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mpu: story time #1

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:oblivionspin (contact)
Swap categories:
Number of people in swap:5
Location:Regional - usa
Type:Type 2: Flat mail
Last day to signup/drop:July 12, 2016
Date items must be sent by:July 19, 2016
Number of swap partners:1
Description:

You clicked on the swap. Good.
Now don't click away when I tell you this, but it's a writing swap. I hear you gasping, "but I am not a writer!" you protest, your finger hovering over the back button.
Don't press that button. If you can read this swap, you are qualified to join it. Swearsies.

Now that that is out of the way. We're going to do a round robin writing swap! Hooray!

The basics. (This is round one, so everyone is starting, but I am going to type out the full instructions to save me effort later and so you all know the protocol.)

Starting

-Take a piece of paper. Lined notebook paper or plain printer paper are both fine.
-put your swap-bot username on the top. write it neatly. so neatly!
-write one paragraph starting a story. (5-8 sentences). They can be cliches. They can be awful. They can be silly, serious, sexy, whatever.
-send this to your partner.

Continuing

-when you receive a story, read what has been written and add to it. You can add 5-8ish sentences. (Basically, contribute, don't hog).
-you can add twists to the story if you want and derail and get crazy, but try to make it seem like the same story at least.
-this will then be sent on to the partner in the next round.

Ending

-if you get a story that is almost full (front and back) use your judgement. If it doesn't look like there is enough room for another person to contribute you can write a little extra to finish it off.
-when a story is full contact the starter of the story and send it on home to them.

Points

-you can jump in at any time
-you do not have to join all rounds
-if you decide you no longer want to play you need to send the story in your possession to someone who is playing
-you will likely end up working on your own story here and there, it's ok.
-intentionally awful writing is hilarious and I am all for it
-the last time I did one of these (in a writing group) my contribution was that the bad guys were wearing metal codpieces and there was a lightning storm approaching.
-This will be held monthly at minimum (possibly bimonthly depending on how busy I am that month)
-If you lose someone else's story you owe them a profile based happy mail and heartfelt apology. It's only fair.

The more the merrier, but small groups are breeding grounds for in jokes and absurdities. And again, you don't have to be a writer. You just have to write. (look at me, I am a "writer" and this post is full of typos! psht)

Addendum

Please post in the comments once you receive your story to work on so I know that we're good to start a new round, and also so I can get a feel for how long is needed between rounds to make sure everyone gets their thing in time.

Discussion

Angie 06/22/2016 #

This sounds VERY fun!

oblivionspin 06/24/2016 #

I am so excited for it! I really should have waited to post it until after the summer vacationers returned, but I just can't wait any more. They can hop in later. :D

oblivionspin 07/12/2016 #

Alright, go batty, mail pals.

Angie 07/13/2016 #

It was a dark and stormy night ...

oblivionspin 07/13/2016 #

heh, I may or may not have most definitely started my story with that...

midwestkiwi 07/19/2016 #

Oh, phooey. Is EVERYONE going to start their story with "It was a dark and stormy night"?

oblivionspin 07/20/2016 #

@midwestkiwi the one I received doesn't start that way! But by god we can make it end that way.

midwestkiwi 07/23/2016 #

Oh, phooey. That wasn't meant to sound like a complaint. I thought it was funny when @Angie made her comment because I was inclined to start my story that way, and I may or may not have...

oblivionspin 07/24/2016 #

I didn't take it as a complaint at all! I think it is hilarious! It's a great cliche to start with.

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