PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 3:57pm

All right. First, I know WAR is going on. Second, out of respect and admiration for what Utah has done, I want to hold this after WAR. This is just an idea and I was considering some input, and also interest.

I wanted to hold a competition based on collaboration.

  • There will be 24 participants that will be divided. Participants will pick their partner.
  • The max number of participants for a team is 2, so that leads us to 12 teams in total.
  • Two teams will go against each other and will recieve a picture prompt.
  • Each individual team will collaborate to create a story surrounding the picture.
  • They will be given one week to submit a draft. Then polls will begin for which team had a better story.

I'm interested to see how two people can collaborate on a story and mix their own individual styles into it. So you can have one person who writes horror and another who writes sci-fi. Mix those two together and you can get an interesting result.

If you have interest please comment, or if you have suggestions.

This is just a concept, no plans have been made. I want to see an overall interest.

  1. Pandamask
  2. R.Moon
  3. Boone
  4. Meredith
  5. Averydoll
  6. Renfield
  7. Fritz Wolfe
  8. Covewriter
  9. XyZy
  10. Matt Attack
  11. Chester Pane
  12. -
  13. Dave
  14. Aliensoul77
  15. Grigori Black
  16. Stacy Kear
  17. Closure
  18. JackieMR
  19. Nick Wilczynski
  20. Charles
  21. rach122
  22. Jason Van Horn
  23. Utah
  24. Flaminia_klla
  25. J.Y. Hopkins
  26. Bill Tucker
  27. Courtney
  28. Bracchos
  29. -
  30. -
  31. -
  32. -

 


Team One:  Mickey and Mallory: Natural Born Killers (R.Moon/Stacy Kear)

Team Two: Don't Pee On My Art Project!   (Fritz Wolfe/Utah)

Team Three: Team Amputee Porn (Aliensoul77/Jason Van Horn)

Team Four: The International Spiders Conspiracy (Flaminia_klla/Nick Wilczynski)

Team Five: Bitches Get Stitches (Courtney/Bill Tucker)

Team Six: Davery (Dave/Averydoll)

Meredith_103's picture
Meredith_103 April 4, 2012 - 4:08pm

Sounds cool. I would do this.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts April 4, 2012 - 4:14pm

Sounds like a great idea, I was thinking there should be some collaboration thing going on around here. The thing I see that might go wrong with this here is that if there are people like me, who start drafting two hours before something's due, that would not work for collaboration. Collaborating takes quite a bit of a longer process, with brainstorming and plotting becoming more essential, then drafting and revising both writers' works into one seemless piece. I think it would take at least two weeks for writers who are on the ball to do that kind of work.

.'s picture
. April 4, 2012 - 4:22pm

Good stuff PandaPorn. I like it. 

Count me in. 

Hmmm, I wonder who would make an interesting partner.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 4:24pm

Thank you.

Renfield that's a good idea. That's why I wanted suggestions and input. I also know that egos can clash. But I think that's another fun element.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts April 4, 2012 - 4:42pm

Not that I want to take over your idea, just spitballing here, but what do you think if you made this more of a collaborative anthology/novella instead of just story by story? Some cool linked project like Craig Davidson's Sarah Court or Jeff Noon and folk's 217 Babel Street? That way you get some cool project out of the end of it and it could break up the whole process to be both more consumable and collaborative (everyone gets their hands in with developing/voting on the plot and world building.) What you think? That might be too different though from the normal competition style for some people though.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 4:46pm

Spitball away. Like i said input would great.

That's an interesting idea. It actually wouldn't be a bad to combine the stories into an anthology.

The problem is I would need someone to work with me on this.

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts April 4, 2012 - 4:55pm

Having a couple trusted editors and "project managers" would be smart, while trying to leave the rest democratic.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 5:05pm

I have a couple in mind. If you have any suggestions let me know. This idea is interesting.

Chester Pane's picture
Chester Pane from Portland, Oregon is reading The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz April 4, 2012 - 5:07pm

I would do this.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 5:29pm

Thank you Chester!

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest April 4, 2012 - 5:52pm

I'd do this. Sounds like a great idea.

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner April 4, 2012 - 6:01pm

Good shit man, I'm in

Boone Spaulding's picture
Boone Spaulding from Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. is reading Solarcide Presents: Nova Parade April 4, 2012 - 6:01pm

Ante in!

(good idea PandaMask)

Matt Attack's picture
Matt Attack from Richmond, Va. is reading As I Lay Dying, William Faulkner April 4, 2012 - 6:05pm

Also, did someone say panda porn?

