With only one entry in our "You're Going To Die" series, I think we will have to call a halt to the endeavor. I really enjoyed it, I just wish it had picked up more momentum and participation. Oh well. Thanks to the handful of folks who were chiming in and / or following along.
Feel free to use this space to discuss why you think it didn't work, if we should keep doing something like it, or if we should go back to a generic "CYOA" story. Or if we should do nothing at all.
Clearly this announcement has shaken the HeroMachine nation down to its foundations.
I’m sorry I haven’t read any of the cyoa’s… I should, maybe l8r…?
Actually, I really liked this idea. I enjoyed reading everyone’s entries, and even wrote some a couple of weeks myself. All I can say personally is that I’ve had a bit of a time crunch of late keeping me from participating more often, but I wouldn’t mind taking a crack at a second round of “Your going to Die” sometime in the future.
Thanks for doing this, Jeff, and thanks to everyone who took part.
I really enjoyed it, and liked contributing the few times that I did. My biggest problem was with it was trying to match my “style” to what the story currently was. That may be why there were so few contributers, it’s hard to write within those kinds of guidelines. While it was fun while it lasted (lots and lots of fun), I don’t think doing it again would have much of a different effect. We’d get the same 5 or 6 people entering every week, and it’d peter off as it got more detailed and the style became more specific. I think we should maybe try our collective hand at another pre-written CYOA, if Jeff is willing to download another one (no idea how much they cost, or if there are free ones out there). We seemed to get a lot more participation when the only imput required was giving your opinion on the choices and talking about the story…
This was so much fun, and I’m sad that it’s over.
The amount of free time available to people seems to be the biggest issue facing participants. The only response I can think of for that would be to leave two weeks between updates instead of just the one. Another ever-present problem would be the old bugaboo “I’m just not feelin’ it” creative block. Maybe offices and giant roaches just aren’t some peoples’ strong points. Sadly, there is no cure for this and you just have to wait for it to have run it’s course.
A return to a pre-fab CYOA would be a welcome rest for the creative muscles, I think. We can always try this again later on.
Okay. I guess I don’t understand. There were two entries. Mine and Renxin’s. I know my schedule is inconvenient, and I couldn’t get back to it yesterday at all–
Are mine showing? I entered every time. They show HERE.
I saw yours, Herr D, I didn’t see Renxin’s. Regardless, two people isn’t really the level of participation I was hoping for. I kept thinking it would pull more people in but it just didn’t. You, Renxin, borntobealoser and … I know I’m forgetting one or two others … but that was it, right from the start and no more ever jumped in. You all were great and I really appreciate your contributions, but the core idea just didn’t seem to have a broad enough appeal.
NOOOOOO!!!?!!?!?!!?!!!!!!
*Ahem*
Yeah, I saw this coming, I’m sad to say. I really loved our little run. But we always had a rubbish turn out, which was made a lot worse when one of us was unable to find time to enter (I’m ashamed to say that it was me this time). This had become my favourite part of the heromachine schedule, and I’m upset that it’s gone, but I can see that it’s probably for the best, and it’s time to move on.
*Sheds manly tears*
[begins to offer borntobealoser a hanky, realizes it’s wet from own manly tears, hides it in pocket]
Ahh, well. Perhaps something in between the approaches would be best. I would be among the volunteers to be style / continuity for the ‘hand’ approach.
Example of Hand Team writing:
In each cycle, suggestions come in for a passage for week #1.
Whooboy Include the word syzygy!
Week #2, the writing team (this is spelled ‘commitment,’) of 2 – 5 members each may veto ONE suggestion and each must concoct an outline, flowchart, plot point list, paragraph–whatever. Style not important. IT MUST MAKE SENSE. It must realistically be doable in less than 400 words or potentially be a phenomenal joy to produce. <-decided by s/c editor.
Week #3, Days 1-2. Judge votes on EITHER: submission with the most suggestions OR: combination that strikes his fancy.
Week #3, Days 3-7. S/c editor writes the winning suggestion out in a uniform style, editing for continuity. PM's Jeff from forum.
Posts and starts again on next day.
Hand Team writing doesn't have to be a choose-your-own adventure. This approach has been used in the ghostwriting industry for screenplays. This could, however, be a second attempt at an office adventure.
I think it had alot of appeal. It was a blast to read. It alway put a smile on my face.
Personally i didn’t participate because i felt i couldn’t write something good, clever or original enough. Writing something entertaining is really hard.
That was probably the problem. Normally people in these just throw idea around in the air and the author give it shape. Here you had to write a full blown chapter.
Incidently that also the advantage of Hero Machine (the program). Because even without real talent in drawing you can build a picture good enough to show.