Anyone interested?

[namasteyoga]

Last night at the music club where I volunteer was a performance by a bunch of local singer-songwriters who also have a collective songwriting workshop called the "Yellow Room Gang," and it got me to thinking. Anyone interested in trying out a fanfic writing workshop

Comments

[stephantom]

Sounds like a very cool idea. I'd be interested it participating. Would other people contribute just plot/characterization ideas, or actually take turns contributing to the written work - that is, writing parts themselves? Almost like a Round Robin?

[namasteyoga]

Somewhere between the two, I think. In a round robin, you've got multiple styles, which can make the story as a whole look like a mishmash. But I don't see any reason why, say, you come up with a few paragraphs or even a chapter -- depending on how big a thing the group bites off -- the lead writer couldn't drop it into the piece, then just tweak so it fits stylistically.

So the lead writer wouldn't necessarily be the person writing every word, but making sure it looks like a unified piece.

[perspi]

I would love to participate, however we do it!

[nightdog_barks]

It sounds fascinating. I'd like to join in.

[topaz_eyes]

I'd be interested. If it were hosted on the comm, all members (theoretically) would be allowed to contribute. That could get tricky with too many cooks, and how do you mediate disagreements? The lead writer's individual LJ might be a more convenient forum. Just a thought.

[namasteyoga]

I agree with the "too many cooks" thought. It'd be nice to have a limited number, just for control issues. And also for control purposes, the lead writer would be the "voice" of authority, so that if there are four suggestions as to where the plot could go, the lead writer makes the determination of which to use

[brynnamorgan]

Actually, you need a Google account, not a Gmail account. However, if anyone needs a gmail account just let me know - I have enough invitations to cover quite a few people. :-)

Personally I think Google.docs would be the best route to go, just as you suggested. You can limit collaborators, plus there's a separate tab that shows the changes made along the way.

[j_daisy]

I'd be interested in doing it, but I'm a little confused. Would it be like a group-beta, where the writer ultimately decides what goes in and out of the story (I think you adressed this with the drive-by beta-ing, but I don't want to assume! =]) or is the writer obligated to include the ideas of the commenters?

This could be really interesting and even if I don't end up participating in it (although I certainly hope to), I can't wait to see what the result is!

[namasteyoga]

Obviously we'd still have to work out the specifics on this. But to me within a community/drive-by beta, the writer comes with a mostly finished fic, then gets input before finishing it.

Within this, you'd begin with an outline of a fic, or a few paragraphs. The group would have more input into the whole thing. The writer wouldn't be "obligated" to use that information, but that's why I'd hope to attract writers who are open to the community idea and adapt their usual writing style to include a wider range of input from others.

[j_daisy]

Thank you!

[namasteyoga]

I've set up something on google.docs, but I need your email. Please email me at rmmiel@gmail.com