Do You Want To Write A Group Novel?
I have done this twice. The first time with two dozen Prosers. The second time with eleven. Of which there is mention of this at the very end. Call it taking advantage of free advertisement.
But the best way for a group chat is to first create a post asking for writers to join you. When they agree, then create another post specifically for all those who get involved, tag all of them and explain your story idea, giving them the basic idea and that you have written the opening. This sets the tone for chapters that follow. Determine beforehand how many chapters you want, then designate what writer’s will write what chapters.
Example: Five writers including you and let’s say you want 20 chapters. You write chapter one, then designate someone for the second, third, fourth, and fifth chapter. Allow 3 to 5 days for each chapter to be written and posted. So this could mean either 15 or 25 days for every five chapters and should be finished within 75 to 125 days if my math is right. Twenty chapters would be in the neighborhood of 40,000 words. Thus 25 chapters would give the story novel status. Un truth, the total amount of days to have something like this to be com0pleted can vary. Some writer’s are quick while others not so much.
If you are familiar with the portals, the best one to use when posting the writer’s is the Support Portal which is right at the very end of all the portals
Be prepared though to fill in as things do come up and someone may not be able to write the assigned chapter for one reason or another. As the group leader you need to take the reins and write the next chapter.
There is an option where a writer could swap chapters and the flow continues, but don’t count that when factoring everything else in. Now you can, when you feel the time is right for a second post just for the writers, make them aware that whoever it may be is unable to write his part and you can ask for someone to fill in. Again, don’t factor that in because it may not happen. When it doesn’t, just step in and write.
One thing I have done when doing a second, third and even more posts, is that I highlight perhaps the last two or three chapters written. This helps to familiarize writer’s with what has been going on. Another thing I do when posting, I put all the current written links in it so writers can fall back that way to perhaps look for something they feel they are missing or something related that can add to their chapter.
And this part is just as important, list names of characters in the story line so there is no mistaking who is who and if need be, their ages, location (where they live). With the upcoming Kincade Chronicles, we had over 70 characters with date of births, who they married, where they lived, what they did and so forth. When a character died, they were put into a separate list. This may look confusing but once you get the hang of how to do this, it suddenly becomes easy.
When I did this the first time, it was a group challenge to finish a novel in 30 days which we did. It’s called “Survival”. 47 chapters with both Forward and Prologue, and 65,843 words. Each Proser has their name at the end of each chapter. This acknowledges them to the reader. With the upcoming Kincade Chronicles, 50 chapters plus prologue and epilogue, was comp0pleted in just four months and just over 126,000 words. And I am here to tell you I am proud to have been a part of both projects.
You can expect a lot of debate, a lot of ideas but you have to maintain control or it can get out of hand. Keep everyone focused, keep it lively and interesting.
Depending how it is written, it’s best to do at least one mass post each week so everyone knows what is going on and one thing you can do in the post, is highlight what each chapter entailed. In doing so, it can prompt more questions to getting the novel written. Continuity and clarity are key. If a character is 6′4 and 220 in one chapter and two chapters later he is suddenly 5′9″ and 180, that presents a problem in uniformity.
In each post I outlined events surrounding each decade for 10 decades. Each writer had two years out of each decade to write their chapter. No easy task but it was done.
But I can’t say this enough—the leader of the group is in control. That person doesn’t dictate what will be written but that person does insure the focus stays clear.
So, if you ever have plans to do something historical, you will need at least three other people to help you to keep things straight. Someone with a history background for pivotal information, another to keep track of births and deaths, ages, locality,sort of like a genealogist and the third, who is vital, is another editor to catch what you do not. You cannot ever go wrong in having an extra set of eyes on the prize.
This part starts with you copying/pasting the chapter written into a file you create and listing at the end of each chapter who the writer was. Do your initial editing and make sure to save the chapter in a file that should have the title of the story idea you can refer back to with each new chapter written. Whoever your second set of eyes are, trade emails for starters. Then when you have the first 3 to 5 chapters, send them to your “second set of eyes” as an attachment. When your “second set of eyes” finishes, that person will send back to you where you have a clear copy of the novel.
Another thing you can do (as an option) is use pictures relating to the chapter. This worked out well in both the novels I worked on. What Proser’s who didn’t have a photo, I searched for on line. The photos just add a little something extra to the table so to speak.
Trust me, it’s work, but when you reach the finish line, you can be proud of what was accomplished by yourself and those who took the ride along with you. Without solid Prose writers in your corner, all you would have is an ordinary story (definitely not as long/definitely not as powerful).
Because of them, you will see your idea grow and blossom as you had hoped it would.
So, in a nutshell:
1) Have a story idea and write either the opening Prologue or chapter.
2) Have a fairly clear vision of where you want the novel to lead to.
3) Have at the very least a second editor.
4) Keep control.
5) Listen to the writer’s ideas.
6) Help them where and when needed. Give suggestions.
This is the link to the novel I mentioned: https://theprose.com/book/2939/survival
On November 13th will be the premiere of The Kincade Chronicles. You may have a read a chapter here and there, but soon, it will be brought in its entirety to you in one place. You get to walk through what I called many times a “What If” novel. Historic names, places, and events. Some not so well known names, but they had their place in history.
Other names used were, how do I say this … fudged maybe, just to give a different look to how things shaped. One example is the name Charles Atlas, the developer for body building. I briefly use his name “in place of” one of the characters in the story.
I hope when this begins, you follow along and enjoy what is presented.
Coming to a neighborhood prose near you!