Round-Robin Storytelling

[Sophistemon]

I've noticed (and I'm sure that you have too) that there are quite a few people on these boards with an interest in writing, either as a future career or as a time-consuming hobby. Therefore I propose this thread to help those of us with such interests to... exercise our craft. Here are the rules:
1) There can only be so many authors. This is to decrease confusion. I think that five is a good number, though I can be convinced to allow more. There will be a 'posting order' to prevent 'simu-posting'. This is also to decrease confusion. When your turn comes around you have 24 hours to post your contribution. Should you fail to do so your turn is skipped and the person after gets their turn. Should an author not need 24 hours to post the person next in line gets to go. All authors can post in the same day, as long as they go in order.
2) Posts must be on topic and relevant to the story. When one story is finished we will have a vote on the topic of the next (more on that later). Writing 'The End' does not end a story. The majority of the authors must decide to end the story before it does. When a story is officially ended I will start a new thread, re-post these rules and the fun starts again.
3) Posts are to be no more than a paragraph long. That means that they should be no longer than ten to fifteen sentences unless you find it necessary.
4) Don't post unless you have something meaningful to contribute. This is not Random Banter; this thread has a point to it. I can't really punish people for coming in and goofing off, but I will glare at your avatar in an unpleasant manner. You don't want that.
5) Voting will be used in the following circumstances:
a) To decide on the genre of the story. This will take place before a new story begins.
b) To strike something from the record. If someone writes something that other authors don't agree with, enough votes will cause that portion of the story to be 'erased' by the author striking it out.
If you feel that I've left anything out please feel free to send me a Private Message.

Okay authors, post the genre that you want to write about. After ten posts I'll count them up and we can get started.

[PhoeKun]

This seems like a 'silly' message board game to me, but that's not all that important.

I could use a thinking exercise. I don't care what genre is selected, I'll do what I can with it.

[Brickwall]

Fantasy or Sci-fi fantasy. Also, something with at least some room for comedy.

[Sophistemon]

This seems like a 'silly' message board game to me, but that's not all that important.

The mods will do with it what they will.

I myself will second the vote for Fantasy. Lots of potential there. PhoeKun, are you sure that you have no preference?

[PhoeKun]

I know it's a cop-out, but I like to try my hand at everything. Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance, Historical Documentary... doesn't matter.

Improving my ability to adapt is what will make me a better writer..

[Sophistemon]

True.

Okay, now I need to decide on those who will participate. Keep voting on genres, of course. I'll chose five people, myself included, from those of us that cast votes. Those not chosen get to go next time. Sound fair?

[Brickwall]

Fair enough. I'm guessing this will be random choosing? I think requiring a sample of our writing ability would be a bit much.

And, for future reference, I call any and all uses of the word 'bratwurst'. Nobody else can use it. If you can guess what movie inspired that statement, you get a bag of bojangos.

[Sophistemon]

Yes, I'll be picking randomly. The stories will be written by myself and four others. It may seem unfair that I'm always included, but It's my idea and I'm a greedy bastard.

In other news; C'mon, people! Prince of Cats, you know that you should be here. You too, Vorpal Tribble!

[PhoeKun]

That seems fair.

Will there be a set order of posting, so that selected authors can have time to compose something worth reading without fear of having the story move out from under their feet while they are doing so? It'll slow things down a little, but you can fix that by applying deadlines, at which point the next person down the line would be asked to take over.

edit: For pete's sake, this is a message board, not a chatroom. It takes time for things to be noticed and responded to. Have a little patience...

[Sophistemon]

Will there be a set order of posting, so that selected authors can have time to compose something worth reading without fear of having the story move out from under their feet while they are doing so? It'll slow things down a little, but you can fix that by applying deadlines, at which point the next person down the line would be asked to take over.

Yes. I said something very similar in the opening post. It's in the First Rule.

For pete's sake, this is a message board, not a chatroom. It takes time for things to be noticed and responded to. Have a little patience...

