Inspired by the ambition and talents displayed during the previous round (even though some considered the result to be dog's vomit) I'm proud to present the new edition.
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 don't need to bore you with technicalities just yet; all you need to do now is sign up and hopefully take part of one of the more extensive collaborative efforts this community has ever witnessed.
You don't want to miss out. Sign up. Now.
Am I being foolish by signing up so early? Will this dictate my position in the tree? Hope not.
But yeah. I SIGN UP! Me, Babar.
babark at gmail dowt comb!
Sign me up. Well not literally, I mean writing on your computer screen isn't a good plan.
areyoujacksheehan<at>gmail<dot>com
Hmmm...
It sounds like this going to be something quite big...
I'm up for it
stu @ toxicsock dot co dot uk
I guess I can't miss this opportunity of beig utterly disappointed of how people turn my cunning plotline into an awful show of their lack of skills :)
so tuomasrenvall at hotmale.com
hotmail actually. See how good I am with words ;)
I've read the previous topic, and downloaded the detective story to read it. Nice and fun, but confusing sometimes. Since I'm new at this (even though I've done round robins before) , I hope I don't mess things up ;D but I'd really like to sign up. disquietude at msn dot com :)
I'm in...
aglowdell <at> hotmail dot com
I'm in. Again.
urquhart.cameron@gmail.com
Count me in.
a.edmark@gmail.com
Righto
eggheadcheesybird@gmail.com
Hells yeah!
[email clipped!]
and if preference has any sway in the order, I'd prefer a late spot. I want the challenge!! Not that fifth wasn't enough of a challenge last time...
I'm game.
jones81 -at- mail -dot- com
Why not.
fsi2nd - gmail - com
Put some @s and dots if you wish.
Fawk yeah.
voh at hostvoh dot net
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Thu 20/03/2008 09:55:09and if preference has any sway in the order, I'd prefer a late spot. I want the challenge!! Not that fifth wasn't enough of a challenge last time...
It doesn't depend on YOUR place, but on your place regarding where Emerald and FSi are you know... ;)
I'm out!
Definately out!
I'm in! Hopefully the story will make more sense this time ;)
Mounkey at hotmail.co.uk
In again, too.
dyson.sphere AT web DOT de
(Also, (http://pics4.inxhost.com/images/sticker.gif) (http://english-124567155845.spampoison.com) to screw with E-Mail harvester bots)
I hope this turns out okay!
joshuan908 @ msn dot com
Quote from: Andail on Wed 19/03/2008 17:04:40
I aim to create a story that branches into sub-stories, resulting in multiple endings, just like the best adventure games.
Pretentious,
moi?
Love to know how you'll do that subplot-thing. Guess this is the best way to find it out:
TwinMoonAG AT googlemail DOT com
(In case I'm too vague, I'm signing up.)
I as well.
(I just hope for the love of Christopher Robin I am not the last)
warg_leader at yahoo. ca
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 :)
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.
Sign me up!
ibechane (at) gmail.com
Quote from: Andail on Wed 19/03/2008 17:04:40
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, (http://pics4.inxhost.com/images/sticker.gif) (http://english-124567155845.spampoison.com) to screw with E-Mail harvester bots)
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.
I'm in, too!
n.morg@gmx-topmail.de
Sure.
emeraldfool @ writing.com
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 !!
auriond173[at]hotmail[dot]com :)
Hope 'snot too late to sign up. :-\
very cool-sounding
alexanderguest at gmaildotcom.
Put me back in the ring, coach.
menglen (at) hotmail (dot) com
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 :)
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)
Quote from: Emerald on Fri 28/03/2008 23:54:10
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?
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 :P
Quote from: Emerald on Sat 29/03/2008 00:42:39
c) ...a gay character should not suddenly turn straight...
What about a straight guy who during the game discovers he's gay?
Quote from: Emerald on Sat 29/03/2008 00:42:39e) For God's sake, no more organ-eating :P
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.
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.
Quote from: Emerald on Sat 29/03/2008 00:42:39
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!
Quote from: Stupot on Sat 29/03/2008 01:30:05
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.
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Sat 29/03/2008 02:51:48
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...)
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. :P
That said, I'm also against introducing additional rules. That's just what the impeЯialist ШaИts, COMЯДDES!
Every revolutionary needs rules to revolt against...
I mean, everything needs rules in order to work properly. If you can name one functional thing with absolutely no rules (other than Fight Club) I'll eat my Sunday hat...
Quote from: Emerald on Sat 29/03/2008 14:41:34
I mean, everything needs rules in order to work properly. If you can name one functional thing with absolutely no rules (other than Fight Club) I'll eat my Sunday hat...
Chaos is functioning.
It always made me laugh on 'Grease' when they have the car race... and the guy says "the rules are there ain't no rules", and then proceeds to explain that their objective is to drive to the second bridge and back.
Quote from: Emerald on Sat 29/03/2008 14:41:34
If you can name one functional thing with absolutely no rules (other than Fight Club) I'll eat my Sunday hat...
The Naked Lunch by
Bukowski Burroughs is considered a
good novel. Oh wait, you said functional?
*thinking*
The weather system of planet earth is pretty chaotic, but it works. Unless you're living in London, you'd have to agree.
