Forums → Art, Music, and Writing → The Community Novel Project (anyone's welcome!)
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Welcome ladies and gentleman, to the first annual community art project. You may be asking, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING GANTIC'S BEEN MAKING TONS OF PROJECTS LATELY.
You are right, but here's the thing. The projects here involve individual work. Here, is teamwork and teamwork only.
Our goal: To make a community novel requiring loads of helping hands.
Here are the jobs you can choose from
-Writer- This job requires you to write at least one chapter at a time for the book. You may choose this and another job from the list below.
-Illustrator- Drawing some scenes related to the chapter. They must be GOOD. Show us some of your work before signing up for this one.
-Plot Directors- These people will be the main people who plot out the main events in the story. Everyone will be able to suggest, but these people will have the last say and will contact the writers with their ideas.
-Specialist- This person will be the creator for any miscellaneous items needed in the story. Ex1: There's a band story, you write the songs. Ex2: Two pen pals write letters. You write the letters. Note: You may not get as much jobs as you want, maybe even none, so you may choose this, Writer, and another job
-Editor- Reads over the chapters for spelling and grammar, makes minor changes for misunderstandings.
Rules:
1. Writer's write one chapter at a time. You must state when you are writing. Simply say which chapter you call so nobody ends up writing it too.
2. Writer's may not write until the plot directors have a clear plot for you. You may make only minor changes and add anything you like, but stick the bare plot points.
3. Illustrators can either write black and white or color. Each drawing will be approved by a majority vote by every participant
4. Read the whole story before starting a new chapter. This is not a random make a story thread. It's a serious project
That's all.
So, let's start off by asking for who will participate and maybe get some suggestions for the beginning of our book.
- 140 Replies
As for turning this into a legit book, that might be hard with the AG thing into play
We don't have to make it AG based. It can be something related to AG that everyone can relate to. Maybe a castle filled with the most courageous creatures in the land of ______.
But I don't see another way to incorporate the multiple writers, because theyy probably have varying styles.
That's the thing, the reader will have something new to read each chapter. Again, we'll see how it goes.
I would like to try another AG sort of thing.
It would be the easiest, and it would probably give a good enough "Community feel" to get other people to help.
Main character can be from the writers POV.
But there are multiple, so there would be multiple main characters.
Genre?
If we are going for the AG theme, wouldn't it be Fantasy?
But I don't see another way to incorporate the multiple writers,
We could have it so that all the writer's keep well in touch, to keep each of there main characters tied into the others and still connected in the main plot. Then post each writer's style and character's point of view at the same time. That said though, we would need to write up storyboards and the like so there a little to no flaws.
We don't want to get too close to the WoM though.
These are just ideas. Not an actual opinion on what we do. Just thoughts.
I was thinking that we could turn the AG into our setting in a real-world emulation, with notable folk from the community acting as characters to gravitate towards. Highfire, MageGrayWolf, Gstroy, GhostofMatrix, they'll all live in this real-life idea of a society that works exactly as the forums do.
Their occupations would also revolve around game updates and whatnot, which would be represented as real-world events. (The release of Infectionator would be dealt as an eccentric virus outbreak; as a poorly-constructed and hastily-written example)
Mind you, I haven't read the "Way of Moderation", so I don't know if my idea is hitting too close to that story's premise (though I have a hunch it might)
-Chillz
Who is Gstroy?
I know of HighFire. Mage and Matrix are alright, but I don't know if we should include them as people who you gravitate towards. If you want to base this in the AMW, then it should be AMW people like acmed, dudeguy, and wolf. Mage and Matrix are usually located outside of here, with the exception of Matrix's awesome Haikus.
If you could expand on the idea of occupations, and the AG society, that would be great, so that way I can get more of an idea of where you are trying to go.
I've never read the WoM either, no worries.
And in response to Brainz, The writers would write from their own point of view, mostly. Not necessarily THEIR exact point of view, but what most other AG community stories have done, is have each person who wants to be a character, write their own bit, and then the official writer stick it all together.
As in we would give them a prompt, like "You're stuck on an island, and you have to decide on going with Wolf or Tacky. Who would you go with and what would you do?" And they would make up their own story.
