# Calling all authors.... the round robin thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462 "2001-11-15T04:45:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/1 "2001-11-15T04:45:07Z")
On an AOL message board, I’m currently engaged in a round robin storytelling format with a bunch of other folks from the free-form roleplaying forum. The idea is this: first I get a bunch of people who want to write a story. I’ll then break us up into _x_ groups of 4 (hopefully there’ll be a multiple of four groups] and arrange each group of 4 into a writing order. I’ll then randomly assign three words to the first person in each group, who will start off the story using those three words in their first post. The next person in each group will pick up where the first person left off, advance the story in another post, then leave off for the third person to pick up, and so on until the cycle is complete and it’s back to the first person again. Each person will write three times, so there will be twelve posts from beginning to end of a story. The way that it works on the AOL boards is that each person should take no more than three days to post their part of the story after the person preceding them makes their post, but I can be flexible on this point. 🙂 If someone finds that for whatever reason they won’t be able to post their part of the story within three days, it’s their responsibility to let the people in their group know so that the next person in line can pick up the slack. If this happens, it’ll result in the story having less than twelve posts to achieve resolution, but we’re a smart, creative buncha people so I bet we can work with it. 😉 The woman who runs the AOL version of this (called “The Mobius Trip,” in case you’re interested) posted an FAQ which I have edited to make it apply to the SDMB instead of AOL MBs: > [@](#): > > FAQs as a conversation: > > Him: Ah. Not sure I follow though… three words and a writing order… Like, “Cheese, blue and dirt”? > Me: Yep, Then the first author of each group has to use those three words in the initial post. > Him: That’s it? > Me: The next author in line builds on the story the first created. Yep that’s it. > Him: So, you can fabricate any story you like, just so long as you use the words given you? > Me: The first writer creates the story. The rest of the group builds on that story. > Me: It’s like a teacher saying: Write! Then after an hour, you have to pass your paper to the person in back of you. Each person has three days after the last, to send in their contribution. > Him: How long’s it continue? Or just once for the 4 authors? > Me: Three turns. > Me: The last person in line has to wrap up the story. > Him: So, one person starts the story, the next three follow up, and story ends and you start again? Or everyone writes in three times in the same story? > Me: Three times in the same story. When that story is done, the writing order is changed and they (if they still want to play) are given a new set of words. > Me: After everyone has a chance at first and last, the groups get shuffled and we start over. > Me: If a writer can’t make the three day deadline, he passes and the story goes to the next person. > Him: Couple other things… specific genres? What kind of rating, PG, G? I’m assuming it’s not IC, just actual storytelling. > Me: PG, if you will, since this isn’t the Pit. As far as genre, anything goes 🙂 Sound good? If you’re interested or if you have questions, this is the thread to sign up in or ask in. If there’s enough interest, I’ll take the names of people who want to play up until the 19th or 20th (I’ll decide when I see how long it takes for people to get any questions cleared up), then I’ll form story groups and come up with your random three words. btw, this works very well on AOL’s board format but I’m not sure how it’ll work out here – we’ll have to figure it out while we go along. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/2 "2001-11-15T05:04:13Z")
Sounds interesting. I’m in, but keep in mind that the American Thanksgiving holiday is Nov. 22. Some of us will be out of town that whole four-day weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Yondan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/278dde/32.png) [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/3 "2001-11-15T05:12:57Z")
Count me in too! ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/4 "2001-11-15T05:18:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by throatshot \* > \*\*Sounds interesting. I’m in, but keep in mind that the American Thanksgiving holiday is Nov. 22. Some of us will be out of town that whole four-day weekend. \*\* Yeah, I remembered that after I posted the dates, blech. Thanks for reminding me, though. I think I’ll take names until the 22nd and work on putting the groups together over the long weekend, and post names and words the Monday after Thanksgiving. That sound like it’ll work? ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/5 "2001-11-15T11:52:55Z")
Sounds like fun - count me in! ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/6 "2001-11-15T18:02:30Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by saffostarr \* \*\* > [@](#): > > That sound like it’ll work? \*\* Sounds great! ---
**Author:** ![Zappo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b3f665/32.png) [@Zappo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zappo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2001, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/7 "2001-11-15T19:28:58Z")
Sounds fun. Count me in. Zap! ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/8 "2001-11-16T02:27:26Z")
Hell, I’m not involved in enough writing projects yet. 😉 Sign me up. ---
