The Crystal: A Chain Story Idea

[slyc_willie]

Reading some of the chain story threads here has me thinking:

I'd like to host a series of stories by different authors based around a similar theme: an enigmatic crystal, about the size of a baseball, which incites arousal and gives the holder some limited ability to influence desirous feelings in a person of their chosing.

My idea is that the crystal has been around for ages, and that each story would take place in a different era of history. One might take place in ancient Greece, another in Celtic Britain, another in America before Cortes, then in the American Old West, Victorian England, the Prohibition, WWII, etc, etc . . . .

Each story would begin with the crystal being found, and end with it being lost in some way. How it is found depends on how it is lost in the previous story.

The crystal works only on one person for each owner, creating almost uncontrollable lust and devotion in the target for whatever the owner of the crystal has in mind. Thus, stories could run the gamut from EC to Romance, Loving Wives to MC.

The last story would be written by myself, of course. I would like to ask in advance for permission to pull from any stories submitted within this chain.

Titles for each story would be: (The Burning Crystal: xxxxx) delineated by chapter, or by year in which the story takes place. (for example, The Burning Crystal: Rome, AD 190).

The entire series could be posted in Novels and Novellas, unless someone has a better idea.

Any takers?

 

[Darkniciad]

I like the concept, it has a flavor similar to the Laresa chain, in a way. Unfortunately, I'm swamped at the moment. Maybe once the Laresa chain comes to a close, but for the moment, I can't possibly jam another deadline into my already hectic schedule *laugh*

 

[Guest]

I really like your idea slyc_willie.
I was actually going to write a story set in West Africa during the slave trade with two young Africans fall in love and separated by the slave trade. Could this crystal originate in Africa and be transported someplace(to America, the Carribean). Or, there were African kingdoms who travelled to Greece or Rome and bared gifts to the emperor. The crystal could have been a gift presented to an Egyptian pharoh or Roman emporer.

What do you think?

Reading some of the chain story threads here has me thinking:

I'd like to host a series of stories by different authors based around a similar theme: an enigmatic crystal, about the size of a baseball, which incites arousal and gives the holder some limited ability to influence desirous feelings in a person of their chosing.

My idea is that the crystal has been around for ages, and that each story would take place in a different era of history. One might take place in ancient Greece, another in Celtic Britain, another in America before Cortes, then in the American Old West, Victorian England, the Prohibition, WWII, etc, etc . . . .

Each story would begin with the crystal being found, and end with it being lost in some way. How it is found depends on how it is lost in the previous story.

The crystal works only on one person for each owner, creating almost uncontrollable lust and devotion in the target for whatever the owner of the crystal has in mind. Thus, stories could run the gamut from EC to Romance, Loving Wives to MC.

The last story would be written by myself, of course. I would like to ask in advance for permission to pull from any stories submitted within this chain.

Titles for each story would be: (The Burning Crystal: xxxxx) delineated by chapter, or by year in which the story takes place. (for example, The Burning Crystal: Rome, AD 190).

The entire series could be posted in Novels and Novellas, unless someone has a better idea.

Any takers?

 

[Darkniciad]

If it's a chain story, it will pretty much have to be posted in the chain stories cat, btw.

One problem you'll have is building a greater story, if you want to have a plot threading through all the stories, and still be able to let people write whatever era/location they're comfortable with. With Laresa, we had an easy out. Every time somebody loses her ring through breaking the rules, it jumps through space and time. That meant we can jump back and forth all we want, while still building a continuing story (Anyone reading the chain has probably noticed a buildup of common threads in recent chapters)

If there won't be a greater plot running through the chain, then you're all good. Everyone can just write whatever era/place interests them, and no need to worry about continuity. I would note this in an author's note at the beginning of each story, however, so as not to confuse anyone expecting the stories to connect back-to-back. Using a title that doesn't include a chapter number will also aid in this. That indicates that there is no real order to read the stories in.

The best thing to do is for you to create a schedule if you get enough authors on board, and maintain editorial control that way. I can't imagine someone posting to the chain without being involved in the thread though, really. I suppose it's possible, just highly improbable.

You should try to have a story come out once a week, to keep the chain in people's minds. Chain stories isn't traditionally a high readership cat. Wait until you have a few built up and ready to go if you think it necessary, in order to keep a schedule going strong.

I never know when an idea is going to hit me, either, so reading some of the stories might spark me to participate too, regardless of my hectic schedule. Once I have an idea, it drives me nutty until I write it

Just some random ramblings as I procrastinate on finishing an edit and starting my Valentine's story

 

[rachlou]

If it's a chain story, it will pretty much have to be posted in the chain stories cat, btw.

One problem you'll have is building a greater story, if you want to have a plot threading through all the stories, and still be able to let people write whatever era/location they're comfortable with. With Laresa, we had an easy out. Every time somebody loses her ring through breaking the rules, it jumps through space and time. That meant we can jump back and forth all we want, while still building a continuing story (Anyone reading the chain has probably noticed a buildup of common threads in recent chapters)

If there won't be a greater plot running through the chain, then you're all good. Everyone can just write whatever era/place interests them, and no need to worry about continuity. I would note this in an author's note at the beginning of each story, however, so as not to confuse anyone expecting the stories to connect back-to-back. Using a title that doesn't include a chapter number will also aid in this. That indicates that there is no real order to read the stories in.

The best thing to do is for you to create a schedule if you get enough authors on board, and maintain editorial control that way. I can't imagine someone posting to the chain without being involved in the thread though, really. I suppose it's possible, just highly improbable.

You should try to have a story come out once a week, to keep the chain in people's minds. Chain stories isn't traditionally a high readership cat. Wait until you have a few built up and ready to go if you think it necessary, in order to keep a schedule going strong.

I never know when an idea is going to hit me, either, so reading some of the stories might spark me to participate too, regardless of my hectic schedule. Once I have an idea, it drives me nutty until I write it

Just some random ramblings as I procrastinate on finishing an edit and starting my Valentine's story

I think Dark made a good point about continuity there. I agree, it would be very difficult to have a greater plot running through the entire series. Simply giving each chapter the title plus date, as you originally suggested, would be a good one. That would allow readers to see exactly when the time period was, without needing to have tonnes of historical detail included in the story in order to allow instant recognition of the age in which it is set. This would be good in that we could just pick a time that we fancy writing about and that interests us. For example, I would probably pick something set in historical England, as opposed to the rest of the world.

I would be interested btw, if you can get enough people on board to make it viable.

 

[slyc_willie]

Some very good points, Dark. I think that be sticking to the KISS principle, we can make the stories work.

Now we just need to find out who's really interested, then we can set up a schedule as to when the stories would be due to post. Considering the Valentine's Day contest, I would suggest waiting until after that day.

I'd like to get at least five or six other authors on board. Perhaps, once we have a committed group, we can add a few more details as to just what the crystal is, and just how the stories would work.

Alexis, Dark, Rach, thanks for the interest.