Now, I don't know how you would like to do that, if you only have a select amount of writers.
If I may:
The WoM is mainly another version of the 'AG is a country, the users are characters' type of story. If you write another story of this type, it will be close to the WoM.
What matters, however, is what you do with the story, not what it is like.
As for the "make up their own story", I would say it is not in tune with what Acmed seems to be proposing. Rather, it is a more serious version of "Continue this story", which is easily done without having to deal with changing the PoV or having multiple protagonists.
Rather, it will mean the dedicated writers have a bit of discipline and actually know what they are doing. The characters have to be consistent, the time, plot and point of view.
While several books have been published with changing PoV and characters, this PoV usually lasts several chapters, which either means the writer needs to work with some 25-50 pages themselves before the next writer takes over, or that the writers still have to streamline themselves and be professional about it all.
At least if you want a consistent result that can be published.
The same goes for the illustrators, at the very least, they would need to agree on how things are drawn, colours and the likes. It will look irregular with black/white art here and a fullblown painting there.
If none of this is a concern, an OCT would probably be doable, but it is a whole different thing to writing a novel.
Plot director or editor. One or the other.
Let's not count my opinion that you can never have too many editors.
Writer and plot director it is.
Main Character?
Genre?
Setting?
Ha... haha. This doesn't seem like a very good place to begin designing these things. Why? Too random, not enough organization.
I won't go into main character. That's to be morphed, formed, and developed, not to just say a name and leave. Genre? Perhaps high fantasy, science fiction, or historical fiction. These are all popular genres, and fit the community nicely. Setting? As with the main character(s), this is not to just be said. It is to be planned, developed, designed.
My suggestion? Have somebody, one person, design each of the ideas within certain parameters, and then have the remaining group and agree on what should remain and what should change.
I'd like to be a plot director with maybe one or two other people? I think you have to keep a small amount of plot directors in order for it to work
My suggestion? Have somebody, one person, design each of the ideas within certain parameters, and then have the remaining group and agree on what should remain and what should change.
That one person *should* be acmed in my opinion, but that is purely up to him. He's the one who started it, therefore all rights are his.
Even though it is a community thing, It would be nice to have a certain... idea thread, then a complete thread solely for the final thing.
Having too many idea for main char, genre, and setting can blow up in your face, but let's see how it goes, and whether or not the community can sort itself out, or will we need a head honcho.
That one person *should* be acmed in my opinion, but that is purely up to him. He's the one who started it, therefore all rights are his.
Would that not defeat the purpose of a 'community novel'? Otherwise it would just be acmed's novel with a few writers helping.
But hey, it makes no difference to me. I'm still in doubt as to the future success of the idea.
but let's see how it goes, and whether or not the community can sort itself out, or will we need a head honcho.
Read it all, Oreo. XP
It would be the easiest, and it would probably give a good enough "Community feel" to get other people to help.
I agree. It would be easy to relate to, but I don't want it to be directly related to AG.
But there are multiple, so there would be multiple main characters.
If we do keep this sort of medieval plot, we will have a bit more characters than a regular book, but all will be evenly distributed throughout the book so nobody really gets confused. This is where plot directors come in.
If we are going for the AG theme, wouldn't it be Fantasy?
Medieval Fantasy. Castles, dragons, magic, basically The Elder Scrolls in a book.
We could have it so that all the writer's keep well in touch, to keep each of there main characters tied into the others and still connected in the main plot. Then post each writer's style and character's point of view at the same time. That said though, we would need to write up storyboards and the like so there a little to no flaws.
The writers will stay in touch during plotting times (in between chapters). Once the directors have a plot down, the previous writer will talk to the next writer and discuss things over. As for the storyboards, plot directors, you'll need to find a document you can keep all of the plot in. Word, Open Office, Google Docs, etc., easy enough to open and go back when ever there is confusion.
We don't want to get too close to the WoM though.
We won't. We're better than them. :P
I was thinking that we could turn the AG into our setting in a real-world emulation, with notable folk from the community acting as characters to gravitate towards. Highfire, MageGrayWolf, Gstroy, GhostofMatrix, they'll all live in this real-life idea of a society that works exactly as the forums do.
