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

[coalitiongirl]

Okay, okay, I'll start us off. I've always been fascinated by the idea of, when Emma saves Henry at the end of S1, all it does is save Henry, not break the curse. Then we have a town of people who still don't know, Emma wavering on whether or not she's going to accept the burden of saviorhood and returning everyone's lost memories, Regina wavering in general and someone Emma and Henry don't know whether or not to trust, Regina and Henry mending their relationship, and Gold making plans in the background (maybe even returning magic to the town). And if magic is back in town, maybe there are new magical threats who can arrive, like Cora, to an unsuspecting populace... Thoughts?

[madasaboxofcats]

I think that could be interesting. I imagine there could be some interesting Charming-family stuff in there, too -- Emma knowing that the family she always sought was within reach, but also knowing that they gave her up, and knowing that if she was going to have her Family, she'd have to give up Mary Margaret, probably the only real friend she'd had in a very long time, if not since Lily.

[coalitiongirl]

Yes!! I love the idea of Emma living in a house with an unknowing mother, kind of resenting her and kind of longing for her and never quite understanding why she'd given her up. It's honestly heartbreaking.

[amycarey]

I like this idea!

[allaine]

I'd forgotten how, back in S1, I believed that the curse wouldn't break until the end of S2. I'd love to see this, esp more Mary-Margaret instead of Snow.

Also, this probably goes without saying, but I think we need to see a larger role for Ruby, and the return of Kathryn. What about Belle? She'll be free but she won't remember Rumple, correct?

[bladeddarkness]

I'll take any excuse to rewatch S1 (and S2). I also agree with allaine, Mary Margaret and Belle (and Ruby & Kathryn) are going to be interesting. If Rumpel brings magic back, he'll probably try to bring Belle's memories back.

... we should probably get a consistent spelling for Gold too, unless we just call him 'Gold'. Rumpel or Rumple?

[alinaandalion]

i like this! especially if gold returns magic to the town before the curse breaks because imagine that. though where would henry be living? like, he can't just start living with emma, surely that would raise some sort of questions, and i don't know if he would really want to live with regina at that point because of the whole turnover thing.

[snarkingturtle]

I like this too! Would end game be breaking the curse (sort of a full-season arc), or do you see it in more of an A/B format--half the story to break the curse, the other half to deal with the ramifications of doing so?

[snarkingturtle]

Along with Rumpel/Rumple, if we're doing an early story, we also need consistency on Ms. Swan vs Miss Swan (personal preference goes to Ms., but I know others might feel differently).

[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]

And Henry's age, since we're covering a long period of time.

[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.

[snarkingturtle]

OH ALSO (sorry I am spamming the inboxes of anyone who signed up for alerts) is this an appropriate time/place for me to bring up consistency/cohesion thoughts, or does it make more sense to save that until we have a plot and are working out the more technical details?

[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.

[coalitiongirl]

Maybe later on, I'd think, once we're working out an outline? Which is....May 6-9. Those thoughts might change depending on what we write, yeah?

[coalitiongirl]

Another concept- maybe something lighter, less dependent on good and coherent plotting (because so many cooks here!). So really, Option Two of the different types I suggested.

We can really go AU at any point in S2-4, insert a mischief maker of some sort, and each pick a trope (from this list or really anything you want to explore) and then we have twenty-two chapters about Regina and Emma combatting this threat, coping with this threat, and falling in love along the way. There's a lot more space to play in a story like that and we aren't as constrained by our format or the number of authors!

[snarkingturtle]

So far they're mostly generic & will apply to any plot, but probably still makes sense to wait until outline time. (Also gives me time for the list to keep growing. And specific plots might inspire more specific thoughts.)

[amycarey]

MS MS MS (but I am maybe a strident feminist re: titles so... This is the hill I live and die on far too often, like, it is ridiculous.)

[amycarey]

Is there a "Henry needs some time and they all agree Archie/Kathryn/other available adult would be a good person for him to stay with while he and Regina sort their relationship out" option maybe? Like, obviously they can't tell whoever it is about the turnover but sometimes kids stay with trusted friends/adults if things aren't going well without it being like 'Regina is an unfit mother and adoptive parents are terrible'.

That was incoherent. I'm sorry.

[snarkingturtle]

IT IS A WORTHY HILL I support this cause.

Post season 4 finale???

[pauavalon]

I'm horrible at plotting cause I normally write at random inspiration strikes and I am way more prone to emotional and aesthetic blusts than to constructing coherent storylines (which is why I admire your ability to do so).

That said, and although I really like the ideas you are already proposing, I'd like to add a new one.

I'm particularly inclined to explore the potential ramifications of the story after the current season finale. The whole Dark!Emma arc is keeping me captive and the hiatus would be a great time to delve into such considerations (tho, I know the fic wouldn't be posted until after season 5 release).

Pro's (imo):
- We would be gathering all the canon (and headcanon) common knowledge we share up til now.
- And we will still be free from canon constraint regarding the development of the story.

Con's:
- Dark!Emma is tough to write and read about. It would possibly require a very angsty tone, and maybe we would like to go for something lighter. Then again, maybe the mood could be leveraged by other characters, flashbacks. Or even... DarkOne!Emma might have this Rumple-ish take in which she's also hilarious but preserving her essense. I don't know what I'm saying anymore... It sounds hella complicated, right?

This makes me wonder something else: should we decide the "tone" of the fic first (angst, humor, fluff...)? Or better come up with a story and later see which tone best suits it?

[paradoxalpoised]

The full name is Rumpelstiltskin so Rumpel seems appropiate this way.

I wasn't aware that there's a difference between saying Ms and Miss, would it be ok for one of you to expand a little on this?

I usually use Miss, but only because I've always thought Ms to simply be an abbreviation.

C.

[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]

"Miss" is for unmarried woman (opposite of "Mrs.").

"Ms." arose as a basic "fuck you" to the Miss/Mrs. dichotomy, as a way to address women without referring to their marital status. It can be used for all women.

Along with my own feminist leanings towards Ms., I think that Regina as a character would be a Ms. user for a couple of reasons:

1. The first time she uses it on Emma, she has no idea whether or not Emma is married, so the neutral word makes more sense. (Sure, Emma's not wearing a ring, but not everyone does, so this is not a definitive sign of Not Married.)

2. (More important than #1, IMO.) Given the history of her own marriage, I have a really hard time seeing Regina use titles that are based on whether or not a woman is married. It just...really doesn't seem like Regina, to me. I think she would find it offensive. (The one exception I can see to this is Snow--during the curse, I can see Regina calling her "Miss Blanchard" rather than "Ms. Blanchard," because separating Snow from David was one of Regina's successes, so I think using "Miss" for Snow could serve as one of Regina's inside jokes.)

Anyways. Those are my thoughts on the matter. Others feel free to chime in!