 'specialised

Starting level 1 0r higer (lets not go beyond level 3)'

Next and okay it is a personal preference but one which in these circumstances will apply a bit of control - can we make sure that the four heroes 'know' each other and have a good, valid reason for being together (other than 'adventure)

eg perhaps they are all members of the Royal Guard recently awarded for their actions in foiling an assasination attempt on his Royal person now assigned to <insert plothook here>

they could be a group of youths recently graduated from the 'Academy' or Agents of the Church or a Pirate Crew

(as long as its not a bunch of strangers who here a rumor in a tavern and decide to team up!!!...)

 

[Enkhidu]

Hi everyone!

I'll be posting a complete list of interested people at about 5PM EST, and we'll start looking into exactly what kind of rules/guidelines to us for this project. My hope is to have a working run down on how this whole thing will work by Monday morning.

Please keep discussing ideas - the more seeds we get the better this whole thing will be.

And, on another note, I think I agree with Spider_Jeruselam that we need to not complicate the whole process any more than it's going to be. Eventually, I would like to get this Writer's Circle active enough that we could plot stories wholesale and break up writing duties, but I really believe that is a bit farther down the road.

In fact, I'd like to keep the first story rotation as simple as possible, and with the most freedom to the individual writers. This means that we need something that will allow complete control over characters in a story, and the best option for that would be to have the first thread be a "pass the object" story. The only stricture placed on the writer would then be to "pass the hot potatoe."

After we get that story in full rotation, I'd like to start at least one other story with character(s) agreed upon by the group. The challenge in this case would be to maintain any character integrity provided by the previous writers in the chain.

Once that one gets rolling, we might be able to push for more, but I think that any more than that and we will end up losing people from the rotation due the amount of writing they would have to do.

Once again, shoot for Monday to kick this thing off - I should have the rotation worked out by then, basically in order of when you volunteered.

And to our newcomers, welcome aboard!

 

[dshai527]

Since I haven't poked my head in here yet I thought I might as well jump in and say HI!

For the record ENKHIDU is, was and always will be my sidekick and not the other way around as he previosly tried to state. He will be tortured by mean angry gnomes for his insolence.

I would also like to say I am looking forward to the opportunity to write along side each and every one of you.

As I am overdue for yet another meeting though I shall leave my comments at that for now and send my ideas through Enk until I too can find some more time to post.

 

[uberkitty]

I like the idea of beginning with a pass-the-item story as a kind of test-run, just to get the ball rolling. It would also be a good way to "audition" characters and locations. When we're ready to move on to the character-based story, we can all look back through the item story and vote for characters we found compelling.

So, what's the item to be? Shall we begin suggestions? We should probably agree on all the powers/aspects of the item before we begin writing. Personally, I think the item itself shouldn't be too powerful, because the more powerful it is, the mosre specific the action revolving around it will have to be (like, if it were a powerful wand, say, then every submission would pretty much have to include a magic-user, and it would become harder and harder to write an original piece--how many people would find and lose a wand within a short space of time?)



Uberkitty's Item Suggestions

1. The Pipe of Yesterday

When the pipe is smoked, the smoker receives the memory of the last time it was smoked. Thus it can be used both as a remembering-device and as a method of communication.

2. a gold piece

Like the movie that followed a $20 bill--with an item this mundane, the possibilities are really limitless.

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

2. a gold piece

Like the movie that followed a $20 bill--with an item this mundane, the possibilities are really limitless.

Huzzah! Great idea. I vote for this. We don't need some cosmic item, just something which can pass between people. good stuff.

"Keep it secret. Keep it safe."

 

[dshai527]

What about an item that changes shape or is semisentient or controls the posseror?

I think the item should be something that can be a focal point for any story though or just be a standard prop.

 

[fett527]

I'm in too guys!

I haven't written much, but Enkhidu, dshai527 and I are too intertwined for me not to give it a try. I think it will be fun.

I think the object idea has the most merit and allows for the most creativity without having to rely too heavily on how others interpret characters and situations. When I think of this I think of Heavy Metal, as in that is how disparate the stories can be while still revolving around the same object. I do feel the item should be a mundane item with some distinguishing characteristics (certainly not an all powerful evil, glowing orb).

 

[Spider_Jerusalem]

Vistani Blood Coin from Ravenloft.

Somehow a blood coin (no need to explain why of course) has found its way into one of the pockets of the characters.

Vistani Blood Coins invoke a curse that bring bad luck and misfortune on the person who bears it (not the whole group) - and eventually the victim of the curse feels compelled to pass it on. The great thing is that it needn't ever be mentioned - we can simply state that the characters have a blood coin on them somewhere and whenever they buy or trade anything, the coin might be passed on.

Simple, yet effective. Plus it gives one of the characters ill fortune, which would be great to write about and imagine the ways that fate twists against him or her.

Story focus and an antagonist in one.

 

[Tonguez]

In fact, I'd like to keep the first story rotation as simple as possible, and with the most freedom to the individual writers. This means that we need something that will allow complete control over characters in a story, and the best option for that would be to have the first thread be a "pass the object" story. The only stricture placed on the writer would then be to "pass the hot potatoe."

I've just woken up and had a flash of inspiration! What about a Wagon Train story ie a group of settlers/pilgrims whatever travelling overland to a new 'frontier town.

If the story is about the 'Wagon Train' then this allows ANY character to be used with the single proviso that they are on a Wagon (and chracters can change as we focus on different wagons).
The Wagon Master would be an NPC and each story-pass would put them onto a new leg of the journey. We could have settler families, theives on the run, merchants, priests, Barber-surgeons - anyone. They could be attacked by Orc raiders, call into different towns on the way, have to cross raging rivers, pick up new members as they continue, have marriages between wagons and births too, have to stave of disease, negotiate with Elves to be allowed to pass through unmolested, encounter a travelling circus - the possibilities are endless!....