☡Secret Shutin Santa Signup 19 ☡ Post Story Requests Here

Peter V said:
Thank you Joshua

It was not my intention to request anything controversial. I have missed Iain's work, both fiction and SF since he sadly left us and just thought it would be nice to see something Culture-esq. As I made the request I realised it may be rather difficult, hence the question fair or not. I recognise now it was not really a realistic idea. However, anything created by anyone, anywhere and at anytime in the Culture universe I would view as an homage to one of my favourite authors, rather than fan fiction.
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Quite welcome. I love a good challenge.

Of course, now I'm properly beating my head against a wall trying to figure out what would make someone a fugitive from the Culture and what a fugitive would even look like... and trying to avoid just making someone a fugitive from a hegemonic swarm as I feel that's too easy... But for me, this is the fun!
 
I quite like the idea of writing in someone else's world--especially ones I'm familiar with. Or writing in the same style. Or using similar stage props. It's a fun way to study different styles of writing and find out what works for you. And then you could get someone else's feedback on how well you captured the world....

Maybe give people the option? If we'd like to request a story set in someone else's universe, perhaps we could phrase it something like, "I want a lost-heiress-solves-a-horror-mystery, either set in the Discworld, in the style of Discworld, or, at the very least, in a humorous soft fantasy setting." That way if the writer hasn't read Discworld, or doesn't want to be limited by someone else's imagined world, there's no pressure. They can just choose to do humorous soft fantasy, and it'll still be what the person requested.
 
Did I read the brief properly then? I was under the impression you, Mad Alice (you're not really mad, are you? Just angry a lot of the time?) would throw all suggestions into a bag, then we'd queue up and you'd reach in to your bag and draw something out, and that was what we had to write about. if that is the case, then I don't want to be handed a story where I have to research a universe to be able to write in it. I'm another non-Culture fan, and to be perfectly honest, researching for something you're interested in or want to write about is fine, doing the same because you have to is not. So could I please get clarification, cos if someone says yeah you might get the Culture thing, or Riverworld, or Earthsea or whatever, then I'm sorry but I neither have the time for that nor would I want to do it, and if that does end up being the deal, I'll have to back out.
 
Trollheart said:
Did I read the brief properly then? I was under the impression you, Mad Alice (you're not really mad, are you? Just angry a lot of the time?) would throw all suggestions into a bag, then we'd queue up and you'd reach in to your bag and draw something out, and that was what we had to write about. if that is the case, then I don't want to be handed a story where I have to research a universe to be able to write in it. I'm another non-Culture fan, and to be perfectly honest, researching for something you're interested in or want to write about is fine, doing the same because you have to is not. So could I please get clarification, cos if someone says yeah you might get the Culture thing, or Riverworld, or Earthsea or whatever, then I'm sorry but I neither have the time for that nor would I want to do it, and if that does end up being the deal, I'll have to back out.
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It isn't so much an either-or proposition. How this usually goes down is people give their preferences on what sort of thing they want to write and then the host does their best to accommodate those preferences. If you would rather avoid, say, writing in someone else's universe, that usually gets PMed to the host (that way you don't give away stories you didn't write when guessing starts!). We do try to avoid things like "I don't really want to do Joshua Jones' story prompt" because then no one would take my prompts! In seriousness, though, if you don't think you can pull off the prompt you're given, PM Alice and I'm sure she would be willing to facilitate a swap. And, for the record, I'll take on anything and am willing to swap, so there will be at least one person willing to take a story you don't believe you can pull off.

That said, one of the brilliant aspects of this is being pushed out of comfort zones. Last time I did this was my first attempt at weird fiction, with a conch shell. For Victoria freaking Silverwolf, one of the top writers on the forum and recent Hugo award winner... so I understand difficult assignments. But I can say for certain that I learned more from being pushed and failing than holding onto my comfort zone. Not saying you are doing that now btw... just saying that the best things I've done have been in response to pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

So, I'm sure Alice has noted your reluctance toward this prompt and will take that into account when assigning prompts.
 
Trollheart said:
Did I read the brief properly then? I was under the impression ...
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Ditto
This should be so simple, and in essence it is.
1.Just keep wishes generic so what books you have read doesn't matter
2. Avoid caring more about 'getting a laugh'* on the thread with a silly topic than seriously providing an idea someone can actually write about.

*(No names, no pack drill :censored: )
 
Astro Pen said:
Ditto
This should be so simple, and in essence it is.
1.Just keep wishes generic so what books you have read doesn't matter
2. Avoid caring more about 'getting a laugh'* on the thread with a silly topic than seriously providing an idea someone can actually write about.

*(No names, no pack drill :censored: )
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TBH, last time I participated in one of these, the conflict revolved around "conventional" requests vs. "unusual" requests (mine was "Dinner Date with a Cetacean", so I kinda fell into the "unusual" or "getting a laugh" category). Same basic issue, but slightly different application. What was decided at that time was to PM the host if you have a preference about the sort of stories you would rather not take on, so that the requester doesn't feel like no one wants to do their request and the writer doesn't feel forced into something which they cannot perform. The host will then take those preferences into account and not assign against preferences if possible. I think that is probably the fairest approach to this situation.

