|
Post by CtraK on Jan 11, 2011 15:46:52 GMT -5
In which CtraK explains the point of it allI should probably take this to a new thread. ...and I'll beat you to it. OK, so there's been some talk (mostly started by me, if I'm really honest) about an FSTDT writing collaboration. So I thought what I'd do was I'd pretend I was one of those deaf-mutes set up some kind of thread to a) gauge interest and b) plan how it's all going down. Namely: 1. we'd need some kind of multi-user blog and, 2. we'd need some kind of shared universe. All that really exists at the time of writing this is the idea of doing the project and the preposterous working title in the thread title. So all ( relevant) ideas are welcome. In which CtraK makes opening suggestions and remarks to be freely accepted or ignored at will1. I'd suggest Wordpress for this, but I'm not sure about everybody else's experience with it. 2. As the working title suggests, I have an incredibly vague idea kicking around about it being a high fantasy universe, preferably based away from the usual Medieval Europe setup and towards somewhere like, perhaps, modern America or even the E.U. - unless that's also a cliche I've sleepwalked into.
|
|
|
Post by Sigmaleph on Jan 11, 2011 21:10:15 GMT -5
Operation DragonDance is a much more compelling working title than Project Tapir, at any rate.
Well, in case it wasn't obvious, I'd be very interested in this. My experience with Wordpress is nil, but it can't be too difficult to work with.
Setting. I'm cool with fantasy, clichéd medieval setting or not, modern EU/America are outside my realm of experience but sound appealing. Earlier today I was thinking of an old plot I never did anything with, though the setting is not too original, it could lend itself to a shared universe. Setting could be adapted.
How we go about sharing the universe would also be relevant. Every writer introducing one (or more) viewpoint character(s), one story being told from multiple perspectives? Each writer focuses on one section of the world, telling more-or-less independent stories (that may interact into a grander plot, or not)? One single progressing story, chapters written by alternative writers (that would probably be difficult to work with)? Mix and match from all options above? Something else?
This may just be a personal thing, but I do work better (or at least faster) with some sort of target, something that tells me "Hey, you haven't been writing lately, get your ass on it". That's just me, though, so if it bothers anyone else, I will just self-impose them. In any case, some sort of regular check of how everything is going would be helpful so that it doesn't simply get lost in writer's limbo.
|
|
|
Post by John E on Jan 11, 2011 22:12:56 GMT -5
Count me in as being interested, definitely in building the setting, and maybe in doing some of the actual writing. I'm all about the medieval fantasy setting.
|
|
|
Post by Admiral Lithp on Jan 11, 2011 22:20:29 GMT -5
I don't really understand, but I am intrigued nonetheless.
|
|
|
Post by shadowpanther on Jan 12, 2011 6:34:05 GMT -5
I saw the word Dragon in the title. I then remembered that I'm an awful writer far more times than I'm a good writer.
|
|
|
Post by CtraK on Jan 12, 2011 8:08:00 GMT -5
OK, there's already a lot to reply to here... I don't really understand, but I am intrigued nonetheless. The basic plan is to set up a blog, and on that blog will be a fictional universe of some kind, and anyone who can be arsed writes short stories/ongoing series/entire novels/multi-volume epics (delete according to ambition) in said fictional universe. But first we need to build said aforementioned universe, or at least get some sort of idea of what it'd be like, hence this thread. My experience with Wordpress is nil, but it can't be too difficult to work with. I merely suggest Wordpress because a) I know it allows multi-user blogs and b) I'm a big fan of the whole posts-and-pages thing. If anyone says "but Blogger allows multi-user blogs and, even better, it allows ___________!*" then hey, let's do that. Count me in as being interested, definitely in building the setting, and maybe in doing some of the actual writing. I'm all about the medieval fantasy setting. I guess the fantasy equivalent of modern America could have a medieval version of the Amish; that, or (less plausibly, I'll admit) there could be a modern America in amongst a medieval setting. Setting. I'm cool with fantasy, clichéd medieval setting or not, modern EU/America are outside my realm of experience but sound appealing. I'll admit that the EU idea seems less workable to me, not least because Fantasy-Britain whinging at Fantasy-France and Fantasy-Germany about Fantasy-Poland whilst Fantasy-Turkey tries to sign a peace pact and Fantasy-Ireland and Fantasy-Greece go to shit due to the collapse of elf banks probably doesn't provide great story potential. Fantasy-America might, bizarre as this sounds, have more of a cultural diversity to it. The only thing that gets to me is that, in the event of a giant quest to defeat a Great Evil, said Evil will probably have to reside in the frozen blasted lands of Fantasy-Canada. Or maybe Fantasy-Maine. Anyway, your idea, feel free to shoot with that. How we go about sharing the universe would also be relevant. Every writer introducing one (or more) viewpoint character(s), one story being told from multiple perspectives? Each writer focuses on one section of the world, telling more-or-less independent stories (that may interact into a grander plot, or not)? One single progressing story, chapters written by alternative writers (that would probably be difficult to work with)? Mix and match from all options above? Something else? I reckon it'd depend on the writer. I don't think a shared universe has to mean a shared story, but it doesn't exclude it. I personally reckon the first two options there are the best ones to go with. *obviously, "_____________!" will not, in and of itself, be enough of an argument.
