The AGS grandiose writing project, sign up now!!

[voh]

Oh, and if the result is as bad as it was last time - at least it's getting us all to write

I think that's a benefit that is entirely independent of the result

[lo_res_man]

True, it is more the journey and the round of beer afterwards that matters. Still, last times efforts proved the axiom "too many cooks spoil the broth" By the end of it, I don't even think we were making broth anymore. Still, to extend the metaphor, if the chefs have fun, and are they themselves the ones eating it, then what the heckles cakes.

[Jelfish]

Sign me up!

ibechane (at) gmail.com

[Akatosh]

This time it will be even grander, as I aim to create a story that branches into sub-stories, resulting in multiple endings, just like the best adventure games. I

So you think we're going to have one of these... "stories" this time? I find that hard to believe, personally. 

(Also, to screw with E-Mail harvester bots)

[rock_chick]

I wanna sign up but feel uncomfortable about giving out my email address on here(no offence to the community), I'm just kind of paranoid that way. Any chance I can pm you my email address with the confidence you wont release it to others(unless you really need to),not that I think you would but as I said I kinda paranoid about these things.
In a nutshell please sign me up.

[Venus]

I'm in, too!

n.morg@gmx-topmail.de

[Emerald]

Sure.

emeraldfool @ writing.com

[Afflict]

I love writing and this will force me to write some more

Im in, no idea how it works but im in

afflict85@gmail.com

oh and yeah bring on the spamz0r I have the power of google !!

[auriond]

auriond173[at]hotmail[dot]com

[enveloop]

Hope 'snot too late to sign up. 
very cool-sounding

alexanderguest at gmaildotcom.

[Candall]

Put me back in the ring, coach.

menglen (at) hotmail (dot) com

[Andail]

Just wanted to give a short update: Due to me being on vacation on the Canary Islands, this activity will start on Monday. So keep signing up and trim those writing muscles while you wait.
Sincerely yours

[Emerald]

Are we doing the 'teams' thing that Vince came up with? (At least, I think it was him)

Or will it be more like...

      1
     /  \
    2   3
   / \  / \
  4 5 6 7

etc.?


Also, will we have stricter guidelines, or are we going to hope that everybody learned something from last time? (i.e. it'll end up being confusing enough without intentionally adding more confusion)

[TwinMoon]

Also, will we have stricter guidelines

Nah, I'm against rules. It spoils the fun!

Anyway, how would you do it?
You could outline the plot beforehand but that would spoil the fun.
You could set the rule that only the first 2-3 people in line can introduce new characters, but ... hm, ok, that might be a sensible idea. But do we want that?

[Emerald]

I'm just gonna throw some suggestions out here:

a) Each writer includes a short blurb about what has happened up to that point, and what their intentions were for the future. The proceeding writer deletes the preceeding blurb, then writes their own when they're done. This way, the flow of the story is maintained, but the plot itself is still open to interpretation. (You can choose to disregard their intentions and go it your own way, but at least you fully understand that you're doing it)

b) The protagonist's personality is set out definitively (albeit vaguely) to minimise inconsistencies. The characters will still change from writer to writer, but hopefully it wont be as drastic.

c) Character development should be justifiable. A suicidal character should not inexplicably cheer up simply because the next writer thinks it's too dark; a gay character should not suddenly turn straight; devout Catholics should not become atheistic on a whim, etc.

d) Scene transitions and changes in the point-of-view should be indicated in some way. Perhaps sizing up and bolding the first character, or putting in extra spacing. (Although idea (a) should limit the confusion, it just looks better when you break it up a bit)

e) For God's sake, no more organ-eating

[TwinMoon]

c) ...a gay character should not suddenly turn straight...

What about a straight guy who during the game discovers he's gay?

e) For God's sake, no more organ-eating

Not even if it's vital for character development?

Ok, so I'm making fun of you. While your suggestions are reasonable, one of the greatest things about writing with a group of people is that you can fling the plot in all sorts of directions.
If people have no regards for consistency, rules can't enforce it. People will want to add their own spectacular plot twist to the story anyway.

[Stupot]

I think rule number one should be there ain't no rules, but it's obvious that we all want a story that is conistent and flows logically (why shouldn't we - we're adventure gamers?) and we should all strive to ensure that at the end of it we have a story, and not a patchwork quilt of varying tenses and perspectives.

The more we start bogging it down with rules and formats the more it threatens to become a game instead of a useful creative exercise.

[Vince Twelve]

b) The protagonist's personality is set out definitively (albeit vaguely) to minimise inconsistencies.

This was already done in the first two hundred (wonderfully written) words by Candall last time and it didn't stop the character from going completely off the rails last time.  I'm not sure how doing the same thing slightly earlier is going to help all that much.  Besides, the character's drastic inconsistencies and eventual decent into madness came more from people trying to explain the gaping plot inconsistencies more than people not understanding the character's general personality from the start.  The best thing you can do before the activity starts to avoid this is to urge everyone to read the whole thing thoroughly to make sure you understand it before making giant plot holes in the story.

No rules except word limit all the way!

[Emerald]

The more we start bogging it down with rules and formats the more it threatens to become a game instead of a useful creative exercise.

Huh, I always thought of it more like a fun game than any sort of serious project. It's a useful game, as it teaches about teamwork and plot cohesion, but I doubt we'll ever get something of merchantable quality out of it, unless it's all re-written afterwards by some sort of genius.
Although, in my mind, writing exercises and games are pretty much synonymous.

No rules except word limit all the way!

Damn you chaotic artist types! We need structure... Unless you're in the beret-wearing, Marx-loving, bad-poetry-writing crowd... (Bloody hep kats...)

[Akatosh]

We'd need more than just one half crazy genius to turn The Psychedelic Adventures(?) Of A Detective(?) Who Is Called Like A Street into a genuine novel. 

That said, I'm also against introducing additional rules. That's just what the impeЯialist ШaИts, COMЯДDES!