Collaborative Fiction?

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I've seen some topics on writing and literature here, and I figure the Steamgifts community is pretty good at answering questions, so I figured I'd ask if anyone had any ideas for writing collaborative fiction. My thoughts so far:

Probably use Google Docs or something like it, where everyone has access and there are digital backups for reversions/comparisons should something go absolutely wrong.
I'm not sure, but I'd tend to think that collaborative writing works best in smaller groups (3-5 people) and some brainstorming first. If you throw a bunch of people in, it becomes a bit of everyone writes a sentence stuff, and doesn't make much sense.
It would basically have to be just for fun, since rights would be a pain in the face to deal with for publishing.

Any thoughts?

I would like to create a science fiction/cyberpunk group, but I'm interested as much in the process as the genre.

10 years ago*

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22 Comments

KroganAlly

Interesting idea. I might like to get involved if you could lay out a bit more specific of a plan.

10 years ago

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SquireZed

I'm thinking grabbing two to four other people, setting up some Google Docs, and bouncing ideas and stuff off of each other, with outlets both for individual work to be edited by peers and group projects of sorts.

10 years ago

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KroganAlly

I majored in English Creative Writing and am currently an 11th grade English teacher. I've been looking for some kind of outlet like the one you've mentioned for some time now (I only have one friend right now that is a writer and he does mostly poetry). Not sure that cyberpunk is my thing though; I actually know very little about it (aside from Shadowrun and Deus Ex).

10 years ago

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SquireZed

Eh, I'm open to almost everything sans erotica or horror. Those are the two that I can't write. Sci-fi horror might be the exception.

Also, Shadowrun (outside of the Xbox 360 game) is pretty cool. Shadowrun fiction was actually what inspired me to be a serious writer.

10 years ago

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KroganAlly

I should have mentioned that I was referring to the games Shadowrun SNES Deus Ex PC. Where might you recommend I start if I ever get bored enough to?

10 years ago

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SquireZed

I love Asimov, but it's not really cyberpunk; Gibson is pretty good, Neuromancer is legendary and Burning Chrome is a pretty solid anthology. Shadowrun fiction tends to be okay, I'd recommend DeckerM for some Shadowrun fanfic that isn't cringeworthy, though Shadowrun, being a tabletop game, usually has okay fiction if you stick to the big names. Deus Ex is actually really good Cyberpunk. Cyberpunk Review has a smattering, but nothing particularly special.

10 years ago

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Aquila12555

...and then Johnny* woke up and realized it was finals week.

I just thought out the last sentence for you!

Yah I would say a smaller group would be better than a large one Why don't you have like three characters, and everyone writes the story for their own character, and they somehow intertwine

10 years ago

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SquireZed

Change the name and you got me there. I actually wrote this post as I was working on the final project for my hybrid writing class, which had a large collaborative component.

10 years ago

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Aquila12555

nice lol, hope you do great!

10 years ago

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SquireZed

Last I checked I had a 101%, so I'll probably be fine if I don't die from OD'ing on caffeine.

10 years ago

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SquireZed

I just saw the edit, and had to say Johnny.

10 years ago

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Aquila12555

oh kk lol!

10 years ago

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GrimAquatic

I think you should start with describing what exactly do you want to write, not what tools you'd like to use.

10 years ago

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SquireZed

Good point, but what if you just want to write and don't have a particular story in mind? Some of my most fruitful collaborative work has been when no one knew what to write, but we had to write. I edited my original post to respond to your idea, though.

10 years ago

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GrimAquatic

There are still certain boundaries. For instance you have space travel in mind and I'm eager to write about unicorn's digestive system.

10 years ago

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MosesXIII

The SCP wiki is basically one big collaborative fiction project. Lots of well written stuff guaranteed to make you look over your shoulder and/or sleep with the lights on. :P

10 years ago

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SquireZed

True, but there's a difference between a wiki and a group of writers. My idea is to have more of a project oriented group, less open but with direct collaboration on the writing process. And probably not horror; I have a genre bias.

10 years ago

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whispersystems

Already working on some collaborative stuff via google docs ( serious stuff ), its the most practical platform, i'm in for the writing and
cyberpunk, but yes first of all brainstorming, then a minimum base/guidelines etc otherwise its gonna be an awful mess.

By Cyberpunk do you really mean pure cyberpunk or post ? I prefer the former. Sci-fi is a large definition as well, what are your preferences ?

Great idea anyhow.

10 years ago

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SquireZed

I'm a mid-to-hard sci-fi guy most of the time, and my definition of cyberpunk is more open. I like the gritty settings, but I'm willing to go a bit glittery if the story demands it.

I don't have much of a science background, so you won't get Asimov out of me.

10 years ago

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pentaerythritol

Make a new thread wherein each person who posts writes a little section and you ploop them together on a google doc where anyone can write comments.

10 years ago

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Khalaq

(Senior Moderator)

This is the one style of writing I've never done at a "serious" level. I'm afraid I'm no help at all with this. (