**Author:** ![bristlesage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@bristlesage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bristlesage)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/9 "2001-11-16T04:55:02Z")
Me, too! It’s been so long since I did one of these! ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/10 "2001-11-16T06:15:06Z")
Yay! I’m so excited to be getting this response 😃 Keep 'em coming, guys. I’m already brainstorming for our three words. Bwahahahhaa. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/11 "2001-11-16T06:31:29Z")
Ooh! Ooh! I wanna do the next installment. In fact, I think I’ll do it right now. Here goes! \ As Steve’s firm hand caressed the soft, warm flesh of Melissa’s inner thigh, working its way slowly but inexorably toward her glorious, dewy womanhood, the door to their cabin burst open and in stomped **two zombies armed to the teeth!!** They must have had at **least** eight hit points each, and one of them looked like he was carrying a magic sword. At least a +1 magic sword. Maybe +2. Or even a _sword of sharpness_. ‘Man!’ Steve thought, suave enough to leave his right hand on Melissa’s thigh while he reached in his weapon holster with his left. ‘Wouldja get a load of that sword! I’ll bet it’ll bring me at least 10,000 gold pieces on the open market!’ He aimed the twin barrels of his sawed-off shotgun (illegal in California, New York, and everywhere else if the rather exorbitant Federal tax wasn’t paid) at the two encroaching animated corpses and blew them clean in half with two lightning-quick flicks of the triggers. Um … and then he got 10 experience points for each of them and found 5 copper pieces in each of their pockets, so he went on to the next room of the dungeon. Okay, who’s next? ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/12 "2001-11-16T19:14:59Z")
_bump_ I’ve got six people so far, seven if you count me. Need at least one more person to be divisible by four for the groups. So… sign up? 😃 **tracer** … I’m speechless. That was beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![Crunchy\_Frog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ebca7d/32.png) [@Crunchy\_Frog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crunchy_Frog)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2001, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/13 "2001-11-16T22:47:20Z")
I’ll be number 8, **saffostarr**. ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/14 "2001-11-17T04:51:48Z")
Thanks, **Crunchy Frog**! It occurs to me that **tracer** might’ve been volunteering for participation in this exercise in a rather unique way… **tracer** , are you game, or was that piece your only contribution? I ask only 'cause I’m not sure. Don’t smack me if I’m being dense. Here’s the list so far, if I’ve got it right: **throatshot Yondan tavalla Zappo Kat bristlesage Crunchy Frog** with **tracer** as #8 if they’re playing, or me filling the empty slot – that is if we don’t get more folks. The list is open until the 22nd, so keep signing up if you want in. 😃 Okay, couple of questions. 1. Is 3 days okay with you guys for the time between posts, or do you want more time? 2. How should we do this? The way it’s done on AOL is to have one OOC/Guestbook thread, for writer and reader commentary, and one thread for each of the stories being told. I’m pretty sure this is the best way to do it here to avoid confusion, but if someone’s got another suggestion I’m definitely open to it. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/15 "2001-11-17T20:16:23Z")
Nah, sorry, **saffostarr** , I was just trying to throw my usual weirdness into the discussion. I don’t go for _real_ round-robin works 'cause I’m already spread thin enough as it is. ('Course, there’s an awful lot of me to spread around, if you take my waist measurements into account.) Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![meenie7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@meenie7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meenie7)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/16 "2001-11-17T21:02:26Z")
Wow, this sounds cool…I’m in 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RaCha\_ar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c2a13f/32.png) [@RaCha\_ar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaCha_ar)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/17 "2001-11-18T19:43:53Z")
Okay, **tracer**. Just wanted to check. 😉 Yay for **meenie7** , contestant number 8! 😃 Okay, so that’s: \*\* throatshot Yondan tavalla Zappo Kat bristlesage Crunchy Frog meenie7\*\* which gives us two groups of four each. I’d love to get one more group in – do three more people want to sign up? Also, for those of you who have already joined up, I’d really like some input regarding the questions I put up a couple of days ago, please? ---
**Author:** ![Yondan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/278dde/32.png) [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/18 "2001-11-19T02:24:04Z")
Rules good. Thread good. Making stories good. Let the imagery flow as wine and the revelry boundless as a wedding nights joy. ---
**Author:** ![Yondan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/278dde/32.png) [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/19 "2001-11-19T02:26:47Z")
Sorry about that. Sometimes a barbarian ancestor that I channel slips his leash. I promise not to let it interfere with the story telling. Oh, and I think the conditions you have established are fine, **saffostarr.** Thanks for all your work! ---
**Author:** ![tavalla](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tavalla/32/89_2.png) [@tavalla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tavalla)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462/20 "2001-11-19T03:05:26Z")
**Yondan** , you’re kinda nuts, you know. Not that that’s a bad thing 😉 **saffostarr** , that looks fine to me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-authors-the-round-robin-thread/93462.md?page=2)