|
|
|
Post by Sandafluffoid on Jan 12, 2011 13:18:12 GMT -5
This sounds interesting, but I am a truly terrible, terrible writer, I'm probably better at world-building.
When you say a fantasy-modern-America, are you thinking a setting which has direct analogues of everything, of a setting which is more loosely related (e.g. technology level, political structures what have you without being overtly Texas-analogue and New-York-Analogue)?
|
|
|
Post by Yla on Jan 12, 2011 18:16:37 GMT -5
I've been kicking around the idea of a fantasy World War II in my head for a while now. Close enough; count me in.
As I see it, we practically have modern technology, but the world is inhabited by the usual suspects: elves, dwarves, humans, maybe others. What sort of society do we get? How is the political situation?
As a base, we need a world map (We could take Earth, but I would actually prefer to set it on a fictional planet.) We need to determine whether and in what measure we include magic (none, rare, common? Mystical or scientific magic? Do we have some sort of Magitech?). We need to set up the biological distinctions between the races.
Re: the name DragonDance. Does this mean you have already some ideas involving dancing dragons? Do share.
|
|
|
Post by the sandman on Jan 12, 2011 18:18:35 GMT -5
I've been kicking around the idea of a fantasy World War II in my head for a while now. Close enough; count me in. As I see it, we practically have modern technology, but the world is inhabited by the usual suspects: elves, dwarves, humans, maybe others. What sort of society do we get? How is the political situation? As a base, we need a world map (We could take Earth, but I would actually prefer to set it on a fictional planet.) We need to determine whether and in what measure we include magic (none, rare, common? Mystical or scientific magic? Do we have some sort of Magitech?). We need to set up the biological distinctions between the races. Re: the name DragonDance. Does this mean you have already some ideas involving dancing dragons? Do share. I may have a modified map of an alternate reality Europe lying around I made once for a D&D campaign. I can dig it up and post it if you like.
|
|
|
Post by Yla on Jan 12, 2011 18:22:26 GMT -5
Sure. Even if we end up not using it, it may serve as an inspiration.
|
|
|
Post by Sigmaleph on Jan 12, 2011 21:15:56 GMT -5
I may have a modified map of an alternate reality Europe lying around I made once for a D&D campaign. I can dig it up and post it if you like. Do share. Anyway, the idea I had running around, roughly, is: Organization of battle-oriented magic users is strongly associated with the government of Country A, which is relatively small but a rising power. Organization kills demon and clears the path to Area B, which is discovered to be rich in Rare Ore, which has magic-conducing, -storage, and -amplifying properties. This causes Area B to be a home to a set of extremely valuable wildlife, animals and plants both, who thrive in that environment. Country C and Country D are both closer to Area B than Country A, Country E is about the same distance but more powerful, etc. War probably ensues. It's a tad generic, partly because I've forgotten details, partly because it should be adaptable. General setting and timeline could be alt-Europe pre world war, or anywhere else. Just a basic seed to build on, really. Anyone like anything, dislike anything, want to scrap it all and suggest something else?
|
|
|
Post by the sandman on Jan 12, 2011 21:38:26 GMT -5
I would really be the wrong person to comment on that. My own writing tends to be less geo-political. Which reminds me. I have 5 chaps of Morty Gaunt I need to edit and post.
|
|
|
Post by John E on Jan 12, 2011 22:24:09 GMT -5
Question: Assuming a modern American/European setting, would it be the kind of fantasy world where all the magical/otherworldly stuff is secret and most people don't know about it, or will it be out in the open, as in, my next door neighbor is an elf and my supervisor at work is an orc, and the president has a pair of bodyguard dragons that escort Air Force 1?
|
|
|
Post by Deimos on Jan 13, 2011 1:24:56 GMT -5
I'm interested in this. I'm a pretty good writer
|
|
|
Post by Admiral Lithp on Jan 13, 2011 3:49:18 GMT -5
I kind of like "fantasy America." Sounds unique.
|
|