(And just for the record, I'm still against rules, for the reason of flinging the plot etc. what I said in my previous post)
Weather is chaotic in the prediction sense. Even in weather there are rules, certain things that happen when other things happen. For example, when it is cloudless, it can not rain.
Quote from: lo_res_man on Sat 29/03/2008 19:40:30
when it is cloudless, it can not rain.
Sounds like a Chinese proverb...
Quote from: FSi on Sat 29/03/2008 17:22:02
Chaos is functioning.
Depends what you mean by 'chaos'. If you mean 'totally random in nature' then that's a very strict rule, isn't it? If you mean 'chaos' as in an antithesis to 'order', then both must logically exist to function, since you can't break rules if there aren't any, can you?
Point is, anyone can scribble something random down on a piece of paper and call it 'writing', but it takes a
writer to be able to take a set of rules, and bend them to produce something unexpected.
In fact, you pick up any writing magazine, or read any writing blog, and that's exactly what they'll tell you to do - make up a rule (also known as a prompt) and write to it. It could be anything from "write the life story of a stranger you saw on the street" to "write a story which is centered around rotting fruit." It's all about learning how to be flexible - because you never know when you might write yourself into a corner, and need to come up with a creative solution. The more difficult and constrictive the rules are, the better (although for this exercise too constrictive rules might put people off, but the point stands)
Now, you don't have to listen to me, of course. Doesn't matter much to me... I'm just trying to help.
Rule #1: Read the story-so-far very carefully.
Rule #2: Write something that continues the story and is consistent to the best of your ability.
Rule #3: Your contribution must be under 200 words (or whatever limit Andail decides)
Rule #4: You have 24 hours to write and pass it on from the time it is passed to you.
No one is suggesting a game without rules. There's just no reason to add any more. We don't need to establish a character because one will be established in the first 200 words. We don't need to outline a plot beforehand because that would stifle the creativity and ruin the whole branching story idea. We don't need to argue with Emerald because he'll just keep talking and talking regardless of whether or not he knows anything about the topic until you're arguing over the definitions of words.
Quote from: Emerald on Sat 29/03/2008 22:30:11
Depends what you mean by 'chaos'.
Done!
Quote from: Vince Twelve on Sun 30/03/2008 00:03:04
We don't need to argue with Emerald because he'll just keep talking and talking regardless of whether or not he knows anything about the topic until you're arguing over the definitions of words.
Lol... Touché.
But really, just because
I said it doesn't automatically make it wrong. I'm just going off the cold hard facts:
Fact #1 - the previous story was not very coherent
Fact #2 - nothing has been done to address that issue
Based on the logic that 'when you do X, Y happens, so if you do X again, Y will happen again' I predict that... the current story will not be very coherent. Now, to me, that logic seems flawless, but maybe I'm just insane...
Quote from: Emerald on Sat 29/03/2008 22:30:11
Depends what you mean by 'chaos'. If you mean 'totally random in nature' then that's a very strict rule, isn't it? If you mean 'chaos' as in an antithesis to 'order', then both must logically exist to function, since you can't break rules if there aren't any, can you?
Ever heard of dialectics?
Chaos isn't the antithesis of order, as there is some higher order of order in chaos, if you look at it closely. On the other hand, in every (even simplest) system there always is some degree of chaos.
Basically, that's why I am True Neutral now. :=
Just as a side note, Twin Moon, The Naked Lunch was written by Burroughs, not Bukowski.
Quote from: Emerald on Sun 30/03/2008 00:55:51
Fact #1 - the previous story was not very coherent
Fact #2 - nothing has been done to address that issue
Fact #3 - Fact #2 is not actually a fact.
We've all discussed what went wrong with the first attempt. And luckily for us, aside from, perhaps, the American government, most people are able to learn from their mistakes.
QuoteBased on the logic that 'when you do X, Y happens, so if you do X again, Y will happen again'
No use practicing anything then, since no matter how many times you do it, you'll never improve.
Plus, we are doing things quite differently this time. I'm not sure exactly how Andail is going to organize it, but if the story branches into multiple stories, it should be clear based on the stories' results which writers have learned write a cooperative story well.
I'm excited to see the different ways a story branches, and the more rules, the less room for divergence.
Sorry to everyone. I'm out! Too much work, vacation to Geneva with no permanent Internet and a PhD review coming up. Plus so many complications already. The last thing I need right now.
Really sorry to everybody. I edited my post in the first page. :)
Quote from: [Cameron] on Sun 30/03/2008 06:57:50Just as a side note, Twin Moon, The Naked Lunch was written by Burroughs, not Bukowski.
*blushes* Oh yeah, of course. I always mix those two up.
Sorry to lose you Nikolas. Judging from the good reception of this project and the last one, you'll have another chance.
I'm too late for this one, aren't I? Could I join the next one?
Yes you're quite a bit too late. No worries though, the next one wont be far in coming.
Just let me know when. *thumbs*
I just found some PM's from the 11th and 13th of April telling me it's my turn.
Awkward.
Um... If it somehow ended up in my spam fokder then I probably won't be able to find it amongst all the offers for pills and watches by now.
I'm afraid you were skipped mate, at the moment we're all waiting with baited breath for the final part of the final branch from Lo res man.
Just thought I'd let you guys know that I will be seriously interested in joining when the next one happens and this time I'm not planning on dropping out, not that I was planning to drop out of this one.