I have a premise, but no plot. I need creative help to work it into an actual novel, or at least novella. Writing co-operative stuff would be worked out and proceeds from sale would be split. I can publish books on-demand from Cafepress for free when it’s done to see if it takes off, or we could pitch it directly to real publishing houses.
Anyway, the really, really watered down version of the premise is this:
Going based off of the concept that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, this future society has created what we today would consider magic. This is by way of various brain implants and software updates. These are closely regulated (government) as to what is available and who may have it. An underground hacker-type society forms and… inevitable stuff happens.
Possible future technological “magic” may include the ability to speak to other people in a “psychic” manner, possibly the ability to manipulate objects, and certainly the ability to control computers mentally through wireless networking. More than that I am not sure about.
I’m looking for a co-author with some writing experience and an enthusiasm for the genre. Anyone? (longshot, I know.)
Hmmm. This sounds like it could be lots of fun, but neither of us should obviously commit until we have a much better idea of what the project would look like; mind if I PM you to discuss it?
Well Omi no Kami beat me to it, obviously, but I’d be glad to give you my MSN Messenger handle if you wanted someone to go over ideas and critique what you’ve written and so on. I don’t think I’d take on the actual writing for something that wasn’t my root idea, but I’d certainly be able to help and push you to do it.
I should add, this goes for me as well: there’s a very small subset of areas in which I feel competent as a fictional writer, and even if I’m not confident about being able to work up the main novel, I’d be happy to offer advice, editing, or the like.
If nothing else, I’d be willing to help out. I’ve definitely got writing experience, though I’m not sure if I have the sufficient chops for the genre.
Considering that makes me think at some point you should work out some sort of “audition” process, or at least some way to figure out what qualities you think you most need, and who has them.
If everyone interested could email me, it’s opalcat at the gmail thingie that would be easiest. I don’t mind doing a lot of the actual writing. I want people to help brainstorm up some characters, some plot lines and twists, and bantering around ideas. Help with the writing would be good, of course, especially if different people were more “in control” of certain characters. I think it might give them a better, more distinct personality.
Just to set the stage up front by way of disclosure: this would be my project in terms of creative control. I am totally happy to share credit for whoever does whatever (if someone else ends up writing half the book, they’ll get equal billing as author, for example, and appropriate share in the proceeds) but since it’s my “baby” I will retain the ultimate editorial power. If any financial gain is made, it will be shared fairly according to how much participation other people had. In my ideal universe, it’s picked up by a publishing house and becomes a best seller and we all become J.K. Rowling level rich fat cats. In my less ideal universe, it has limited exposure via Cafepress or some other print-on-demand service, though hopefully listed on Amazon, and sales would be quite modest. At any rate, it would be fairly distributed, whatever it ends up being. I’m not in the position to pay anybody out of pocket, though. Any money would come from sales.
We could just do group emails to discuss. So anyone interested, please mention it here, then send me an email with some sort of descriptive subject that I won’t delete by mistake Ideally, mention what type of skillset you have and any experience you may have. If you’ve got any examples, feel free to send or link to them.
I’m actually the opposite of you: I’m great at coming up with plots and characters I just can never get around to doing the actual writing. I think I’m up to a 9-book novel series, a general idea for a TV series through the season opener of the fourth season, and several more ideas that can be turned into books or movie trilogies bouncing around in my head. If only I could sit down and transfer the ideas in my brain to paper. Heh.
Anyway, I’d love to help out but it looks like there’s enough interest already and I don’t want to be the cook that makes it too many cooks in the kitchen. If you do a sequel, though…
If you need someone to type up the squicky stuff that might happen… if you remember me from the McNoggin episode a few years ago on LJ, well, heh. I could do that for ya.
Ideally, mention what type of skillset you have and any experience you may have. If you’ve got any examples, feel free to send or link to them.
If you do a sequel, though… 