Writing Group 2006

Ashnod · December 7, 2005

Hello there.

As this winds down, I know some people are looking forward to next year's group. I'd like to get it started as soon into January as possible, so we don't have odd deadlines as we did for a good portion of this year.

Again, let me know if you're interested in participating again this year so I have an idea of what we're looking at if we end up going with a rotation similar to that this year.

And with that in mind, a couple of options to discuss for this next year:

1) Same format, but with a different character base. Ergo, all characters for 2005 are ineligible for 2006, though players of those characters can use a different one if they'd like to participate again.

2) "Elseworld Only." (with character rotation) All stories are non-canon and cannot be canon, and may happen in any format and genre the writer choses.

3) "Elseworld" (without character rotation). In this idea, stories are once again non-canon, but the object will be to write a character (your choice) within a defined World that everyone else will be also using. So, say we chose Rome during 10 BC - EVERYONE will write a story for Rome during 10 BC using a character of their choosing.

4) New character - Each month, a new character will be created with a smattering of history and backstory, and we the writers will write stories about that character. The new character can either be created by me each month, or we can do a rotation where each month a writer creates the next character.

5) Continuing tale - Each month, one writer will give a chapter, until the year's end, when the tale will close. Everyone will be responsible for leaving it open ended so it can continue.

6) Anything else?

Please respond if you're interested before the 20th of December.

I'm not sure what happened with the poll. Here are the results, listed in order of votes.

Receiving 8 votes, 3) "Elseworld" (without character rotation).

Receiving 7 Votes, 1) Same format, but with a different character base.

Receiving 4 votees, 2) "Elseworld Only."

Receiving 3 votes, 4) New character

Receiving 1 vote, 6) Anything else?

5) Continuing tale received no votes.

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="50%"><tbody><tr><td class="TableColorStrip" colspan="3"><font color="#ffffff" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Poll Results (24 votes.)</font></td></tr><tr><td class="quest" bgcolor="#f7f7f7" width="25%"><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">1</font></td><td class="num" align="right" bgcolor="#f7f7f7" width="15%"><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">29% (7)</font></td><td align="left" bgcolor="#f7f7f7" width="60%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="center"> </td>

Sam Grey · December 7, 2005

I'm all over option 3, especially using a much different setting to "reintroduce" or "reapproach" various characters on a general or conceptual level. Like I've mentioned before, treating known characters here as archtypes that are placed into a different setting/genre/whatnot.

Hmm, I suppose that'd make a good option 6 as well... crap, and I already voted.

Sakurako Hino · December 7, 2005

I like option 2. It allws a writer to place a character in a situation of their choosing.

Cade · December 7, 2005

I'm good for option 2 or 3 myself

Madison 'Vali' West · December 7, 2005

I would like 3, because I would like to see each writer tackle the same genre in their own way. I also like 4, and a smattering of 5 (because its such a cool idea).

Haven't voted yet.

Hugin · December 8, 2005

I like one and four. Four sounds really fun actually. Five I'm not hip on simply because different people have such different concepts that I'm afraid there would be too much retconning.

Amped · December 9, 2005

I like option 3 personally, but I'm going to officially sit this contest out. I'm going to have too much on my table from mid Jan to March, that I might even disconnect my internet from my computer so I don't get distracted. I might post a little tidbit every now and then though, just not to be awarded but to flex the creativity muscle.

kestrel404 · December 9, 2005

Option three sounded neat, but I liked option 1 quite a bit, and I wanted to put forth my own idea:

It's often very hard to write about something if you've got too much freedom. This hit me when I was trying to write Ashnod's story, because there were so many ideas I wanted to explore, I just couldn't articulate one well enough to finish it. So here's a solution from the game 'Baron Munchousen'.

We're given the full list of Characters in advance (one per month, as before), and the player of that character posts a topic, or a bunch of story seeds, that they want to see us write about. You could personalize (I want Jager to do the story of how Alchemist defeats Chirabin in hand to hand combat! (No, not really)), you could generalize (Do gizmo stories where Al makes something cool), or you could just throw out a bunch of ideas you've been wanting to get to, and let everyone else figure out which one to do (Well, I've been meaning to write erruption stories for both my children (seperately), another run-in between Al & Proteus with Proteus coming out on top, and something where the Harvesters ask too much and Al has to make a hard choice).

How's that sound for an option 6?

Splitmind · December 12, 2005

I'm interested in, well, whatever option ends up getting the vote. Though my internet access is less assured than I'd like, especially during certain months of the year. Still, it only takes a few days out of the month to write something, so I imagine I'll be able to participate. If I may.

z-Carver · December 12, 2005

I'd like to put my name in - I can do any option, though I've cast my vote already for one.

Sakurako Hino · December 14, 2005

I'll be sitting the next year out.

I haven't been in the right mind for this, and I don't want any expectations put on me for a project I do not know what it is going to be.

So, I'm out.

Anna 'Quanta' Alameda · December 16, 2005

1 and 3 are really cool for me, so count me in.

Vixen · December 16, 2005

1 and 2 are ones I'd like, and I think I'd like to try for this contest as well.

I have an idea for number 6 which would probably not be year-long since it's fairly basic - the idea is 'Kill Your Character.' As in, write about the last days of your PC, in a story that may never happen but then again, might. Like I said, it'd be over pretty quick, though - I doubt a year's worth of stories would be incoming over such a succint and personal subject.

