Epics and an Egg

[kriadydragon]

I guess I'm going to just have to buckle down and write a multi-book story already. The story I'm currently trying to plot keeps trying to turn into one.

The thing is, I'm kind of wary about tackling anything multi-book. My biggest worry is losing interest, because ideas come and go and finding the motivation to write many of them can be a pain in the butt. I'm seriously thinking about starting up a writing group via the internet to have people to help flesh out ideas with. Does that sound intriguing to anyone? Or, maybe, sounds more like a bad idea? The condition is that you have to be working on a story - either an idea or a story you're currently trying to write - one you plan to have published either by a company or on the internet. I've been wanting to do this for a while but am reluctant as I'm very protective of my ideas and would hate for someone to take them. On the other hand, discussing idea I have with a few people having trouble with their own ideas might help, and I've always wanted to try it (I've heard good things about it). Decisions, decisions... What do you all think?

Oh, and kari_kln1671, you're a bad influence on me. Look at what your naughty influence has gone and made me do.



*Holds out bowl* Please, sir, click on the helpless little egg.

Comments

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

*giggles, then bows head shamefully* ;) Clicked!

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

As to the comm, I like the idea, but I think you'd want to limit membership to people you know well enough (to limit that is possible with the virtual world) to trust. Most of us are respectful when it comes to each others ideas, but I there are some authors who I count as friends with whom I wouldn't share an idea without expecting them to copy/steal it. It's usually pretty obvious pretty quick who can and cannot be trusted in that area.

I do think it helps both in the process of writing and in maintaining interest projects to be able to talk about them.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

This wouldn't be a comm, it would be done through e-mail. I have thought about a comm, but... even friends locked and everything, I still wouldn't feel fully comfortable discussing ideas on it. E-mail just feels more private.

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

*nods* That's a good idea. Have you considered IM conferences, also?

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I have, but we kind of don't trust IM after our modem got hijacked. We think it may have had something to do with it. Plus I feel E-mail would be easier since we wouldn't have to be on at certain times or anything. We just leave a message and wait for a response.

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

*nods* I like IM when batting around ideas for the immediate response, but it does require people to all be available at the same time. Email is good, and sometimes it can be pretty immediate, too. My sister and I have bounced back and forth with email like we were IMing before (at least until I lost patience and just IMed her.)

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

I would give any help I could but I think I'm too fresh to be much help. I understand the concerns with sharing because there's trust issues involved. I've been looking around for a writing group near home but the nearest I could find is half an hour away from home. I think I need to get some writing under my belt before I'd be much help :(

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Then this might be a helpful thing for you. I've taken a lot of writing classes and the majority of them - well, pretty much all of them - involve taking part in a writing group. Part of bettering ones writing is by actually writing, and the other part is feedback.

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

Then count me in. I think it's better to do this in an envirnoment where the feedback is safe. I don't mean saying it's good when it's crap. I mean knowing that the feedback is not meant to be hurtful.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'll need your e-mail address (you can send it via private message if you don't want it where everyone can see it.) I plan on starting this little group (and I do mean little) this week. After I get your e-mail, I'll send you and Titan5 instructions on hw we're going to do this thing (although at the extreme moment I'm still figuring it out :P).

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

I've been reading this book called A Novel In a Year. I'm not trying to write a novel, I just want to do the exercises. Tonight on the train I wrote 256 words on an accident I had years ago \0/ (Not yay for the accident, yay for the writing :D)

[flingslass.livejournal.com]

flingslass at yahoo dot com dot au.

[titan5.livejournal.com]

I think it's a great idea as long as you do as discussed and just include those you know you can trust. I am fortunate that my oldest daughter is a really good writer and well versed in the stuff I like (like stargate) and STILL doesn't think I'm totally nuts, so I sometimes bounce ideas off her. She helped me flesh out a book idea very nicely (not that it will ever actually get written). Just having someone to go back and forth with really helped me think and she threw in some great ideas. She's busy and gone most of the time, so if you give this a go and need another person . . .

I've finally figured out that I'll keep on writing because I love it, not because anything might ever come of it. If it doesn't, it doesn't. It's the trying that makes me happy. Plus, I enjoy the company.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

See, that's what I need - a sounding board to help me work out ideas, concept, and especially snags (Black Dragon, for ecample. I have hit the biggest wall with that story and can't seem to get around it.)

Right now you're the first volunteer, so if you have a story or idea, we could probably start this pretty soon (I want to wait a few more days first - I'm thinking until Monday - before starting things off.)

[titan5.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. I have a story I started a year or so ago and my interest has recently been renewed, but I'm not really sure where I'm going with it. I guess that's where I need some help. That and some medical and military research to get past my current position. I also have my "novel" I wrote 2 years ago that needs some serious work to beef it up - some complications and plot twists to make it more interesting. I guess I need to pick one. Just give a yell when you're ready.

[padawan-aneiki.livejournal.com]

Have clickied on the egg! :) I have a baby dragon in need of some clicks, too!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Clicked!:D