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 6:05pm

Can I add your names in?

Fritz's picture
Fritz April 4, 2012 - 6:10pm

Participants will pick their partner

If you pick your partner then you'd know in advance what particular process they undertake - I'd stick with a week.  Mainly because people work better under a deadline.  If you give a procrastinator 2 weeks he will just wait till the last 2 hours of 2 weeks, instead of the last 2 hours of 1 week.

Co-writing is a tricky business...  spitball:

1. get your 24 (12 teams) lined up.

2.  get your 12 picture prompts - divie up

3.  One member of team writes the front half (max like 1250 words)

4. Second member of team writes back half (end max 2500 words)

5.  Members of the team do individual edits of final, which they send to each other

6.  Flip a coin as to which member gets to edit the final draft

7.  Submit to contest

timeline is up to you.

That's just a way to co-write.  if you want to leave the decision to the teams - do so.  Just an idea.

Always good Panda.

Boone Spaulding's picture
Boone Spaulding from Coldwater, Michigan, U.S.A. is reading Solarcide Presents: Nova Parade April 4, 2012 - 6:12pm

^ Sounds good Fritz

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 6:13pm

Not a bad idea at all. Especially writing two halves.

Stacy Kear's picture
Stacy Kear from Bucyrus, Ohio lives in New Jersey is reading The Art of War April 4, 2012 - 6:45pm

I would read :-)

Renfield's picture
Renfield from Hell is reading 20th Century Ghosts April 4, 2012 - 6:46pm

I'd stick with a week.  Mainly because people work better under a deadline.  If you give a procrastinator 2 weeks he will just wait till the last 2 hours of 2 weeks, instead of the last 2 hours of 1 week.

If the jerk procrastinator waited until the last 2 hours of anything, then their partner would have no idea what's going and be fucked in the end. With two people you're working off both of their schedules, and the partners will have to synch up sometime to outline and then edit the piece, plus that usual time to draft. I'd be hesitant to think most two people could get that done during a work week. You could be more right though. What's everybody else think, realistically?

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 6:57pm

Symbiotic

Covewriter's picture
Covewriter from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & Sons April 4, 2012 - 7:10pm

Panda I would love to do it. The one thing I always want when working on a story is someone to talk to. As a partner, I will be happy to let a more experienced person take the lead if they like. I would not be able to pick a partner. The orchestrators might have to massage that a bit. I'd love to be a part though if it works out. Collaboration would be awesome.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters April 4, 2012 - 7:12pm

Did anyone already mention....

If we have 12 teams, then 6, then 3...

Am I wrong that this doesn't work out?  I'm sort of dumb, so I could be wrong.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest April 4, 2012 - 7:17pm

I'm in agreement with Cove. Maybe the moderators, or someone neutral, should pick the partners. This may help when more than one person wants to work with the same person. Now, as the rounds continue, do the teams stay the same?

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:18pm

Mexican Stand-off

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters April 4, 2012 - 7:19pm

"when more than one person wants to work with the same person"

Sigh.  I know I'm popular, but I'm sure an agreement can be reached. 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:20pm

Teams stay the same. My only issue is complaints with who you get paired up with.

I would want both writers to collaborate. Not only one take the lead. Then it would just be their story and not the both.

 

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters April 4, 2012 - 7:22pm

If I can pick a partner, I'll consider.  If not, I'm out.  I can't collaborate with just anyone.  I'm sort of hard to get along with.

 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:23pm

That's why. We would need partners in a mutual agreement that want to collaborate. I can't force people to partner up with anyone.

 

Dave's picture
Dave from a city near you is reading constantly April 4, 2012 - 7:24pm

Let people who want to pair up do so, have a pool if others looking for a partner

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:25pm

@Dave

Agreed.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest April 4, 2012 - 7:32pm

My only issue is complaints with who you get paired up with.

I think that may be good, though. There'd have to be coordination and communication between the two people. An agreement will have to be made. This could also take us out of our writing comfort zones. We'll have to learn to adapt to each other's styles. I don't outline, for instance, but maybe for this I'd have to learn how. Maybe the person I'm paired with doesn't write in the same style as I do, but they may have to change their style a bit so the story is stylistically cohesive. More than anything, this could be a valuable learning process.

XyZy's picture
XyZy from New York City is reading Seveneves and Animal Money April 4, 2012 - 7:34pm

I would be willing to do this, but only under any circumstances.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters April 4, 2012 - 7:35pm

So, the finals would be with 3 teams? 

