Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Fic Talk => I Challenge You.... => Topic started by: RokofAges75 on November 28, 2009, 07:41:03 PM
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I got this idea based on the third question in Mare's new fanfic book of questions thread on the debate board, where it asks about who your dream collaboration would be. I think it would be very interesting to see stories written by a pair of people who have never written together before and have different writing styles and interests. So I thought of this idea for a sort of challenge.
This is for writers who...
1) are looking to start a new story,
2) are not afraid of stepping outside their box and broadening their horizons, and
3) are willing to collaborate with a co-author they've never written with before.
Here is how the challenge will work:
If you're interested, you will fill out a short survey and PM it to me. I will then match you up with another willing writer, and your challenge is to write a story together. It can be a short story, a novella, or whatever you decide.
The point is to get people to write outside their comfort zones, by trying a collaboration for maybe the first time, or at least writing with someone new for the first time, and possibly writing something that isn't their usual thing. And hopefully readers will get to see what a collaboration between some of their favorite writers will look like!
If you're interested, fill out the following survey and PM it to me by December 4. At that point, I'll see how many responses I've gotten and extend the deadline if needed. You will find out who your co-writer is at some point after that, and there is no deadline on when your story needs to be up.
Name:
1. What fandom(s) do you write in?
2. Are there any fandoms you've never written in, but would like to (or at least consider)?
3. Which Backstreet Boy (or characters from another fandom) is your favorite to write about?
4. What are your favorite genres to write?
5. Are there any genres you've never written, but would like to?
6. Have you ever collaborated before? If so, which other AC members have you written with?
7. What is your biggest strength as a writer?
8. What's the thing you'd most like to improve on as a writer?
9. How would you like your co-writer to contact you? PM, email, IM...?
PM to RokofAges75 by Dec. 4.
Participants:
carterkid
Julissa (ajsbaby)
Katie (Sinara)
Kelly (honey)
Min (kissesxoxo)
Steph (Carter-Orange)
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Great idea, Julie. I hope you get some volunteers!
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I've gotten 2 so far! So if nothing else, at least we'll have one pair LOL.
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good lol
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Up to 3 now... keep them coming!
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Hey Julie, maybe you should list who is interested. It might spark people to reply if they see who they may or may no be writing with. Just a thought.
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Sure! So far we have:
carterkid
Julissa (ajsbaby)
Katie (Sinara)
I'll update the first post with an ongoing list.
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We're up to 5 participants, but we can't have an odd number, so keep them coming! C'mon, you know you want to! ;)
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We have one more participant - thanks, Steph!
Anyone else wanna join in?
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Okay, we have enough for three pairs, so I will go ahead and PM you the name of your co-writer and their survey, so you'll have their contact info and an idea of what their writing interests are. From there, it's up to you to get in contact with each other and come up with your story. Like I said before, there's no deadline or limitations; you have total freedom to write what you want, when you want. :) Have fun!
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Complete freedom??? :shock: hahaha. Sweet.
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And I suck for missing out on this. Son of a ~*censor*~! That's what I get for being absent for a while. *sigh*
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I'm hoping I won't be a complete letdown in this as I've never done a collab! But looking forward to giving it a go :)
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Am looking forward to doing this :-), should be fun!
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Oh me too, but I am also looking foward to it.
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I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys come up with! :)
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I cant wait to see what you ladies come up with. I would have liked to participate, but gots no net. Next time.
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Those of you that have collaborated with someone before, do you have any tips for those who haven't? You know, to make things run more smoothly.
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I wanted to ask the same thing! I've never collaborated before and have no idea what to do, where to start, etc. But I'm looking forward to seeing what we can come up with :)
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Same here pretty anxious to get started but unless anyone has some advice to share guess we'll have to learn by trial and error
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I've done collabs before not on AC though, but generally best is to figure out who or what characters you'll be writing about talking to your co author whichever way is easier for you all, like through email or PM or even messenger depending, and then throw around ideas and see if you can agree on something that both sparks your interests. Then if you're the planning type, plan it out, if not then decide if you're gonna each do chapters or work on chapters together, depends on which you feel more comfortable with.
But basically it is trial and error like someone mentioned above too :-). Since everyone is different.
Hope this was of some help.
~ Min
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Having fun with it so far :)
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that and just do it. It seems the hardest part of collabing is following through to the end. It's too easy for life to get in the way, so you just have to make sure you don't bail on your partner. If you get your parts written quicker, it should help because they they don't have to wait so long for you. Plus then you don't feel guilty and start to stress about it.
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I'm kind of excited too. I need a break from original fic and this should be fun.
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I think IM works best as a means of communication, at least as far as discussing and planning the story, because it's instantaneous. You can feed off each other's ideas and inspire each other.
In general, though, just be open to all ideas, be willing to compromise, and be able to give and receive constructive criticism - speak up when you're not happy with something and listen when your co-writer isn't happy with something. Don't be bossy, but don't let the other person have their way about everything and walk all over you either. Unless you agree on everything right off the bat (which is great if you do, but even two writers who are totally in sync won't always), it's a matter of give and take and finding the middle ground, which is usually the best.
I've found that it works best to plan the story out together before writing it, rather than just letting one person start and the other person pick up where they left off without any idea of where the story is going. A little planning keeps the storyline more focused and prevents writer's block because you always know ahead of time what's going to happen.
Hope that helps!
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that and just do it. It seems the hardest part of collabing is following through to the end. It's too easy for life to get in the way, so you just have to make sure you don't bail on your partner. If you get your parts written quicker, it should help because they they don't have to wait so long for you. Plus then you don't feel guilty and start to stress about it.
Very true.
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I have to agree that IM works the best for planning out the details.
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Future Boy by CarterKid and Kissesxoxo- http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=9948
the start of our Mash Up! It's still in progress, but since we got a chapter done figured Id put the link here.
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Wow, you guys are quick! Great start! I left you a review. :)
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awesome thanks! :)