Are you ready to write a story together? Let’s go!
Yay! It’s my Blogiversary! A year ago when I started this little writer’s haven for my monotonous mind, I had absolutely nothing to say. My first post was “Okay, I have a blog. So now, what”. Very funny.
So, Let’s talk about my present. Yes, I want a present. Why not? Don’t you give presents? Hey, I deserve it. I’m working hard here!
On March 17, when I hit 10,000 hits, I joked with Gloria Richard, who I met on this blog, that for my Blogiversary I wanted to double my hits. At the time, achieving another 10,000 hits in four months seemed like a joke. Ummm… not so much of a joke anymore. I’m now over 28,000. Thanks so much, guys.
So, since I don’t have to ask for 20,000 hits, this is what I want. You’re a writer, right? How about we write a little story together?
Sound like fun?
My Writing Bud Jenny Keller Ford did something similar to this recently, but I’m going to make it a little easier and less stressful. (Because you won’t have to worry about someone posting before you finish what you’re working on.)
If you want to play, just click here. Comment that you want to join, and include your email address (if you are worried about email grabbing software, type it in this format: Jennifer-eaton (at) Comcast (dot) net. We will be able to contact you , but the bots won’t get you. If you are hopping on to this late, go ahead and add your name. The more the merrier.
We will start off with an opening of about 250 words (about a page 12 point double spaced). Then person #2 on the list will be up to bat. They will add 250 or fewer words.
Notice I said “or fewer” If you are tight on time, and you want to post 100, or even fifty, that’s fine… as long as you are pushing the story forward. Likewise, if you need an extra ten words to finish your thought, that’s okay. This is for fun, but don’t go crazy… give the next person a turn.
Once you are done, post your addition to your blog, and send me the link so I can include it in the page list. Then don’t forget to tag the next person on the Comments List.
I will post the link to your site on Tuesdays, sending people to your own site to read your installment to the story.
Rules:
1. CLICK HERE to add your name to join the group.
2. Post only after you have been tagged to make sure that the person before you has presented their installment.
3. If you can, post your addition to the story on your blog within four days of being tagged. If you do not send your installment to jennfer-eaton (at) Comcast (dot) net by Sunday 4:00PM EST there is a possibility that you post will not be scheduled on time for the Tuesday update.
4. Send the link to your blog post to “Jennifer-eaton (at) comcast (dot) net”, and tag the next person.
5. MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. SOME PEOPLE DON’T HAVE “CONTACT ME” OPTIONS ON THEIR WEB SITES. We need to be able to tag you to let you know you are “up”.
6. If you do not have a blog, or you don’t want to post your installment on your site, you can email your addition to me and I will post it here and add it to the story-roll.
7. You may direct your readers to “Write a Story” for links to earlier installments, or to add their name to the comments list if they’d like to join.
8. When we get to the end of the list, person #1 will be up to bat again. We will keep going until we end the story, or interest wanes.
9. If the muses aren’t poking you with their magic word wands, please pass to the next person in the list. We will come back to you when we start the cycle over.
10. No cussing.
11. I will post weekly (probably Tuesday) a link to your blog so people who are following the story can read the next installment. If we end up ahead of ourselves (finishing early) the weekly post will appear behind to those contributing. That’s okay. It will make room for hiccups if someone does not submit on time.
12. If you bow out, and others continue, you still agree to allow us to use your words and ideas in the project moving forward. Your name will be credited for the work you contributed.
13. If interest wanes, and I need something to keep my creative juices flowing, I may finish it on my own… unless it is in a category I don’t enjoy. Then I will let it die.
14. Most importantly: Have fun! That’s what writing is all about. If you can’t do it when your number comes up, no harm, no foul, just pass on to the next person.
Note: If you finish in a day, please submit that same day and tag the next person. This will keep the “weekly post” ahead of schedule in case we hit a bump, like someone getting sick, or on vacation, or forgetting to tag the next person.
#1: Many writers want to try flash fiction, but don’t know how to start. This will give you a prompt coming from someone else, and a pre-determined story to build on. How great is that for flash fiction experience?
#2: I originally thought of just posting the installments on jennifermeaton.com for people to read. But if you post your work on your own blog, it will drive more traffic to your site, and also to your fellow authors and we have higher visibility to draw others in, which will make it more fun.
So, what are you waiting for? Jump on the list and let’s have some fun!
However, in this case, I think this post is powerful enough, and well-written enough that it can stand on its own. If you blog, and you have ever posted a picture on your blog that you did not take with your own camera, you OWE IT TO YOURSELF to read this post. Are you sitting on a ticking time bomb?
Jon is an Englishman transplanted to New Jersey, USA, where he is an ‘author in residence’ at Lakehurst Elementary School. Jon is the founding member of The New Jersey Author’s Network and FindAWritingGroup.com.
Jennifer M Eaton 