Matt · December 21, 2005

I'm not sure what happened with the poll. Here are the results, listed in order of votes.

Receiving 8 votes, 3) "Elseworld" (without character rotation).

Receiving 7 Votes, 1) Same format, but with a different character base.

Receiving 4 votees, 2) "Elseworld Only."

Receiving 3 votes, 4) New character

Receiving 1 vote, 6) Anything else?

5) Continuing tale received no votes.

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" width="50%"><tbody><tr><td class="TableColorStrip" colspan="3"><font color="#ffffff" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Poll Results (24 votes.)</font></td></tr><tr><td class="quest" bgcolor="#f7f7f7" width="25%"><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">1</font></td><td class="num" align="right" bgcolor="#f7f7f7" width="15%"><font face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">29% (7)</font></td><td align="left" bgcolor="#f7f7f7" width="60%"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="87"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="center"> </td>

Ashnod · December 21, 2005

Well, we seem to have hit a snag. My intention was to combine the two most popular votes into this next year's program.

Unfortunately, the two top picks can't really combine they way they were intended to. 1 is a character rotation, and 3 is a world rotation.

So, our options are thusly -

A) use Option 3 - it got the most votes after all!

use Option 1 - Characters are more interesting than worlds, and we'd rather have character-centric months than world-centric months.

C) Use 1 and 3 - We'd use a rotation, AND put that character into an Elseworld each month. Each month would be a new elseworld and a new character.

I need replies from everyone who has posted interest, which would be Vali, Cade, Sam Grey, Exile, Vixen, Carver, Splitmind, Hugin and Alchemist. Including myself that's 10 (unless some of the above are alts) writers, which means we have 2 open slots for a montly rotation if we go character-centric. Otherwise, we'll have 2 off months if that is our option. If we go world-centric, months off will be determined if everyone wants them.

Please reply before 12/28/05 if possible, please.

z-Carver · December 22, 2005

Option C is cool with me. And I don't care about the off-months - I'm pretty flexible.

Singularity · December 22, 2005

Any are fine with me... C would probably be best.

Hugin · December 22, 2005

Not interested in anything Elseworld.

Cade · December 22, 2005

C works for me

Ashnod · December 22, 2005

Everyone understands that Option C is writing the same character in the same elseworld for one month, then we switch and do a new character in a new elseworld the next month, right? Ergo, one month we all write Cade in Homestar Runner land, and the next month we all write Sam Grey in Futuramaville.

kestrel404 · December 22, 2005

I'd rather go with Option B (no elseworlds), but I'll still be in if you go with another option.

The White Rat · December 22, 2005

I'd love to participate in the character writing contest. However, I may have to miss the first month or two, due to other obligations. I'm OK with whatever format is decided upon.

Neil Preston · December 22, 2005

Country first, man, and thanks. I am all for you participating whenever you can.

Vixen · December 23, 2005

I think a nice enough compromise is to make it character-centric and have the option of an Elseworlds there, if the inspiration strikes the individual writer - but not make it month-in month-out mandated. If we're all writing stories about Character X and one person wants to put Character X in a world of their own devising, they can. All 'Elseworlds' do is illuminate the character under different circumstances, so the core of it all is still characters.

Such stories would of course not be canon - though they might have insights that the character's owner might adopt in canon. They would still be subject to praise and damnation, of course.

If the compromise is untenable, I will go with option B - rotating characters.

Ashnod · December 23, 2005

Well, Elseworlds are always allowed with the character rotation - last year most people chose to write canon submissions rather than elseworlds. Selecting option B doesn't exclude elseworlds, where as Option A requires their use and excludes canon submission.

Jager · December 25, 2005

B or C works for me.

Ashnod · December 29, 2005

Okay, we'll use option b. Most people seem willing to compromise enough to not require elseworlds, which some don't want.

Since elseworlds will still be allowed under option b, if the player whose character is up that month has the option of providing the C option - so when you're up, you can select an elseworld you would like people to write within. The elseworld will be optional, of course, and any submitted story is still eligible for being the winner of that month.

First rotation will begin Jan 1st - if you have multiple characters, PM me with which one you want used when your turn comes.

Timeslip · January 29, 2006

In literally a last-minute decision, count me in (if that's still possible, that is, with an available open slot and all that; it may be way, way too late); I've just posted my Sing fic at any rate.

Stormwarden · January 29, 2006

I say "Welcome".

Ashnod · April 1, 2006

White Rat, welcome back! Hope you still want to participate.

I've heard nothing from Splitmind since December, so I'm dropping him/her from the rotation. That slot is being replaced with Flicker, who wished to join after seeing how everything worked out.

That said, this is the current group for the remainder of 2006. If I've missed anyone, let me know. I do make mistakes on occasion.

Quanta (*), Flicker, Timeslip, Carver(*), Singularity(*), Vixen, Dorothy Roberts(*), White Rat, Hugin, Cade(*), Symmetry(*), and Jager(*).

(*) - indicates month has been selected.

Doctor Nova Madigan · April 2, 2006

Thanks for adding me to the group! To be fair, I will write non-competitive entries for January, February, and March.

Wakinyan · April 2, 2006

What about Symmetry?

Ashnod · April 2, 2006

Fixed.

Wakinyan · April 2, 2006

Thank ya.

Timeslip · April 2, 2006

You know, I'm just impressed that we've got a full 12-month roster! That's quite the cool!

Writing Group 2006

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