Also, are you wanting to do this War style - as in no workshopping?  That's what I gather. 

Sorry - I just need to know what I'm getting myself into.  Can I pick the start date?  I'd prefer a week when paylines are not up.  Not that I write at work, but just that i write at work. 

Oh, why am I even asking questions...I'll do it. 

Good luck.

 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:40pm

I'll make the time limit two weeks. It's more than enough time to schedule a time for both writers.

The participants will choose who they pair up with.

@R. Moon

I think it is also. I strongly suggest both people put the same amount of effort. I don't want one picking up the slack.

I also suggest putting any ego aside, so that you can better communicate. With experience or not the story is both your creation.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest April 4, 2012 - 7:41pm

When will pairing begin? Maybe start a list of people who are involved.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:44pm

The no workshopping would be better. It gives non-members a chance to join in.

I could do that, the only problem is once I do then everyone will want to some leniency, so I have to be strict at some point.

But just let me know.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:47pm

I can put the list now, then you tell me who you will pair up with.

@Avery

The final round will be a Mexican Standoff.

Mexican standoff-A confrontation between two or more armed parties, neither of which wants to attack first (fearing that the other could retaliate), but neither of which will disarm (for fear the other will attack).

 

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest April 4, 2012 - 7:50pm

Okay, I'm in...

And, I think I know who I want to work with, but I haven't talked to that person yet. 

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. April 4, 2012 - 7:50pm

I think the one person writing 1500 words for instance and then the second person writing another 1500 words would be ideal because then you avoid the back and forth or someone doing more work than the other. So two weeks to write the story would be ideal.  One person would get week one, the first half and the other would get week two and the key elements of judging would be:  1.  Did they work together well?  Does the story flow seamlessly? 2. Was the tone maintained in an organic way?  3. Obviously was the story good or did it seem like one person's style was superior to the others. 4. Did one person seem like they had a good concept and the other person ruined it?  I mean you would judge it based on all these things.

As for what avery said, if you started with 12, it would then be 6 teams and then 3 but I don't see that as a problem. You can have the three teams go up against each other in the final round and only one team wins. However, for all the effort if people were to put into this AFTER WAR (which is still going for about 6 weeks), I would petition the site creators for prizes again. Like the memberships or the vouchers and other people should throw in some swag.  I love just random competition but honestly if you were to put this much effort into something, you want there to be a payoff. For instance, whatever team wins, I would definitely publish the winning story in my pdf mag coming out.  Yet we should also put some books in and maybe even a monetary prize, then people will put in their best effort.

 

This is just an idea but...I would say maybe that that everyone entering the competition donate 5 dollars to the competition and 24 times 5, you at least have a 120 dollar prize to offer the winners at the end of the competition. So 60 bucks apiece plus books and other free crap. I have DVD box sets of shit I've never even opened or watched that I would give away.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. April 4, 2012 - 7:52pm

Also, I am willing to try working with anyone.  That's the fun of it.

Jason Van Horn's picture
Jason Van Horn from North Carolina is reading A Feast For Crows April 4, 2012 - 7:55pm

I'd do it, but nobody would want me for a partner. :(

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. April 4, 2012 - 7:56pm

Jason, I'll take your hairy ass.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 7:57pm

@Danny

Good input. I was thinking of a prize for the effort. I'm just not sure if the site would want to contribute.

The five dollars sounds like a good idea. But I would want someone trustwrothy, like a treasurer, to manage that portion.

Also I posted the names. If I didn't include you or you don't want to be, say so.

Dave's picture
Dave from a city near you is reading constantly April 4, 2012 - 7:57pm

Uh. Me.

aliensoul77's picture
aliensoul77 from a cold distant star is reading the writing on the wall. April 4, 2012 - 7:58pm

you can add me Panda.

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 8:00pm

Added.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest April 4, 2012 - 8:10pm

Are we making the pairings public? Or are we blind to one another's pairings? 

PandaMask's picture
PandaMask from Los Angeles is reading More Than Human April 4, 2012 - 8:12pm

Public

Covewriter's picture
Covewriter from Nashville, Tennessee is reading & Sons April 4, 2012 - 8:12pm

I am invisioning a lot of e-mailing back and forth about the story at the beginning. That's the biggest part of the collaboration -- which direction are we headed, Grandma's house or New York City? 

 But picking a partner, I think will be harder for newer people. I feel like I'm in gym class when they say get a partner for whatever, and I'm standing all around looking for another lost person. Panda would you pick a partner for me?