I’m thinking about a round robin . . .
Late in 2001, I participated in a round robin fundraiser called FLAMES. The story contained a prologue and ten chapters (if I’m remembering correctly) and each was written by a different author. I can’t recall if each chapter was posted as it was written, or if the whole thing went online at once. I think it was the former, but again - remembering correctly, blah blah.
I’m pretty sure we each had a week to read what had been written before and add our chapter, continuing the story’s forward motion. My chapter was the next to the last, and one of the authors before me had thrown in a whole new character I had to deal with, but I think it turned out well, and I had a lot of fun doing it. So I’ve been thinking about doing one here. Not as a fundraiser, but a FUN raiser. (BTW, I’m trying to get access to the story from Alina, or at least to my chapter, so will update this post when I hear back from her.)
It would run much the same way. I would write the first chapter . . . say, 2500 words, and each following chapter would be about the same length. That’s about ten manuscript pages. Participants would have a week per chapter (is that enough time?), and I would post them each Monday with links to the previous installments, so new visitors could get the whole story. Contributors (number based on response to the idea) would be acknowledged with a link to their websites (if they have one), and in the end, I’d probably make the book into a downloadable e-freebie. I know this is a very rough sketch of the concept, but this popped into my head last night when I was trying to go to sleep.
Tell ya what, if you think this would be something you’d like to do, write a 2500 word chapter for no money and no kudos beyond what you’d get here, LOL, either post a comment and tell me so, or email me at story@alisonkent.com. I’ll gauge the level of interest and then either move forward or drop it. You can be published, unpublished, aspiring, or just a reader who wants to play. Let me know!
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January 11th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
I’m up for that!
January 11th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
I am definitely not a writer, but would enjoy reading what the others write.
January 11th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Hi Alison,
That sounds like a great idea! I think my adviser would beat me with my laptop if I agreed to do this (since I haven’t even come up with a real thesis yet…) but I’d love to read what others wrote, so I hope you get a good response!
January 11th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I’d be up for this if we could start it in February. I’m up against a Jan. 31 deadline, and pretty pressed for writing time.
Or I suppose I could sign up for a later chapter. That would work, too.
So. Yes.
January 11th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Count me in!
January 11th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Sounds like fun. April and May aren’t good months for me, and I’m not sure what I’ll be doing beginning in September (hopefully, adjusting to being a full-time grad student). I’m flexible on the rest of the year.
January 11th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I’m keeping track of all of this!
January 12th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Selah’s pestering me and whining and trust me, you don’t want Selah pestering and whining—so if you decide to go for it, count me in. :-)
January 12th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
LOL, Barb!
January 12th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Alison, can i have your permission to forward this on the Romance Diva’s forum? i’m sure lots of people on there would be interested.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Sure!
January 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I would most certainly be interested in reading this.
January 14th, 2008 at 7:26 am
Unpubbed author here; I’m interested in participating and am working on my 2,500-word sample chapter now. :o)
January 14th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Carolyn, Don’t start yet! You’ll need to know where you will fall in the continuity of the story and pick up previous threads!
January 14th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Oh — d’oh! I thought you meant you wanted a 2,500 writing sample in advance, unrelated to the round robin. (I assumed it was to judge writing ability.) Thanks for the response, and I’ll wait. I do hope this project jells, because I love this kind of thing.
January 14th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I would possibly be interested in participating; it sounds like fun :)
January 14th, 2008 at 11:19 am
I am interested in writing a chapter. My current writing status is unpublished.
January 15th, 2008 at 6:25 am
I’m game. :)
January 16th, 2008 at 3:18 am
I’ll sign up to write a chapter. I’m unpublished, but have a few titles under my belt.
February 10th, 2008 at 11:47 am
I’d love to participate if it isn’t too late. Nice meeting you over at the plotmonkeys. :-)
Cher