Feature requests

[pigfender]

@Jaysen

I think “team writing” could be a thing. kind of like the old “three word” threads, but more structured. Maybe something like 150word blocks. I bet you’d get a few folks on that that would not do NiaD with a 3k commitment.

I’m still not a fan of this one, so prove to me that it could be good: take an old chapter brief and show me what a bunch of you could pull together. EDITED TO UPDATE: Don’t do that. Prove it here, instead.

@Jaysen

It might be nice to consider a smaller format NiaD… a M-Niad … the Mini Novel in a Day. Each segment is 1K, limit it to 15 chapters.

Interesting…!

[devinganger]

I’ve been watching a lot of Food Network recently, so pardon the inspiration.

Combining some of pigfender’s feedback to me about pre-screening new writers and Jaysen’s team writing…

why not try a bunch of short feeder tournaments (150-word stories, etc.) whose “winner” then gets a chapter in the NiAD? Something like one of the Chopped Tournaments of Champions…

Maybe do this first as separate from the main NiAD, and this would be amenable to streaming…and would give interested folks a way to get their foot in the door…

[pigfender]

It’s really not that difficult to get in. Places aren’t that rare! You have to have enough confidence to stick your hand up. You have to have enough confidence to send me a short sample of your work. You have to have sufficient grasp of what makes something readable. If you need support to get over those steps, than NiaD isn’t for you yet as your work will get read by hundreds of people (according to the stats from previous years’ books), and bailing out on the day causes problems when I need them the least!

Also, I really don’t like Jaysen’s idea.
Here’s the relevant blurb from previous threads…

For the avoidance of doubt, a formal collaborative chapter will be subject to the same quality approvals as any other hopeful new participant: I’ll want a sample of writing from the complete collective to make sure you’re up to it. A key measure will be that your chapter must be indistinguishable from one written by a single person! No “three word story” chapters will be included!

In other words, the following are likely to pass the test:

• a single main writer who brainstorms ideas from his friends but still actually does all the writing,
• a single main writer who gets editorial input from 1 other person, or
• an established two-person writing partnership

Unlikely to be accepted as a ‘formal’ chapter that makes the book:

• crowdsourced chapters, or
• chapters written by more than a couple of contributors that are simple dividing the chapter into smaller sections.

That’s for several reasons:

1. the preserve the integrity of the books (which people are rightly very proud of)
2. to make sure everyone has a fair and sensible amount to write that can show off their own writing style and vision for their section (any disaggregation is likely to imply an initial single interpretation and vision for the chapter, and prevent individuals from getting the full NiaD experience).
3. a chapter is only 1,500 words and you have a whole day. That really should be manageable!

[nom]

@devinganger

Quite simply, I don’t play well with others, and I have no wish to inflict myself upon a group of people having fun.

One of the joys—and terrors—of NiAD is that we all do play alone. There might be a bit of banter on the day but, speaking for myself at least, that’s just an outlet for the anxiety of writing something good enough in the time available. As a form of procrastination, it’s also a lot more fun than banging your head into the desk or staring at the walls wondering why you can’t remember the word for the thing that you use to do the thing with the thing. When it comes to the writing itself though, that’s a lonesome task (as writing almost always is). No-one else sees what I write, or knows what I think, until the package published.

@devinganger

Part of wisdom is knowing how you’re broken and how far you can adapt, when to try, and when to sit back and let other people do their thing.

Great advice. Can I quote you*?

[size=85]*I obviously just did, but I meant apart from here of course. [/size]

[Jaysen]

@pigfender

@Jaysen

I think “team writing” could be a thing. kind of like the old “three word” threads, but more structured. Maybe something like 150word blocks. I bet you’d get a few folks on that that would not do NiaD with a 3k commitment.

I’m still not a fan of this one, so prove to me that it could be good: take an old chapter brief and show me what a bunch of you could pull together. EDITED TO UPDATE: Don’t do that. Prove it here, instead.

@Jaysen

It might be nice to consider a smaller format NiaD… a M-Niad … the Mini Novel in a Day. Each segment is 1K, limit it to 15 chapters.

