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]

Yes, that was my initial plan when I thought there'd be like ten of us lmao. Groups of three (or four in this case) working together on our chapters.

[paradoxalpoised]

I really like that. It sounds a lot more doable and manageable for a quality result. I mean I know nothing about tropes and writing them, but it sounds really reasonable to do things on that scale.

Maybe we should decide on if we're going to write in groups or not first, then we can decide on themes and lines of plot and possibly assign portions of plot or chosen trope or such to each group, like you said, and work like that.

Should we plan all 22 chapters (with each author having their say of course) is what I'm really asking, and then everyone kind of writes what they will with their own spin to their assignment?

Because leaving everyone to its own devices kinds of feels like we're going to have a big nightmare for continuity. And poor Turtle has volunteered to be a tribute.

Or I can totally shut up.

C.

[coalitiongirl]

See, there are two ways of writing this, and I think we'd have to do each one differently.

One is with the strong plot, no groups. Person A writes, Person B follows up from there, and so on and so forth. We have a few guidelines (a loose outline so, say, people writing chapters 7-9 know they'll be building up/writing a villain reveal, but they do it on their own time) but overall it's more about picking up threads and continuing with your own style.

The second would be like this, with the tropes organized by group and and each group having a (probably mostly romantic) piece of the arc. It's a bit different because there are smaller teams and each one is completing their own little arc, so it demands more cooperation than just writing from someone else's end line would be.

[pauavalon]

Hum! Sounds like a really good idea to integrate all the different styles, writing something that doesn't really step into either what has been written before or what we would like to write by our own, and freeing ourselves from canon constraints.

Yes, the continuity and coherence should be a challenge, but we can overcome that if we organize the work properly.

So, if I have understood correctly, there are several things we should be deciding:

1. From which canon timeline point we would be addressing the story (personally, I am incline to pick a point in an indetermined future, after all current canon crisis is solved; but it could be any point after season 2 or 3, imo, too; maybe connecting with the other idea of writing about what could have happened post Neverland if new curse hadn't been casted?).

2. The general plot that would run throughout the whole fic. Should we have a new villain/mischief maker? What would be the main force driving our characters (especially, E&R) to action?

3. The 6 subplots that would be organized around certain tropes and to be more especifically worked by a smaller group of writers.

4. Tone: I think you suggested to keep it drama, and insert angst/fluff/humor at times. I like the idea, but I am still concerned with the tone/style unity, more that plot coherence.

Is that all?

[coalitiongirl]

I think the beauty of a round-robin is that we ARE writing differently. so they don't have to match each other in tone as long as it's the same narrative. someone can write an emotional discussion of Regina's mommy issues and the next chapter can be a comedy about Henry playing matchmaker as long as it all connects. I don't have a preference for drama or angst or anything else as long as it isn't a genre that forces everyone to conform to a mood (with a super serious subject matter, like some kind of trauma).