Time Travel discussion

Once upon a time, a good friend of mine and I started what we liked to call a "Neverending Story". We'd each write an installment of it and then pass it back and forth. We'd usually leave our part on a cliffhanger and the next person would start with something entirely unexpected (and sometimes downright silly).

Anyhow, I've got a time travel neverending story starter ready, but I want to know who is interested in perhaps being in the writing queue. We have so many writers here that I think this would be quite fun. It would be simpler to create a list of who writes an installment after who so that 2 people don't post alternate versions of what happens next at the exact same time.

We'll start in a couple of days and I can add someone to the bottom of the list at any time if someone wants to join in later in the game. Also, you can pass on your turn or stop altogether at any time (just let me know).

Guidelines
1. Entries can be as short as one paragraph.
2. Each entry should leave an obvious opening for the next person to jump in. For example, the last line of your entry should be something like this: "When Mary opened her front door, she was shocked to find ..."
3. Participants should write their section of the story within 3 days. After 3 days, the torch automatically passes to the next person on the list.
4. You can ask to be skipped at any time.
5. Anyone can request to be added to the participant list at any time, even if it's just for 1 turn. You can also leave the participant list at any time.
6. We will continue to use this thread for any discussion.
7. The story is being told here.
8. Keep it clean.

Neverending Story Writing Queue
1. Amy
2. John
3. Tej
4. E.B.
5. Lincoln
6. Piero
7. Shane
8. Melanie
9. Kevin
10. (your name here)

A group of friends and I did something similar many years ago during the summer break of our favorite TV show. We used the characters from the show, but put them into an entirely different setting - we turned Star Trek Voyager into a western. We had a great time doing it and ended up with a pretty entertaining story.

Unfortunately, I don't have time to participate in anything like this right now. I would love to read the result, though.

Vickie wrote: "A group of friends and I did something similar many years ago during the summer break of our favorite TV show. We used the characters from the show, but put them into an entirely different setting ..."

That sounds like a fun one. :-) It does take a little free time. You're always welcome to request to jump in at any time (or just make a guest appearance) if free time materializes.

I am interested, but I was wondering what your suggested timeline is for writing each segment. Would I have two days to write my part, or two weeks? Also, what is the suggested length of each segment?

The segment each person would write would just be 1-3 paragraphs ... not very long (unless you really got on a roll). I'd hope for no longer than about a 3-day turn around (preferably shorter). If somebody was busy, they could just ask to be skipped.

The opening of the story that I have ready to go is just one paragraph with the first sentence of the second paragraph started.

Amy wrote: 'If somebody was busy, they could just ask to be skipped.'

Amy, with this proviso, count me in.

Sounds like fun.

I think I could manage three paragraphs in three days. I'm in. I was thinking each part would be the equivalent of a chapter, which is what a friend and I did back in high school.

John wrore: 'each part would be the equivalent of a chapter'

John, literature is full of jargon & short story, novel & epic as defined have no length requirement.

Novels, for example need only have character development and a deeper plot than a short story, but novels can be very short, as long as they still meet these requirements.

A chapter in three sentences?

Richard Brautigan, who wrote great stuff like ‘Trout Fishing in America’, also wrote a ONE SENTENCE novel.

It’s pretty good, too.

4. Tej

Sounds like fun. (as the old late renegade time traveller Captain Kirk would say, in the future, in an alternate timeline before some Romulan nut changed it all)

...and a potential shipwreck by the time it reaches my turn!

Amy wrote: "Once upon a time, a good friend of mine and I started what we liked to call a "Neverending Story". We'd each write an installment of it and then pass it back and forth. We'd usually leave our part..."
Me!Me! ~jumping up, raising my hand!!

Howard wrote: "John, literature is full of jargon & short story, novel & epic as defined have no length requirement..."

I have only recently discovered flash fiction, and I am loving it. Perhaps because of my journalism background in which brevity and conciseness are the norm.

Tej wrote: "4. Tej

Sounds like fun. (as the old late renegade time traveller Captain Kirk would say, in the future, in an alternate timeline before some Romulan nut changed it all)

...and a potential shipwr..."

Mwwwaaaah...I get to follow Tej ;)

John mentioned: 'flash fiction'

So now the Cody book?

Please?

Count me in please. Thanks.

E.B. wrote: "Amy wrote: "Once upon a time, a good friend of mine and I started what we liked to call a "Neverending Story". We'd each write an installment of it and then pass it back and forth. We'd usually le..."

That's a relief, you can undo the damage I've done :) I think this might be a good opportunity for authors to exact murderous revenge on my attempted writing, for all the criticisms I've made on their novels!

Tej wrote: "E.B. wrote: "Amy wrote: "Once upon a time, a good friend of mine and I started what we liked to call a "Neverending Story". We'd each write an installment of it and then pass it back and forth. We..."

haha, no way, you'll be a tough act to follow! This is gonna be fun, methinks ;)

So we begin ... here:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

And John's up first!

Wow, a great start to what I'm sure will be an interesting tale. Hope to find time for my part tonight.

If he can get the Dolorian up to 88 mph and repair the flux capacitor...when lightning strikes the clock tower...

I had another story starter ready, but I decided I wanted to keep that one for myself. ;) I can't wait to see what sort of twisty tales everyone writes before it gets back to me. This seems like a fun group to write with.

Lincoln: if lightning strikes John while he's holding the time travel device, it might not be 1950 that he travels to. :P

Funny you should say that Amy. I couldn't wait until tonight for part two, so now the ball is in Howard's court.

