Message board literature

[Cantousent]

Okay, I was hoping to interest some of you in a little project I've been considering.

 

Here it is: I would like to write a story in which the plot unfolds on a message board. It will be like an epsitolary novel. I don't know where we could start, and I suspect that we will be forced to mix and match responses between various threads, but I think we could pull some of the posts as written. Others will provide a good basis with minor changes.

 

This would be a feel good project, not some serious endeavor over which to argue and feud. Anybody else find the idea intriguing?

[Sun]

Wait, it unfolds as people writin' on the forum or pretend people that visit different parts of the forum like they were countries or cities?

[jaguars4ever]

Anybody else find the idea intriguing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes - and here's your story:

 

Kumquatq Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Chimp

[Cantousent]

Anybody else find the idea intriguing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes - and here's your story:

 

Kumquatq Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Chimp

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

You nut

[Child of Flame]

Anybody else find the idea intriguing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes - and here's your story:

 

Kumquatq Wars Episode III : Revenge of the Chimp

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Those chimps just won't quit, they already slayed him once. :'(

[jaguars4ever]

Those chimps just won't quit, they already slayed him once.  :'(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Noooooooo!

[Lucius]

Those chimps just won't quit, they already slayed him once.  :'(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Noooooooo!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That link led to one of the most terrible things I've ever seen. :'(

[Child of Flame]

Guys we should stop spamming Eldar's thread before we upset Big Green.

[jaguars4ever]

Those chimps just won't quit, they already slayed him once.  :'(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Noooooooo!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

That link led to one of the most terrible things I've ever seen. :'(

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ah...but did you have your speakers on? ^_^

[metadigital]

Okay, I was hoping to interest some of you in a little project I've been considering.

 

Here it is:  I would like to write a story in which the plot unfolds on a message board.  It will be like an epsitolary novel.  I don't know where we could start, and I suspect that we will be forced to mix and match responses between various threads, but I think we could pull some of the posts as written.  Others will provide a good basis with minor changes.

 

This would be a feel good project, not some serious endeavor over which to argue and feud.  Anybody else find the idea intriguing?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But I thought that's what the internet was ... the twenty-first century's gift to future generations, the greatest work of historical-creative fiction in the history of mankind; the largest single stream-of-consciousness epistle ever attempted ... (aka the biggest load of freudian embarrassment of any known species in the entire universe).

[Musopticon?]

And the biggest load of **** ever put online?

[metadigital]

.. that too. Digital diarrhea.

[Musopticon?]

There's a finnish proverb which would fit here quite well. Too bad it loses something when translated.

[metadigital]

How apt!

[Cantousent]

I take it that no-one likes the idea. That, or no-one takes it very seriously. Dammit, I'm taking my ball and going home!

[SteveThaiBinh]

I think it's a good idea, and you should just start it and see what happens. Maybe ask Fionavar to moderate it a bit more actively than the rest of the forum, so that it's kept spam free, otherwise it will be hard to follow.

[Cantousent]

Oh, I don't mind a bit of spam in the thread. I view this topic as something similar to a message board DnD game. This is the discussion thread and we'll start an actual story thread later. We can discuss strategy in this thread and then use the other thread for the actual writing. ...Or cutting and pasting of existing posts.

 

I'd like to create an actual story, though, and that makes it hard. Message board drama! If it can be done using letters, and it has been done, then there must be a way to fashion a complete story using message board posts. The only difference is that I'd like to use the resources we have here: people. We have a variety of styles and opinions from which to choose.

 

Anyhow, it's deep sea fishing time for me. Hopefully, someone comes up with the perfect plan before I come back. Otherwise, we'll have to go with Jaguars' idea.

[Darkside]

Count me in.

[metadigital]

I wonder if it would be written in a third person voice, a multi-first-person voice, or perhaps a multi-first-and-third-person voice?

 

(I bet someone will now write in a second-person voice, just to be contrary. You know who you are! " )

[Diogo Ribeiro]

No, a character with multiple personalities trying to get away from a room. Each personality analyzes the surroundings, gives a brief exposition about themselves, then discusses with the other personalities how to pull it off.

 

It'll be just like the greatest text adventure ever written only you just read the story unfold.

[Child of Flame]

I wonder if it would be written in a third person voice, a multi-first-person voice, or perhaps a multi-first-and-third-person voice?

 

(I bet someone will now write in a second-person voice, just to be contrary. You know who you are!  " )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

I know who I am, but in the ultimate show of contrariness, I shall not write in second person.

[metadigital]

I wonder if it would be written in a third person voice, a multi-first-person voice, or perhaps a multi-first-and-third-person voice?

 

(I bet someone will now write in a second-person voice, just to be contrary. You know who you are!  " )

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I know who I am, but in the ultimate show of contrariness, I shall not write in second person.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That was my (obviously unsuccessful) attempt at irony.

[Cantousent]

I think we should use posts as posts are written. That means mostly first person, but some of it can be third person in much the same way Gromnir writes. ...Or wrote when he actually frequented the fora.

 

As for the story, it must be something that can be expressed in terms of a message board. We'll be confined to a relatively small number of main character, but much more than in a traditional novel. There will be an abundance of minor characters.

 

As far as actually getting the story in shape, we should just get an idea going and then run with it. For instance, should every bit of text come in the form of a message board post? How ambitious are we in terms of plots and sub-plots? How do we decide what we're going to do in the first place? Vote? I'll get together something tonight or tomorrow and then submit it for tinkering. In the meantime, we have one suggestion for a story and another discussion for perspective. If anyone has another idea, then speak up!

[OLD SKOOL WHEELMAN]

I guess I'm in...

[metadigital]

I think we should use posts as posts are written.  That means mostly first person, but some of it can be third person in much the same way Gromnir writes.  ...Or wrote when he actually frequented the fora.

 

As for the story, it must be something that can be expressed in terms of a message board.  We'll be confined to a relatively small number of main character, but much more than in a traditional novel.  There will be an abundance of minor characters.

 

As far as actually getting the story in shape, we should just get an idea going and then run with it.  For instance, should every bit of text come in the form of a message board post?  How ambitious are we in terms of plots and sub-plots?  How do we decide what we're going to do in the first place?  Vote?  I'll get together something tonight or tomorrow and then submit it for tinkering.  In the meantime, we have one suggestion for a story and another discussion for perspective.  If anyone has another idea, then speak up!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is it a prepare first and write after, or a stream-of-consciousness type of prose?