Interesting…!

Wait… What? Seriously? Wow.

You would do this the week I’m so hopped up on narcotics that can cant figure out why one foot has no sock on it and the other is confined in two socks. let me read that other thread and see what trouble I’ve made for myself. Hopefully it’s no more trouble than normal. Granted i’ve been told that “normal” is really a relative experience, and after a week with my relatives I’m just not sure how it all works any more.

I think I’m ready for another pill…

[pigfender]

Haha!

[pigfender]

I should point out that I was laughing at the funny sock joke, not the fact that you’re under the weather. Feel better soon.

I am of course assuming that illness is indeed the rationale for your narcotic interlude, and this isn’t a cry for some sort of interventionist response from your interchums.

[vic-k]

@pigfender

I am of course assuming that illness is indeed the rationale for your narcotic interlude,

‘s got nowt t’ do with illness! It’s a byproduct of a faulty keyboard, and numpty’s devotional reliance upon ‘predictive text’.

[Jaysen]

@vic-k

@pigfender

I am of course assuming that illness is indeed the rationale for your narcotic interlude,

‘s got nowt t’ do with illness! It’s a byproduct of a faulty keyboard, and numpty’s devotional reliance upon ‘predictive text’.

I wish that either of the suggested nefarious options were the true cause of my narcotic fueled ranting and raving at the dust balls I am chasing in circles while trying to clean the ceiling fan. I’m still not sure why there’s a ceiling fan on the floor, but she said it needed cleaned and I shall clean it no matter how hard it is to reach from the top of this ladder to those moving things on the floor.

Allow me to suggest, age and I do NOT get along well. At all. And age is intent on escalating the conflict while I, the loser in all engagements, refuse to give ground and cede to age any suggestion of possible defeat. The problem is, in all honesty, that SOB is winning! I’m not sure age can be held at bay and I may need to admit “you’ve won you damnable bastard!”.

That or I just need another pill…

[vic-k]

@Jaysen

I’m still not sure why there’s a ceiling fan on the floor, but she said it needed cleaned and I shall clean it no matter how hard it is to reach from the top of this ladder to those moving things on the floor.

‘snot just about you, y’ know!
wot kindda pills are they, anyway?

[devinganger]

@nom

@devinganger

Part of wisdom is knowing how you’re broken and how far you can adapt, when to try, and when to sit back and let other people do their thing.

Great advice. Can I quote you*?

[size=85]*I obviously just did, but I meant apart from here of course. [/size]

Please do.

[gr]

Wait, did we just learn that Jaysen and vic-k are living together in the same fan-ridden house?!

[Jaysen]

I looked under the fan, I can’t find vic-k, so I’m not sure.

I still hold that each and everyone of us is just a figment of vic-k’s imagination. Think about it.

[vic-k]

@gr

Wait, did we just learn that Jaysen and vic-k are living together in the same fan-ridden house?!

Two points to address, gr.
a)“…Jaysen and vic-k are living together….” Were I to move in with Jaysen and Colleen, within a very short space of time (hours, not days), Colleen wold be saying to Jayson, “Why can’t you be more like Vic?” A factor that would render co-habitation unworkable! Jaysen would have to go … obviously. So, no, we’re not living t’gether.
b)“… in the same fan-ridden house?!” Visitors … lurkers and posters, could be confused as to whether you mean ‘fan’ as in wind-chill producing device, or ‘fan’ as in: acolytes; admirers; disciples; followers, etc., etc., understandably veering t’ward the latter, I expect.

@Jaysen

I still hold that each and everyone of us is just a figment of vic-k’s imagination. Think about it.

Jaysen, venture not into the labyrinth of Metaphysics, for should you do so, our only recourse would be to send yosimiti in to rescue you! But, and it’s a big [size=150]BUT[/size] We’d have no way of knowing who he’d choose as a guide. If he chose Kant, then the odds of your safe return are pretty much in your favour. However, should he choose Plato … ferrgerrittt!! You’d have t’ take y’ chance against the Minotaur.
Tread carefully buddy,
Vic