We still need to keep it balanced. These people can appear, but they won't be drastically placed. We'll just revolve around a certain number of main characters, with the exception of some background or recurring characters.
If you want to base this in the AMW, then it should be AMW people like acmed, dudeguy, and wolf
Mostly all around AG itself. I kind of imagine it as a community castle. How does that sound?
If you could expand on the idea of occupations, and the AG society, that would be great, so that way I can get more of an idea of where you are trying to go.
Bingo. You got it. We can easily translate characters on the site and translate into a fictional one. Mods can be the soldiers. Admins are the high kings of the palace. Users based on their ranking on AG are their superiority in the castle. Got anything more?
The writers would write from their own point of view, mostly. Not necessarily THEIR exact point of view, but what most other AG community stories have done, is have each person who wants to be a character, write their own bit, and then the official writer stick it all together.
"each person who wants to be a character". What do you mean by that? I agree with the rest, but we're just gonna have random people join the book? If yes, remember, character organization.
As in we would give them a prompt, like "You're stuck on an island, and you have to decide on going with Wolf or Tacky. Who would you go with and what would you do?" And they would make up their own story.
That would make a cushion for the writers so to speak. They don't write away lolly gaggy lalalala, but get something to go with along with plot direction, just so that it seems consistent. However, the leash will be loosened a bit. The writer may use plot twists as which he/she is comfortable with. We won't make the whole plot in one post, but we'll add more as the writer's POV is caught along with others.
The WoM is mainly another version of the 'AG is a country, the users are characters' type of story. If you write another story of this type, it will be close to the WoM.
Some, but not all the users participating are characters. We won't do a, User 1 writes only about himself while User 2 writes about herself. It's a story with a plot that the writers will writer unbiased with themselves if they're in the book.
Writer and plot director it is.
Thank you!
I won't go into main character. That's to be morphed, formed, and developed, not to just say a name and leave. Genre? Perhaps high fantasy, science fiction, or historical fiction. These are all popular genres, and fit the community nicely. Setting? As with the main character(s), this is not to just be said. It is to be planned, developed, designed.
Main Character will wait until we have a beginning plot down. I should add the plural to character as we will have a bit. The genre should be fantasy. Maybe Skyrim fantasy. Dragons and all that crap. Agreed?
My suggestion? Have somebody, one person, design each of the ideas within certain parameters, and then have the remaining group and agree on what should remain and what should change.
Sounds good. Plot directors, start gathering in everything and bundle it. Got it?
That one person *should* be acmed in my opinion, but that is purely up to him. He's the one who started it, therefore all rights are his.
I'm as much as a participant as everyone else. I'm just here to keep things in charge, maybe write a bit, and keep everything in line. This is a plot director's job. And... should be starting.
Even though it is a community thing, It would be nice to have a certain... idea thread, then a complete thread solely for the final thing.
Would an idea thread annoy the mods? Maybe put it on someone's page? A Google Doc atleast?
Otherwise it would just be acmed's novel with a few writers helping.
Which won't happen. I'm not here to boss around. In fact, I've barley made any suggestions besides adding on to Moon's.
Okay. Now that that's settled, plot directors, can you look through the suggestions and gather the sole basics of the book.
Some, but not all the users participating are characters. We won't do a, User 1 writes only about himself while User 2 writes about herself. It's a story with a plot that the writers will writer unbiased with themselves if they're in the book.
It doesn't change what I said. It's just good to see you have determined not to do an OCT type thread, then, but if it's about AG as a real place, it will still fall in the same sub genre as the WoM, which was all I was trying to clear out in the first part of the post.
It's not necessarily a bad thing, whether or not you "are better than us".
Alright I'm gonna double post really soon, because I'm drawing out some ideas right now offa what we have.
So, plot director it is. Plus Specialist and Writer. I'll edit if you ever need a helping hand. ;D
Anyways, I'll draw up some stuff and share in a little bit.
Ack! Acmed! get back into CT! We can talk there and not spam so we can formulate a better formulated idea! D:
Ack! Acmed! get back into CT! We can talk there and not spam so we can formulate a better formulated idea! D:
Or we can even have our own chatroom for the participants... BINGO
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