Rules for 5th story:
For story #5, we will focus on the world around our characters a little more. After having difficulty envisioning the world that existed in Story #4, we decided to try honing our skills at writing environment a little with the next one. We have begun by pulling notes from a world that was previously created for a pen & paper roleplaying game that the writers played some years back. We are also initially drawing off of a scenario partly based on the history that was laid out for that world at the time. We have no set ending point, although we will begin with a heroic character setting off and see where it leads...
Rules for 4th story:
The rules for our fourth story allowed for discussion of the story, from beginning to end, between the writers. Each post was meant to be similar in length to the one before it. We began with a set ensemble cast, and a vague idea of who they were. We also decided on some basic plotline points and the endpoint we wanted it to get to. The task was to introduce the characters and somehow take them on the journey to the endpoint without straying too far from the intended plot. While we did not specifically outline the story, nor draw a detailed map of the area they traveled within (which proved to be one of the challenging problems - we kept wondering exactly where the characters had gotten to - especially since they all began in different places), we needed to bring our group together and take them to the endpoint without letting the story and it's characters become stagnant along the way.
Rules for 3rd story (current project):
For story 3, similar amounts of text per post will be allowed as in the 2nd story, as well as some discussion on the basic plotline. The main challenge to this story is that it is to be written from only one perspective. We will follow the thoughts and actions of one character as he/she moves through whatever plot evolves. This time the story will be written in a science fiction genre instead.
Remember - rough draft + writing-on-the-fly = rough work. Don't expect a polished piece. This literally comes from our musings to you without an editor in between. Feel free to pipe in with commentary, although try to keep it constructive. We love to hear from our readers!
Rules for 2nd story:
In the second story, more text is allowed, allowing each writer to
have a chance to flesh out characters or scenes better. Technically
there is no written limit on how much each one writes, however they
tend to keep it to somewhat of a balance.
This time, the story is discussed sometimes, although the direction
can still change at any time if one of the writers suddenly incorporates
a new idea. A good example of this would be the character of "Yilmack"
who is not actually introduced properly until much, much later in the
story, although we do see him periodically throughout, as a large, bearded
man who shows up occasionally in scenes here and there. The writers
knew he was possibly going to become a part of the story, but they didn't
know who he was until he properly introduced himself.
Please keep in mind that these stories are still "rough drafts"
and will not have all the spit and polish you would find in a published
book. Each story is an experiment in how well two people can work together
to write, and how well they can blend their styles of writing together
to produce a somewhat seamless piece of work. Perhaps some of our stories
here will be worked on afterwards and "finished" one day,
but for the moment this is writing on-the-fly and will have some flaws.
Feel free to point them out though - the writers want to know how they
are doing!
:-)
Rules for 1st story:
Quick Shtick Writing is an experiment in what happens when two people
take turns writing one story. The writers are a husband and wife team,
each taking turns writing a paragraph or an approximate number of lines
equivalent to a paragraph of text.
The writers do not discuss the future of the story as they are writing
it, but instead react only to what has already been written. All in
all, there is no real preconception on where the story will go. The
writers do allow themselves to discuss what has been already written,
and have found it interesting to watch how the story is changing when
one begins writing about something that the other had a visual image
or idea about when writing it. An example of this would be the "blue
building" that Jeff arrives at early in the story - when RaynDragon
wrote of it first, she imagined it looking like a small blue building
down the street from where she lives - it's blue, has a step out front,
is only one floor tall and is used as a community teen gathering place.
When fictionman began to write next, the building grew a second floor
and suddenly housed 4 apartments. Interestingly enough, when they compared
notes later - they both had a similar idea about how it was laid out
(central staircase, two apartments across from eachother on each floor,
separated by the staircase and hallway).
The writers encourage contructive criticism from their readers - this
is meant as an exercise for both of them to help them become better
writers. Hopefully it will prove entertaining for it's readership as
well.