There's no need to get snippy. I'm just excited, is all.

[Mattaeu]

Didn't really read everything, but voting for Hyper Reality.

[Sophistemon]

Didn't really read everything, but voting for Hyper Reality.

Wow, I'm not familiar with that. I would suggest that you do read everything, at least if you want to participate.

EDIT
Okay, looked it up. Sounds interesting.

[Mattaeu]

If it's on a deadline thing, yes. I'm not incessantly online frequent enough to be of any worth any other way. :P

And that's really just a made up genre, my mind tends to Really wander, so think of it as a warning ;)

edit: oh...i guess i should look it up too then. heh

[Abd al-Azrad]

I can help out, I do this sort of storytelling often. More as a joke than anything else, but it's one of my family games.

Unfortunately, I'm often busy and unreliable. I'm not sure if that'll hurt this exercise.

[Sophistemon]

There is a 'posting order.' It's all up there in the rules. So the first person goes, then the second. If you don't post on your turn for a day* you skip your turn and the guy after you goes.

*A day is 24 hours. I'll add this to the rules to make it clear.

[Abd al-Azrad]

There is a 'posting order.' It's all up there in the rules. So the first person goes, then the second. If you don't post on your turn for a day you skip your turn and the guy after you goes.

Oh, our turns are a day long? How's this working for time?

[Sophistemon]

What? Okay, you have a day to post your contribution. If you don't you're skipped. But if you post within the day they next person goes. All five people can go in the same day. There does not need to be a 24 hour delay in posting. Does that make sense?

[Mattaeu]

hmm, now that I've gone through all the current rules, are we(everyone) feeling that one paragraph, 15-20 sentences is sufficient?

Just a question; with 24 hours per turn, I would say we could up it just a little bit, at the least.

anyone?

edit:^that makes it easier then. disregard me. :P

[Abd al-Azrad]

What? Okay, you have a day to post your contribution. If you don't you're skipped. But if you post within the day they next person goes. All five people can go in the same day. There does not need to be a 24 hour delay in posting. Does that make sense?

Yes, yes that makes sense.

[Sophistemon]

Good. Do I need to change the rules, or was there just momentary confusion?

[Abd al-Azrad]

Good. Do I need to change the rules, or was there just momentary confusion?

I'm happy with such rules. When are we starting?

[Mattaeu]

I think you should include that the author doesn't need to utilize the entire 24 hours. But beyond that, pretty much just a momentary.

V :P

further edit: um, if you get enough to start soon, would it be at a slightly later time? at least a day probably.

[Sophistemon]

We start when enough people vote for a genre for there to be a winner. So far we have three votes: Two for Fantasy and one for Hyper-Reality.

[PhoeKun]

I'm all clear on the rules at this point, and I apologize for any perceived snippiness.

...I should probably look up hyper reality, just in case, huh.

[Sophistemon]

Okay, I've added to rule one. And no, we won't start today. We'll start when it is most convenient for the first author. And it won't be me, by the way. I'll be writing names on paper and drawing them out of a hat for the posting order.

[Mattaeu]

I should probably look up hyper reality, just in case, huh.

The route I was 'making up' when I chose it was pretty general; just 'hyper'(above) reality. So, even though that's my vote, don't be expecting me to rock if it wins. :P


edit: if you read this: is Fantasy being used as synonymous with DnD style? or what does the genre entail?

[Abd al-Azrad]

My vote goes to dark fantasy.

[Sophistemon]

Okay, we have three votes. PhoeKun is undecided and Abd has not yet cast his vote. Just keeping you guys up to date.

EDIT
Augh! Okay, we now stand at three votes for Fantasy and one vote for Hyper-Reality.

[Mattaeu]

I'll just post it instead:
is Fantasy being used as synonymous with DnD style? or what does the genre entail?

[Sophistemon]

No, no fanfiction. Do you mean High versus Low Fantasy? It would depend on the tone set by the first few paragraphs. A vote for Fantasy means you get what you get.