John wrote: "Funny you should say that Amy. I couldn't wait until tonight for part two, so now the ball is in Howard's court."

Civil War era. Interesting. I was expecting much further into the past. And that's the way the ball rolls.

I had a feeling you wouldn't be able to wait 'til tonight (let alone 3 days) to write your installment. :P

Can I be rude and tell my name story here? People just assume I was named after the President, but since John has chosen to go civil war on us, I can't resist and share with the group...

My Great Great Great Great Grandfather was a man by the name of Levi Pennington. He had 9 children and his wife was pregnant when Levi was killed at Gettysburg. He fought for the Union...They named the unborn child Lincoln after the President so he would know why his father had died.

I am named after my Great Great Great Grandfather Lincoln Minatree Pennington who was actually named after the President.

Probably because I just watched the new movie about "Lincoln."

Lincoln wrote: "Can I be rude and tell my name story here? People just assume I was named after the President, but since John has chosen to go civil war on us, I can't resist and share with the group...

My Great..."

So, do you feel a greater connection with Lincoln and the time period as a result?

My mom is big into family history and US Military history in general fascinates me. I like old buildings and haunted houses...stories from the past. I know the US has nothing on Europe as far as age is concerned.

but more to your question...I like the connection I have with Lincoln and feel a very deep patriotism just being an American.

While I was responding to your question Amy a you tube video came to mind, that might go well in our new video section:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VM5ik...

I know its a bit long but watching it makes me want to go back in time and see the old houses when they were lived in...

Sorry for the meandering response.

I am in, when do we start? (or maybe we have started? time travel paradox.. :)) )

Piero wrote: "I am in, when do we start? (or maybe we have started? time travel paradox.. :)) )"

We've already started, but it will probably be a few days (or hours depending on how fast everyone writes) for it to be your turn. I'll add you to the list.

Awesome video, Lincoln. A nice walk back in time. Thanks for sharing the link.

Yes, very interesting link, Lincoln. I have to say, though, that it makes me hope for a movie of the book rather than to actually read the book itself.

Great start Amy, John....oh man now I gotta learn about American civil war?!...or I'll just time travel all your asses to Downtown Abbey, England! alright just kidding ;)

Cant wait for Howard's "energy" turn in this tale ;)

Amy & John, fabulous start! Well done!

Next...

Nice Howard...Parked out back? Horses? Super-sonic hover crafts? I guess Tej will have to let us know.

Amy, three for three, pretty quick, I must say.

You 9 hrs ago, John 8 hrs ago and I just got in about an hour ago.

Seems this was a good idea.

Fun too.

Howard wrote: "Amy, three for three, pretty quick, I must say.

You 9 hrs ago, John 8 hrs ago and I just got in about an hour ago.

Seems this was a good idea.

Fun too."

The interesting thing about having so many people add to the story is that all of us are going to end up envisioning much different scenarios than one person (or even 2) ever would. How the heck did SHE get there? I guess it's left for Tej to do all the 'splainin'.

I thought about doing a collaborative story like this months ago, but I'm glad I waited for this mix of regulars to take a stab at it. :-)

I shared this with my son, and he told me he did a similar exercise at school. However, each contributor could only add one sentence to the story. Sounds like an interesting challenge.

John wrote: 'only add one sentence'

John, I'd be up with that but, at this point such a change might not be fair to others on the list, adding new stipulations as we go, etc.

Perchance this could be put into effect after everybody has a first turn, or at Amy's discretion.

Or it could be our a second story.

I agree with Howard, also I believe one sentence would be a challenge, I like to see progress of the story. It's more exciting.

John wrote: 'Or it could be our a second story'

Oh, you mean the one about Cody?

I'm up for that.

We could start another one elsewhere that was only one sentence at a time. Those sort of stories are usually best told around a fire (or a 5th grade classroom) though.

Well, no doubt one sentence would be a challenge but it might not give much to build on.

Howard wrote: "Well, no doubt one sentence would be a challenge but it might not give much to build on."

Yeah, it's an exercise that really must be done quickly in order to have much fun with it methinks.

Wow, what a great beggning from Amy and John and now Howard's entry oozing class, damn it and now its my turn already?! Why the hell did I put my name up to embarass myself...

This is turning out to be a good showcase for our group to have a taste of our authors writing talents.

E.B. seriously embrace yourself, you've got some damage to repair after my appaling entry (and the noticeable stoned silence that will follow).

No judgements here Howard, just a lot of fun so far. I for one am not an author. Let me ask Amy when you threw out the start did you have dinosaurs in mind?

OK I just reread (ouch) my entry.

It's far too long, twice so to be exact.

If you disregard the first & last semi-sentences (as being throwaways) then my entry is 6 sentences.

Yet I recall the first discussions on length & 3 was bandied about & I think this a better pace.

I'll do better.

My apologies Howard...I wrote my comment specifically for Tej who seems to be insecure after the great start. I see nothing wrong with your entry at all. I like a little bit of description rustic table dents aplenty. I am also intrigued by what might be parked out back. The way you finished is a cool opening for Tej.

Well over to you E.B. sorry! (wipes sweat over my forehead)

This is fun though!

Sorry I didnt give a straightforward explanation to how the mysterious lady friend found our panting protagonist (I'm such a coward, ha) but I like this mysterious lady friend that Howard introduced (good one there, Howard) and I think our protagonist need to work a bit hard for the answers ;). Love the setting, John and Amy gives us, reminds me of the cabin in Lost.

Tej wrote: "Well over to you E.B. sorry! (wipes sweat over my forehead)

This is fun though!"

Nice character development, Tej!