::scurries back out of shadows, and raises hand::
Saffostarr, O mistress of stories and gatherer of writers, a question: What are the length limits? Not having been on boards very long, I am ignorant as to how much content may be safely posted at one time. If something is really long, should it be posted in multiple segments, or is it part of the game that each submission must be of a length that can only fit in one post?
Ok, that’s several questions. 
[sub]not that I’m planning to make it brobdingnagian or anything.[/sub]
The limit we stick to on AOL is 1-2 pages by a word processor’s count, in normal (i.e. 12-point) font with normal one-inch margins. The first post has an excuse to be pretty long so this limit can be ::cough:: overlooked. Posts really shouldn’t run that long, though. Here, you can have as an example the post that I wrote as the opening salvo in the round-robin I’m in currently:
Incidentally, the three words I had to work with were olive, affluent, and startled. I like to think I used 'em pretty creatively. 
Most of the subsequent posts to this story were about half as long, but some of the other stories that were running simultaneously were much longer, so it’s really up to you. Just try not to get too long. Yondan, I don’t know about limits in post length – that might be better addressed to a moderator.
Ferrous, don’t worry. I feel your pain, but believe me it’s just as hard to begin the story. Remember, you’ve got two posts to further the story along before you ever have to worry about an ending, so don’t sweat it. 
S’okay, Saffostar, I wasn’t really worried. Just commiserating a bit.
But that brings up a question—are we just supposed to write one entry each, or do we go around a few times?
Oops, I thought I mentioned this already, but it bears repeating. Each person posts three times. Once everyone in the group goes, it cycles back to the first person in the group, then goes through everyone again. After the last person makes their second post, it bounces back to the first person for one last cycle. That clear that up?
One more addition to the rules, folks, then I promise I’ll pipe down and let you write. Those of you who are starting off, once you’ve posted your new thread with the first story post, could you post a link to the thread in here so we can find it by looking here if we can’t find it on the board? Thanks
Eek! I just posted for Group C. Please go easy on me! I’m still very much a newbie at writing, so I’m just trying to get all the practice I can.
This is nerve-wracking. But fun!
Here’s the link.
Great start, Oreo! I can SO identify with that morning feeling. And forgetting you forgot to load the TP roll—been there. Excellent, evocative description all around, and a nice dramatic lead-in for the next poster.
I also liked the fact that Claire didn’t put on any underwear! Did you post to belladonna’s[sup]*[/sup] “commando” thread yesterday?
One very minor criticism:
You might want to use more dashes here—like so. With just the one, it looks like single hyphenated words.
[sub]*Psst, hey, belladonna, you’re up for Group D. Hint, hint.[/sub]
Oops…you know, I C&P’d this from Word. Something got lost in the translation I guess, and I didn’t catch that on preview. But normally--------I do the dashes correctly.
Thanks for the kind review!
I hope it will serve.
A Note: I felt that, with so many contributors, the main point of the story may be very different from any title I might create at this point. I was thinking that discussing possible titles for the finished story might be part of our conversations after we seen where it takes us.
I’m really looking forward to seeing what we do with this!
Yondan–
“Don’t blow a gasket!” = Brilliant! I had the hardest time coming up with a way to use that word. And I liked the butter on the kid’s face, too.
And I agree about the title–I just made something up really quick. Group C members should in no way feel restricted by my lame title.
Thenk yew, thenk yew, Oreo. I just hope it rings true.
::delighted squeals!:: Hooray to the first two posters! Lovely posts Yondan and Oreo, and excellent use of the words given. I knew “gasket” was going to be a problem word, and I very much like what you both did with them. Oreo, I second Ferrous’s thought that you did a great job with the lead-in for the next poster. My favourite stories of this sort in the past have been the ones that end with a cliffhanger in every post. Yondan, your point about titles is well-taken.
The next contributors for groups A and C have 3 days – until December 3rd – to make their posts. Groups B and D will have 3 days from when Crunchy and belladonna post (no pressure at all, you guys still have at least another day). I just wanted to reiterate the point.
::dances around in the throes of glee:: Glee! I’m plotting on awarding, um, awards for stories once they’re finished, to be voted on by the adoring reading public. The only categories I’ve thought of so far are:
Best Cliffhanger
Most Random Plot Twist
The 360 Degree Award, to be given to the story which ends in the greatest distance from the OP
Best Use of The Three Words ™ in the OP
That’s all I’ve got for right now, but if you come up with another category you’d like included, by all means, post it here.
Now I leave you with a most solemn and hearty w00t. w00t.
Does anyone know if CrunchyFrog and belladonna have been spotted anywhere around the boards lately, or if either of them posted to say they wouldn’t be around somewhere other than here? I would use the search function to check except that the entire site hangs every time I try using it, so I’m gonna have to ask everyone else to check for me. If they don’t start their groups’ threads by Wednesday I’m going to shift the groups down one and make them the last people in their group. If that happens, bobkitty and HerMajestyLorna ought to be ready to step in to write the first posts, so be prepared.
Jane D’oh, I enjoyed your contribution to the story. It flows smoothly from the first and builds on the impact of the public and the private with power and grace. I particularly liked the paragraph describing the impossibility of describing the hugeness of the emotions in a way suitable to the innocent and tiny capacity of an infant’s understanding.
I really hope the other writers enjoy this storyline. There is so much terrible emotion in the air now, that I hope this is a good way to deal with some of it, in a small way.
Awww, thanks Yondanya made it easy for me. I’m kinda enjoying watching the view counts on the thread.
I’m also preparing for our story to turn in a direction that I may not expect. It’s hard for me as a control freak not to plan for my next round…but it’s fun and interesting so far!
I know what you mean, Jane, by wanting to control the story. When I was reading Zappo’s continuation of my story, I was thinking, “No! No! That’s not what’s supposed to happen!”
Then I realized that the new direction is probably going to be a whole lot better than what I had in mind.
BTW, Zappo, great job! Vince is one of my favorite names for a guy. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
This is fun!
Okay, help out a (relative) newbie: In which forum do “courtesy phone” threads belong? I’ll run off to MPSIMS or IMHO, whichever it’s supposed to be, and try to flag down Crunchy and belladonna. Chances are they haven’t checked the thread and don’t know we’re waiting on them.
saffostar,
You can e-mail them directly. Just click on the “mail” icon below one of their posts. Otherwise, yes, MPSIMS would be the appropriate forum to “page” them.
BTW, I checked her profile, and it seems belladonna hasn’t posted since mid-day on Friday.
Thanks, Ferrous. I’ve posted and hopefully I’ll catch their attention. Great job to those of you who’ve continued the stories, by the way – nicely done.