The Egotistical Priest
An irreverent and opinionated discussion of the many classes
in the World of Warcraft gaming universe.
Choose-Your-Own Comment Solicitation
by Vonya
That’s right, this is a blatant comment solicitation. I know that not everyone reads my personal blog (nor should you, if you don’t care) but some of you MAY be interested in my writing. Or writing in general.
I have a post up today asking for opinions on an idea that I may or may not implement, about doing a webserial (chunks of a story posted on the internet as they are written, rather than all at once) that frequently ends with a poll, asking the reader to vote on what they want to happen next.
This is the part where your opinion matters – I’m not sure if this is a good idea.
And by “good”, I don’t mean “money-making”. I mean “measurably more fun for the reader than simply reading whatever I feel like posting”.
I’m not asking if you would follow up on such a webserial, nor do I plan on hunting you down and forcing you to read it if you say that you think it sounds like a good idea.
All I want to know is – Would something like that appeal to you, as a reader? Would it deepen your enjoyment in the story, to know that you have a hand in shaping it?
I’m trying to hit a broad swath of responses on this, and giving your honest opinion is something I feel I can always count on y’all for.
At this point, I’m not sure whether or not I would make the story warcraft fanfic – I’m leaning against it, but I haven’t completely ruled the idea out. This would be a writing exercise for me, not a business proposal.
So….thoughts?
February 11th, 2009
I don’t normally post comments on the blogs I read, but in this case, oh heck yeah.
I’d read it, I’d enjoy it, and I’d also be very interested to see how my choices match up with other readers. (Figuring out why I wanted story arc X, while the majority preferred arc Y, etc would be part of the fun.)
If you decide to do this, please make sure you mention it here (Ego blog) as I don’t read your other one(s).
February 11th, 2009
@Anon
I will make sure to do a post here if I do (and I would give it its own blog, so that people could follow JUST that, without having to listen to me prattle on about recipe books and the weather. *grins*). Thank you for weighing in!
February 11th, 2009
With the little snippets of fanfiction I’ve tried, or general writing such as NaNoWriMo, I’ve always gotten stumped at some point halfway through my initial idea and the climax events. Such a “Reader-inspired” component would be an awesome thing to try out and help inspire your creative muses.
I vote, go for it! I’d definitely read it.
February 11th, 2009
I think it sounds like a pretty cool idea. I mean what are you gonna lose. If it doesn’t work out it doesn’t work out. But who knows maybe it will end up being epic.
February 11th, 2009
Sounds like a worthwhile idea to me. I actually considered doing this for A Stab in the Dark (shameless self-plug, woo!) but decided I should have some readers before trying write a story based on reader input. I’d read it.
February 11th, 2009
I think it’s a wonderful idea with only one reservation.
I read stories because I want to read what the author wants me to read. I just recently subscribed to this blog and I really enjoyed the Fire and Storm story. I can’t conceive an instance where I could suggest anything better than what you’re already writing.
February 11th, 2009
Although i’m a classic roleplayer and read a lot I don’t read the short stories/fan fiction on blogs. Don’t know why, i’m just not interested.
Having said that i’m not going to stop watching your blog if you go that way.
February 12th, 2009
I believe it is a wonderful idea.
For a small history lesson. Alexander Dumas printed The Three Musketeers in serial form.
So I say go for it!
February 12th, 2009
I haven’t read your personal blog and probably won’t, as I come here for the WoW talk. In general though, I don’t think it’s a good idea to involve your readers in the way that you’re suggesting. If I’m reading your story instead of writing my own, that means I want to read your story.
I’d rather not mix the two activities. At least that’s my take.
February 12th, 2009
I like the idea…it would sure help when you hit a point where the writer’s block shoves itself under the door and leaves you stuck inside with no exit
February 12th, 2009
I tend to agree with the masses here, Ego.
Mixing the two would bring an interesting dynamic, but I think ultimately Iiit would alienate more than a couple. Just my 2 copper
February 12th, 2009
Reminds me of the “choose your own adventure” books I read as a kid, which were loads of fun. That said, I’m not sure this idea will work. I like the idea of serial writing but I’ve always thought that stories that had their main ideas and story arcs fleshed out before hand (i.e., Babylon 5) were much better than stories that seemed to make stuff up as they go (i.e., Star Trek). If you wanted to involve your audience then I would do your polling before hand and then write a series. Or you could do an actual “choose your own adventure” series and write alternate story arcs and let your readers vote on which “road” to take …. (chagrined) OK, yes I know that would be more writing – it was a shameless and fairly transparent effort to get even more of your wonderful writing out on the interwebs
P.S. This is my first comment on your site and almost forgot to say – LOVE your blog!
February 12th, 2009
do it
February 12th, 2009
@Weazol
That’s pretty much the mantra circling in my head at the moment. *grins*
@Khol
When I first did it with Blue Moon (less formally, mind you. Serial, but no polling) I only had about three friends who were reading it. By the time I finished, I had close to a dozen people asking me what was going to happen next. I highly recommend it. *grins* Great motivation.
@Nim
Why, thank you! No worries, though. The questions wouldn’t be “What do you think should happen next?” They would be things like “The character finds herself in an argument. Should she do X, Y, or Z?” and all of the options would be something I could conceive myself writing or the character doing.
@BobTurkey
No worries. I wouldn’t put this in Ego’s feed (aside from a note that it existed). It would have its own blog installation, so it wouldn’t interrupt the flow for those not interested. I know people come here for Wow primarily and I wouldn’t jeopardize that.
@Pookie
I knew about some others, but I actually didn’t know about the three musketeers! Very interesting!
@Cory
Thanks for voicing your opinion – I could see some readers-who-are-also-writers not wanting to get that involved, definitely. And if you’re a writer, I highly encourage you to definitely write your own stuff!
@Shawndra
Oh man, if it fixes those times, I’d never write anything else!!
@Derevka
Curious – how do you think it would alienate people?
@voggle
Welcome to the delurked crowd! I definitely agree on liking some measure of pre-planning in the story. I’m not entirely sure how this WOULD work, to be honest. It would definitely be an experiment. How much control over the story would be in the hands of the readers, and how much would they simply be helping shape it, rather than completely re-course it? I’m not sure. I’d like to give as much control to the readers as possible without losing the thread of the story itself.
Though, I love Star Trek. *grins* I definitely see a lot of fluff episodes, and I can definitely see what you mean. There needs to be a core story that’s got some planning behind it, rather than willy-nilly making up the story as I go. At least, that’s how it’ll have to be if I’m the one writing it. Willy-nilly results in very sloppy stuff from me, though I’ve seen it work for other writers.
February 12th, 2009
@Jelinka
Short and to the point. I like it!
February 12th, 2009
Well, you say its an experiment, what could possibly go wrong with soliciting reader input on a work in progress? Might as well find out.
I’d just make sure the new blog site is clear ala wikipedia style on who owns the story:
“If you don’t want your writing to be edited mercilessly or redistributed for profit by others, do not submit it.” – maybe you can simply replace ‘writing’ with ‘ideas’ and ‘edited’ with ’snatched away from you’.
February 12th, 2009
@Iratio
Actually, I wouldn’t be soliciting user WRITING, just decisions. A poll, like “Does the character do X or Y next?” and the readers vote, and that’s what I write.
I wouldn’t have submissions from other people, that would be too chaotic for me.
February 12th, 2009
I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure series when I was younger. I think it sounds like a wonderful idea, go for it.