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A thought and a question
2 months ago
On a personal note, I have found writing with a compatible partner brings all sorts of newness to the writing process. Over the years, I have written with a number of others, but the most notable and productive is: 
seadragon He and I are like an old worn pair of shoes. One is the left and the other the right, and between us we walk, jog, run, and even dance pretty well. So far we have a full fledge trilogy ready to go and looking for a publisher, as well as in the middle of a Celtic novel.
My thought is to offer something similar to the Thursday Prompt crowd.
My question would then be - who out there is crazy enough to try it?
This now becomes an open forum for ideas on how to do this. Obviously, there are pros and cons. For instance - you really, really, need to be compatible with your counterpart. I cannot stress that enough.
Personally, I would suggest four to eight pages. One writer begins, and then emails the page to their counterpart, they do a page, and then send it back. It goes back and forth until finished.
Over the years (I can hardly believe it has been years, but it has) Dragon and I subconsciously developed a technique of editing each other as we go. For us, it works out very well. It also helps that we write exactly the same way.
That brings up another good point - it helps to work the same way. I say 'helps' because it is possible to work with someone who writes differently than you do. (I feel a 'for instance' coming on.)
For instance (see that?) there are writers who have to have everything mapped out in advance, and there are those, like me, who don't plan anything. To know me is to love or hate me - but in the process there is a lot of laughter.
So - thoughts and questions please.
I could ask for names and then put them in a hat to be drawn out, but I think better would be for pairs to vollenteer as a pair.
OK then - waiting to hear what you think.
Vix
seadragon He and I are like an old worn pair of shoes. One is the left and the other the right, and between us we walk, jog, run, and even dance pretty well. So far we have a full fledge trilogy ready to go and looking for a publisher, as well as in the middle of a Celtic novel.My thought is to offer something similar to the Thursday Prompt crowd.
My question would then be - who out there is crazy enough to try it?
This now becomes an open forum for ideas on how to do this. Obviously, there are pros and cons. For instance - you really, really, need to be compatible with your counterpart. I cannot stress that enough.
Personally, I would suggest four to eight pages. One writer begins, and then emails the page to their counterpart, they do a page, and then send it back. It goes back and forth until finished.
Over the years (I can hardly believe it has been years, but it has) Dragon and I subconsciously developed a technique of editing each other as we go. For us, it works out very well. It also helps that we write exactly the same way.
That brings up another good point - it helps to work the same way. I say 'helps' because it is possible to work with someone who writes differently than you do. (I feel a 'for instance' coming on.)
For instance (see that?) there are writers who have to have everything mapped out in advance, and there are those, like me, who don't plan anything. To know me is to love or hate me - but in the process there is a lot of laughter.
So - thoughts and questions please.
I could ask for names and then put them in a hat to be drawn out, but I think better would be for pairs to vollenteer as a pair.
OK then - waiting to hear what you think.
Vix
Vix
I have also tried to work with people who are very specific about what their character would say and who get very uptight when you put words in their characters' mouths that they don't think they would have said.
It depends entirely on who you are working with.
Vix
Some of that earlier stuff is still online in scattered places; I should track more of it down.
Vix
It feels like the dynamics would be similar to a dance--one does more of the leading and the other follows and gives advice/feedback (both still write, of course) but compatibility would be key. Having two leaders would end in arguing and two follower would never get anywhere.
If you do decide to try it I'd be happy to participate.
Vix
Vix
Vix
Vix
Vix
I think this is an interesting idea, but I'm not sure a randomly picked pairing would be the best approach, as their vibes gotta check together for it to really work.
Vix
RP isn't writing a story though. In RP you write one, maybe two paragraphs and then the other person goes, and it's a lot of back and forth. Each person also has their own way of writing, so putting that in story form would be super obvious when the writer change happens.
All that said, doing something like that for a story? I would have to really know the other person. We would also have to figure out a way to get our writing styles in sync which probably isn't easy. If it was a random name from a hat person, I'd more than likely just let the other person do whatever they wanted and it would end up being 95% their story. I would probably have to be able to pick who I was paring with, if Vixyy was waving a finger at me and telling me I'd be in trouble if we didn't do it.
Vix
That said, it is a different vibe, and just posting a log is not the same thing as writing a narrative, though there is an audience for that, too. It is great for experience, especially if both (or more) participants are also trying to push their own storytelling/crafting skills with each other at the same time. And you are right that all parties involved would have to be okay with it being used for a story that is to be shared. Though even just doing this as a practice and keeping it within that circle of friends isn't a bad thing, either. I'm sure everyone here has some scary bad or cringe or embarrassing stories they'd rather not see the light of day. I know I certainly do. I'm glad most of my earliest works are pre-internet days and thus long lost to the annals of time.
Personally, I like a kind of RP-lite when chatting with my group about these sorts of things. We'll more focus on the world building or the narrative ideas, but sometimes do a kind of character back-and-forth bit for a scene, usually humorous, but often also just an interesting angle for the moment. I think that is more what this sort of idea of paired writers would work as. Not turning into a full RP group or anything, but more of a sounding board for each other, with some constructive criticism thrown in, because you can't learn your mistakes if no one points them out... kindly points them out. But this group isn't the kind to do things with malice, so I don't think that would be an issue. Still worth saying.
Sorry for the wall of response.
That was my experience anyway, back in the ancient days of AOL. I know RP has many many forms so I can really only comment on my personal experience with it.
Vix
Vix
The compatibility with another writer is paramount. Natural preferences and directions help broaden the outcome but you must both be aligned overall in your vision of the story.
Was great seeing you guys…
Vix
Personally I'd like to at least have a sounding board for my ideas. And a premise like Area of Effect would benefit from having multiple writers with different perspectives on faith.
Vix
I have also had collabs where it was a very descriptive role play. Not changing every paragraph but with interactions. The downside to colabs and such is more due to time than anything. Life gets busy and can be difficult to schedule time between writers.
To make things go smoothly for colabs and role plays though, I find it best to outline what each person is and isn't ok with, the type of story, themes, and an understanding that no character is perfect. Every character has to have some flaw or weakness.even gods are flawed and finally, no killing characters you dont own unless goven permission.this way steaks are real, everyone can grow, and no power dynamic issues with characters occur. :) thats just me though and wouldn't mind giving co-writ8ng another go.
Vix
Vix