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

[damelola]

Here I am, late to the party. And I've forgotten how to write in paragraphs since my entire world is BBC-format scripts at the moment, oy vey. ANYWAY. If any of this makes sense, bless you all for reading along:

I love some of the elements mentioned above, there are some really rich ideas. I was thinking to fix a canon point we all think needs exploring (e.g. after Neverland, that whole missing year, or the first curse breaking). What about something that nods to the trickster/tropes construction of an overarching quest, a la the 12 labours of Hercules? There's one big thing our ladies need to achieve - e.g. the safe removal of magic from this world, or getting everyone safely back to EF, anything suitably BIG enough, you know?

So we could have chapter 1 - setting up why Emma and Regina need to go on this quest.

Chapter 2 - the first world/point in time they need to visit and the first obstacle they overcome/get closer. I imagine the construction would be something like a series of Doctor Who or similar, now I think about it. In network TV terms it would be like mytharc eps interspersed with Monster of the Week interludes or bottle episodes. This would work when romance does officially blossom - the big heated moment and then actually getting to write the two of them DEALING with that in the next chapter, over awkward first date waffles, etc.

Chapter 3 - back in Storybrooke, dealing with the aftermath and plotting the next move. Other people get updated on what the hell has gone on. They seek help/advice for the next part.

Chapter 4 - the next world/challenge/bad guy to get an artifact or ingredient from. Some could be frothy fun, some could be scary, some could Teach an Important Lesson. The people who love swashbuckling and plot could volunteer for a 'world' chapter, and the PLEASE GOD LET THESE CHARACTERS REACT TO THINGS BEFORE THE NEXT ADVENTURE types could have a Storybrooke/in between chapter to do cute character moments/deal with domestic issues/have funny distractions or sad moments.

So basically they could be working in gaming terms where they defeat each smaller 'boss' leading up to the Big Boss, victory over whom comprises the last couple of chapters. This can be anyone from Cora to the Author to the concept of fairytales and myth, tbh. A sliding scale of adversity, with the worst right at the end.

Or it could be alternated - hard bit at the start, they almost give up. Then it gets easier and they're complacent. Which almost leads to a fall. Then it gets rough again. Then the end seems horrid but teamwork and love have given them so much more than they realized. Winning can feel GOOD or draining, it all depends you see?

God, I need to stop drinking coffee.

[tinylesbrarian]

YES YES. I really like this construction a LOT. I think it also would be a great way for every author to be able to write what they're most comfortable with.

[coalitiongirl]

This is very organized and I like it a lot! I think it's a good general outline for anything we wind up writing, actually. (I am most in love with the idea devje mentioned here, though it's a little more fragmented than this would call for.) I am hesitant to have them traveling through many worlds just because that's a lot of setup and adjustment required each chapter, but maybe we can choose, say, 5-10 points/challenges/obstacles for them to take care of and then flesh those out as smaller arcs within the story.

[madasaboxofcats]

YES. I like this formatting a lot. A multi-element quest seems like it would be a great fit for what we're trying to do here -- independent stories and elements, but with a strong connection to a larger plot/arc. I particularly like the thought that we'd have plot-driven chapters interspersed with, as you put it, "PLEASE GOD LET THESE CHARACTERS REACT TO THINGS" chapters so that people can write within their individual comfort zone. I suppose that could become an issue if we're all "PLEASE GOD LET THEM REACT" people, but that's something we could deal with later.

I would love to see this work into the post-Neverland idea. Maybe there's some kind of challenge on the way back from Neverland? Like, they get Henry, defeat Pan, whatever, and then run into some kind of quest-like thing on the sea on the way home. They need to do X number of things before Poseidon or whoever will be like "OKAY HERE'S A CONVENIENT PORTAL TO STORYBROOKE." Then we get to focus on the main cast (plus Hook...) and go back and forth between action/missions/adventures and stuff on the boat where our characters will actually have to deal with shit (ie Emma and Mary Margaret dealing with what she said the Cave O' Truth, Henry needing his Moms because he's had trauma, etc etc).

Or, we could not do that because I am NOT a plot person and I don't know WTF I'm talking about.

Point of story -- I like this approach a lot.

[snarkingturtle]

I like this a lot!

[coalitiongirl]

My preference for time period is either post-3b (minus Frozen) or post-4b, if only because there's pre-existing friction there to work with between Emma and Regina and I'm a sucker for the arc beginning like that.

OH. Also I know I said I wasn't enthusiastic about a dark!Emma story but I think I could get really into a Dark One!Emma story- and specifically, a story where the smaller arcs are all about these quests and you have Regina taking the lead and Emma struggling with her new abilities and the pull toward darkness- and then halfway through the story, we have her succumb and become the real Big Bad of the season. Kind of like Buffy Season Six (I was about to say BUT WITH GAY but then I remembered that there was indeed quite a bit of gay in Buffy, lol). And then the rest of the story is about Regina and Emma fighting each other and being attracted and maybe being in love all along, you know.

[snarkingturtle]

We could also--if we wanted the option of playing with more characters than the Nevengers but still play with that timeline--have it be something like "a way to stop the 2nd curse." So they're back in Storybrooke, but the timeline is basically the same.

[devje]

'A way to stop the second curse' def gives the option to avoid writing Hook. You want to talk useless sidekick cyphers who just stand there while action happens around them? He’s your man, for sure.

[absedarian]

I like the post-Neverland/way to stop the 2nd curse option because it gives us a lot of room to play (and also to pick and choose the characters we want to write).