Plot, Plot, Plot

[coalitiongirl]

 So we now have our writers and you've looked through all the technical details, and now it's time to talk plot! We've got seven days to suggest and discuss any ideas you have in the comments, and here are two things to keep in mind:

• Each chapter should ideally be a story in itself. We're each getting one opportunity to write and so we want a plot that allows for each writer to play within the 'verse without being caught up in transitional chapters or the like!
• At the same time, we also want to have one coherent ongoing plot that allows for development so it doesn't read like a series of short stories.

So this can work in several ways.

• We could rewrite a season. We have exactly as many writers as there are episodes, and we could each tackle one. (I'm wary of this option simply because there's the OUATVS and because I don't know about the rest of you, but I find episode rewrites kind of dull, especially when we have many stronger writers than the OUAT ones?)
• We can settle on a theme with stronger individual chapter plots and a weaker overall plot. I suggested tropes before- it could be something like "some kind of magical trickster has come to town and keeps casting wacky spells," and then we go from there. (I've seen people do that way back when SQW did magical mishaps.) In that, the story would be very much about individual chapters and character/relationship development, but it's tricky because the latter sometimes gets lost in the process.
• We can settle on one standard plot that we like and write to it- this is generally easy and straightforward, though you do need a more intricately organized outline from the start so you don't run out of plot along the way. 

Please drop your suggestions in the comments and discuss them! Reply to each other and talk about what you want to write and what you think might work for a story like this. This post closes on May 2, and we'll poll for your favorite option of the ones suggested from May 3-5.

Oh, and I don't think we'll do a totally alternate universe this time around because many people aren't used to writing out of the 'verse. Anything that takes place within the OUAT universe, even if it's a complete deviation from canon, is fair game.

Comments

[snarkingturtle]

To throw something else out there (though I do like the curse not breaking idea), I think it would also be interesting to do a story immediately post-Neverland, with no re-curse. For a story this length, we would need some kind of big bad, but I think that not losing a year would allow for a lot of exploration of issues that the show just dropped (as it tends to do).

[bladeddarkness]

That's true, even a lot of fic writers just tend to gloss everything that should've happened after Neverland. That should have been an exhausting trip for them, even if it was, what? Only a week in show-verse-canon?

We could always drop Zelena in somehow as the big bad, even if the show has soured her a bit lately.

[madasaboxofcats]

I really like this. The show really glossed over SO much (I could write pages and pages about MM, Emma, and the whole "I want a baby" thing because man, so much baggage and hurt that just got dropped) that deserved attention. Like Regina's torture, Snow experiencing it, and the after-effects of being kidnapped/in major danger on Henry (and Emma/Regina). I also really like where Emma and Regina's relationship was at this point -- allies, co-parents, trusting each other, not really friends but maybe getting there.

Not sure about big bad -- we could plug in Zelena. I also wish that they'd done something with the "Snow's heart has a black spot" thing, though that's probably not appropriate for this story. I thought, for a minute, that they were going to make her the season 3 big bad guy, which would've been awesome, IMO. But I digress.

[coalitiongirl]

YES I'M INTO THIS. I think this is a better idea than the first one just because we're less constrained to a previously existing plot and situation and we can work from scratch? The only real issue I have with any of these stories is that they really do require strong plot and I think that might be hard to iron out as a group.

[paradoxalpoised]

Personally, I like this much better than doing a story immediately post season 1.

I think we get to explore more of the main and the side characters, while they're actually themselves and the protagonists don't have to lie to them.

There's so much to work on especially when you become aware of the incredible lack of Swan Queen during Season two until the Diamond scene and them being thrown into Neverland.

We can write into the new charming baby issue, the Neal/Hook issue, the parenting of Henry issue, and also we don't need to have them fight a new Big Bad, we have Gold.

Remember that Henry will be his undoing? Although the show seems to have cast it aside, it could be a great aspect of the plot. And the bastard deserve karmic retribution at this point, maybe it's time Gold gets what he deserves.

If we do involve Zelena, I vote for her not to be wicked, and that maybe for once, it'd be cool if the only family memeber she has left aside from Henry wasn't portrayed as an evil homicidal psycho bitch. Just saying.

I'd love to see how Regina and Kathryn become friends again, how Red learns to live with her wolf, how Emma and Regina figure out their friendship/romance and become a family. Also if we addressed the torture issue, I wouldn't be against that.

That's a lot though...

C.

[snarkingturtle]

It did always bug me that the show just dropped Henry being Gold's undoing! I like the idea of Gold as a big (or medium) bad.

[damelola]

That is a total goldmine of character development issues and serious friction. So I guess we all know why A&E dropped it, sigh.

[snarkingturtle]

FOREVER BITTER about everything the brothers dim just left hanging.