And please keep in mind that one person's "getting a laugh" request is another person's serious request.
 
It's not really anything to do with comfort zones, necessarily. I started writing some crime fiction, which I hadn't done before, so it's not as if I want to rigidly stick to what I know. At the same time, I do know what I'm not capable of. Were I to be asked to write, say, a travel guide for Moscow, I could read about it, watch videos, but would my writing reflect the idea that I knew what I was talking about? I doubt it. So it's not so much a question of comfort as it is of feasibility really.
 
Astro Pen said:
Any story written from a wikipedia grab bag is not likely to please the recipient because it will be full of irritating inaccuracies and inconsistencies. People ask for a specific because they are an aficionado of that particular fantasy. My bringing beer to their wine tasting would not be well received.
I'm with @sinister42 No way am I writing in someone else's universe. That is for fanfic teenagers with zero creativity.
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I have seen some gorgeous fruit iambic beers at wine tastings that all the posh crowd were scrumming for, as well as some chocolate porters.
 
tegeus-Cromis said:
I'd like a story about cyprobesers, groomples, and tlonks.
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For the record. This is my request. The writer is free to decide what kind of things or beings, or beings and things, these are, as long as a) they're distinct from one another, and b) the story really is *about* them (i.e. they're not just mentioned in passing).
 
tegeus-Cromis said:
For the record. This is my request. The writer is free to decide what kind of things or beings, or beings and things, these are, as long as a) they're distinct from one another, and b) the story really is *about* them (i.e. they're not just mentioned in passing).
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So noted.
 
Really not sure about this, but I'll have a stab...

As for the tale I'd like, I have only a setting / scenario — it could easily be SF or F and scaled any which way you want...

An ancient transport system forms a storm above a small town or suburb: violent enough to block links with surrounding areas, it connects the calmer sky directly above to the skies of another world, and for a while capable opportunists ride the winds across this vault, in both directions, mostly by balloon or glider: interlopers, thieves, kidnappers, dreamers... maybe flora and fauna too, take your pick... there might be a surface to surface elevator link at the calm centre... and a secret agenda or three, of course...

Regards.
 
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Daysman said:
Really not sure about this, but I'll have a stab...

As for the tale I'd like, I have only a setting / scenario — it could easily be SF or F and scaled any which way you want...

An ancient transport system forms a storm above a small town or suburb: violent enough to block links with surrounding areas, it connects the calmer sky directly above to the skies of another world, and for a while capable opportunists ride the winds across this vault, in both directions, mostly by balloon or glider: interlopers, thieves, kidnappers, dreamers... maybe flora and fauna too, take your pick... there might be a surface to surface elevator link at the calm centre... and a secret agenda or three, of course...

Regards.
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Lovely setting.
 
Firstly, I'm sorry I'm not around annoying people as much as I ought to these days - I rolled my mobility scooter, and just sitting on the computer chair causes enough discomfort that I avoid it as much as possible. Oh, it's all right- the scooter fell on nice soft me and was hardly damaged at all, and my brother outlaw (well, he's never married my sister but they've been living together about twenty-five years) has replaced the punctured tyre, and inflated it...

But I have every intention of finishing this operation, even if I miss one of the other challenges - I've alreadygot a couple of thousand words prepared, even if I miss one of the challenges. To this end I have taken my little webbook to bed and should be able to find a comfortable position - well, at least a non-excrutiating one. I have already a couple of thousand words written, but mostly longhand on a pad, and most of them won't make it to the final cut, anyway, they're preparatives.

Secondly, regarding Alise's sanity: anyone volunteering to herd a pack of cats like this into a deadline has not merely a screw or two loose, but could be admitted to an asylum. I am not entirely socially adjusted myself (the description of "a raving nutcase" has been applied to me, and I cannot say without some justification) but would dig an escape tunnel to Spain before volunteering. I will attempt to putty up the worst of the cracks as people fail to deliver their promised bounty, as is my wont, but all of you weirdos who've promised to deliver for a particular date, please remember all the planning and organisation required and do everything to smooth the rather lumpy pathway, or there might turn out to be a massive vote suggesting you for the honour.
 
tegeus-Cromis said:
For the record. This is my request. The writer is free to decide what kind of things or beings, or beings and things, these are, as long as a) they're distinct from one another, and b) the story really is *about* them (i.e. they're not just mentioned in passing).
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You can't say tlonks anymore. It's considered racist. I think they prefer genetically-enhanced-orange-skinned banananlike beings. Definitely not peelers!
 
Trollheart said:
You can't say tlonks anymore. It's considered racist. I think they prefer genetically-enhanced-orange-skinned banananlike beings. Definitely not peelers!
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But it has such appeel
By the by me fine trollioboy I am owed a selection reply from you. Your fellow secreters are all doing theit own little pee dance with waiting upon your reply.
 
I think your "maybe?" on the end of "from the perspective of an animal" rndered the reply too tentative? Go for it: make a request, not an approximative.
 
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