Fifty-Word Fiction Frenzy - A Community Collaboration: The Story So Far + Editor Election
If you're unaware of this project, we have been building a story written by Steemit through community voting of submitted paragraphs. It has been very interesting and quite fun so far.
I'd like to thank everyone that has taken part so far by means of submitting an entry;
@meesterboom, @fisteganos, @sazbird, @spark, @aunt-deb, @cobceo, @riskdebonair, @catulhu, @richq11, @ericvancewalton, @ezzy, @marifa, @dreemit, @smalltalk, @nikflossus, @therealpaul, @richardjuckes, @writingamigo, @surpassinggoogle, @generikat, @countzero, @hexdek16, @jedau, @madlenfox, @skypal, @lauralemons and @scaredycatguide.
Without your participation this would never have worked, and certainly would not have been quite so exciting.
The winner of the last round was @writingamigo. Congratulations, The post did not have a payout but, I have sent you a small reward for taking part.
The Story So Far:
Who would have thought that earning three million dollars could cost me so much. I had gone from rags to riches in scarcely a year, but I'd have given it all back in a heartbeat if it meant regaining all I had lost. Let me tell you how it began.
His name was Arty, he had slid into the train seat beside me, smiling, gold tooth glinting. "Hey, Danny. You wanna get rich?."
What the hell? How'd this guy know my name? I froze as Arty's smile turned into a cold leer. Something metallic shoved into my side. "Because you see Danny... I ain't askin'."
Looking back now, there are so many other choices I could have made. But terror paralyzed me for crucial moments of time. It seems ironic that it was the inaction of a coward that put me on this path, when so many things that came after took absolute fearlessness to pull off.
It's hard to reminisce about your shortcomings with the barrel of a pistol rammed between your ribs, and I found my attention returned to the piercing stare that Arty was casting upon me. a painful jab from the barrel helped me in my refocusing effort.
"You're gonna do me a favor, Danny." He drawled with no hint of polite solicitation in his glacial tone.
He held my gaze as he reached inside his jacket and withdrew a manila envelope.
Something squished in the envelope as I took it.
"Ya don't wanna know Danny, you don't want to put your finger on it." Arty smirked at that and quickly stood. "Be seein' ya soon," he said and winked.
As he walked away I stared at the envelope in my hand. I knew that address...
It was Emerson's Biotech lab where I developed the virus. I began to sweat as I tore the corner and peered inside. Emerson always wore the same ring. This was his finger, there was no mistaking that. My heart began to palpitate. I searched the aisle but Arty was long gone.
Emerson was always a sneaky guy, but I never thought that he would get himself in so much trouble. He also said that my identity will be kept in secret... Yeah, right.
It was no coming back at that point. I had to look deeper into the envelope. After all, can it be anything worse than a finger?
REPLY TO THIS COMMENT IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED AS THE STORY'S EDITOR.
I'm putting my name forward.
Excerpt:
You already know how I feel. That was excellent btw ;)
Yes I do. And thanks. It's from a story I was sharing here on Steemit.
It looks like I'll be doing the editing anyway because not enough people saw this to put their name forward. Easiest election ever. lol.
You've got the passion for it, so you have my vote!
I do encourage you to set a schedule with the posts: 1 day to write the next paragraph; the next day for everyone to return and vote. That way there's a rhythm to it, and people can get into that rhythm and make it a regular habit in their schedules. Also to require that people who post a paragraph must come back and vote for someone's paragraph other than their own, so that they are contributing to the voting process. Otherwise their paragraph is not a valid submission. Implementing this will actually speed up the story-crafting from how it's been, and encourage more participation.
That said, I'm often out of town for days at a time without internet, so my participation can be spotty :)
Good idea! I've noticed an inconsistency or two. I suggest an editor that isn't directly involved in the project...that way his/her "take" on the story remains out. The editing should only be for grammar and not content.
I disagree! It would be better if the editor was someone who is invested in the project and wants to see it end up a success. They will be more willing to put the necessary effort to words revising it to the best of their ability.
As long as they context is not adulterated, they would not possess the power to edit the plot or shape the story the way they want to. They will only be able to change it to a particular style, one that we will have voted on.
I have no issues with you editing the story. I think from a rewards perspective also it would be good for you to ge the chance to earn more for your hard work.
I don't care about the money. I'm actually down between 100-200 STEEM through this project, from giving out bounties on posts that made practically nothing.
I'm trying to help us build something together here, and for us to do that, we need to all choose who will be the editor. I think you should reconsider putting your name forward.
OH no, my editing just isn't good enough I would say!
Edit, re-edit. Sure. I hope you've got thick skin, because there's sure to be feedback. 😎
And about calling chapter breaks? Like having one right now, and moving to a piece of back-story, or introducing a secondary theme/plot/character?
That's alright, I have very thick skin.
That might be an idea for later, but for now I think it's going well with the paragraph by paragraph set up. Each new round seems to send the story in a new direction which might be a little insane, but it's certainly interesting.
I am going to retain an unedited version as well as a revised one, so that any previous winners can request an original version should they want to.