Organizing the Storytellers
I've been kicking this idea around in my head for quite a while. I even started a discussion about it in the general message boards a while back, but didn't get much of a response. Some time ago, Lost had mentioned the idea of creating a companion book to go with the documentary, filled with the written stories told by users.
Now, I kind of pictured this as an ode to Jack Kerouac...sort of an "On the Road...with Zombies"
Somehow we would end up tying the tales of many travelers in together to form a central underlying plot. It would be a huge collaborative effort from all of the writers on the site. We have SO many really talented people here and I think it would be amazing. However, I have no idea how to jump start something like this.
I considered an outbreak, but don't know if that's really the right format to start such a discussion. Any ideas?
Now, I kind of pictured this as an ode to Jack Kerouac...sort of an "On the Road...with Zombies"
Somehow we would end up tying the tales of many travelers in together to form a central underlying plot. It would be a huge collaborative effort from all of the writers on the site. We have SO many really talented people here and I think it would be amazing. However, I have no idea how to jump start something like this.
I considered an outbreak, but don't know if that's really the right format to start such a discussion. Any ideas?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Todd Merrick Harkin on -
Ok so have read my writing, you kind of want on this kind of basis? The actual bare bones on the emotion of the surviviors not the focus on the zombies....got it. But how can this be done WELL -might i add- and still portray the initial goal of this website.
and go watch Crash it's an amazing movie and will give great insight on the idea you have.
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Permalink Reply by Matlock on -
I don't remember who posted it before hand but what's our writer's Bible?
Dates, times.
And for the sake of ease, you should set it a year or so before now. That way you know exactly what happened up til the very first infection.
?
I'm not much for film making but I love writing. I'm more than down.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on -
A few of the people interested so far have helped me come up with a few general submission guidelines, but no hard and fast bible. What we have talked about so far is more of a disclaimer:
Project Disclaimer:
The individual author maintains creative control over their character and many of the events for the duration of their contribution. However, the initial author reserves the right to return submissions with a request for revision, or reject content that is not in keeping with the overall story concept. i.e. no zombie animals, no vampires, no werewolves, no CIA agents, no secret psychic assassins, no superheroes, no paramilitary one person armies, no ninja warriors nor anything else deemed detrimental to the overall project goal. Realism is the key to this project. Translation: If your character idea is someone who would be played by Keanu Reeves or a WWE Wrestler in the movie version, you might want to reconsider joining this project.
P.S. All character's names, story lines, and submission story content must be orginal work. No part of a submission should be patterened after or copied off of a movie, video game or another author's work. Translation: Alice doesn't live here. Nor does Leon, Claire Redfield, or those oogie looking mutant zombie dogs.
As far as dates and times go where their story begins is open ended. It can be either before the initial outbreak or after whichever you're more comfortable with. Stories would probably be whittled down to fit once we have all the submissions we need to complete the project. For example, mine begins in August, but no year is given.
Don't feel bad, I don't know which end of a camera to point either. LOL!
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Permalink Reply by Matlock on
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Mine starts in September of 08 but I can fluctuate the year to fit the over all arc.
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Permalink Reply by Todd Merrick Harkin on
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alright so is there some secret club I can join so i can keep up on the "disclaimers" and updates? that way i can flow and grow my story more on the rules and guidelines.
Because in my story there isnt paramilitarianism but the characters do arm themselves and train on what to do if they are caught between walls of the undead.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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Well of course they do. Not arming oneself would be silly. I don't think we have a secret club yet, Eliza? Do we even have a secret handshake?
Actually Todd this is the very early discussion phase of the idea. There's only four or five of us batting ideas around, and you are one of them. But, if we do build a clubhouse, you'll be the first person we tell.
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Permalink Reply by Todd Merrick Harkin on
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awesome!!!
i am super good at working with my hands.
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Permalink Reply by eliZa on -
oh, i am totally excited about the secret handshake idea. and todd you are pretty much in the secret club, if there is one, which meets basically in this thread or if i bump into beth on the chat and say "you have to mention Keanu Reeves SOMEWHERE".
i would just like to say for the sake of saying it that i think it would be awesome if things didn't exactly match up. that's just human perspective. if you talk to five different witnesses to the same event you will get five different versions of the same story. so i think any small inconsistencies just ADD to the sincerity of different points of view and different authors and different writing styles. even with something like how zombies move, "really fast" or "really slow" are terms totally relative to how the observing character interprets things.
this is going to be really cool.
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Permalink Reply by eliZa on
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oh hey also could we set up a time to discuss this stuff sometimes in the zombie chat club confusing-ass people from everywhere window to the rest of the internet room? maybe a room with a shorter name than the one i just mentioned though.
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Permalink Reply by Beth on
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I have only one request, if we do form a secret club, can it be a tree fort? I always wanted one!
I think the idea of getting everyone together is a good one. We'd have to decide how and where first. The main chat room would probably be a bad idea unless it was between 10 and noon during the week. The zombie chat group is probably a better idea. Finding a time and date that everyone can be there will also be a challenge.
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Permalink Reply by Todd Merrick Harkin on
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im free after noon everyday, and am always on at night so whenever works for the other authors is perfect for me just let me know, and if i cant make it on my email is
blkhwk91@yahoo.com and you guys can just copy paste and ill write back to everyone else. alright? Well i have a date so i have to get a move on! night everyone
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Permalink Reply by eliZa on
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eek - maybe this can just be the secret club right here, this may be the simplest place to check for updates and follow threads. at least we will all know to check in and where to look for new info. if everyone works seperately we can tie it all in somehow, at least if we had a basic timeline. if the characters just need to bump into each other all we really need is a roundabout time and date and that particular snippet can be glossed over for the time being and refined at a later date as things come together. sound like it will work? also, beth, have you been talking to different writers on here about this?
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