Chaos Engine (Working Title): A Reader-Driven Collaborative Writing Project · 3:21am May 31st, 2012
So I had this idea for a potentially fun story thing. Here's the gist:
- Author changes each chapter.
- At the end of each chapter, readers post suggestions for what they want to happen in the next chapter. (We can do that in the comments here for the first chapter.)
- When an author has sufficient inspiration from these comments, they can start writing the next chapter. (Teen rating at the highest, please.)
- When they're done, we might have one or more editors have a look at it to approve it for submission and maybe help tidy it up some. (I can probably handle this, though if anyone wants to volunteer to help, I won't complain.)
- Lather, rinse, repeat.
I'll probably start working on the first chapter as soon as I get enough ideas from comments, though if someone else wants to start, that's fine too.
One last thing. Chaos Engine is kind of a terrible title, so if anyone has any suggestions for something better...
Huh... it's an interesting idea. When I've seen this sort of thing done in online collaborative story-telling environments, the story usually becomes pretty fractured and chaotic very early in the process, which usually makes for a pretty poor read... but with your idea, since it would just be one author doing the writing, there's a much better chance the quality would be maintained and maybe also a unified story line.
Would your goal for such a system be to deliver "what the reader wants" or just to scour the readers for interesting ideas to put the characters through with each chapter (maybe make it episodic?)
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Honestly, I'm not sure yet! I'm envisioning something that slowly builds on itself over time, becoming more complex and/or ludicrous. Granted, if it builds up too much, the entire thing could very likely collapse under its own weight, so we'd probably want to keep that in check. Perhaps, if this gets big enough, we should create a group to discuss stuff like this.
In my experience, purely reader-sourced storytelling is a recipe for inevitable disaster, so I think it'd be better for that aspect to simply be a source of inspiration rather than anything binding.
>since it would just be one author doing the writing
Erm... heh. Not sure where you got that idea. The current plan is actually to have authors rotate each chapter. This thing is still in the planning stages, though. Perhaps the editing process might lend greater coherence; perhaps the different style in each chapter might add something to the whole thing; or perhaps we still need to discuss the logistics of this whole thing before starting.
This sounds really fun! I probably won't be able to participate, however, as I have a review thread on /fic/ to maintain. I've barely had time to write my own fic, but I wish you luck on this project and look forward to reading the nonsense I'm sure will be conjured.
I'd like to join in on this little escapade.
I believe the question is: how can different authors join into one story? Will each chapter be posted as a separate "story?" For example, if you write Chapter 1, your name will be on it. How will I post Chapter 2 in such a way that my name is on it and not yours?
But I suppose that's unimportant. I actually kind of like the name Chaos Engine. It ties it to the way the story was made. I mean, you said yourself, 145141 "becoming more complex and/or ludicrous." What better describes that than a "Chaos Engine?"
I suppose it's not my place to say what you should name your story, though. Good luck with this; hopefully, I'll get to be a part of it. :)
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Hi, thanks for taking an interest! I'd thought this thing was dead and buried by this point, but maybe I'll try to pick it up, dust it off and get it started after all. I'll see if I can wrangle up some people that have previously shown interest and then hopefully get things rolling.
My current thought is that chapters will go through editing in Google Docs before they're submitted. It'll probably be simplest to put them all together on the one account, but it should be a simple matter to give author credit at the start of each chapter (and maybe in the chapter title, I dunno).
Honestly, "Chaos Engine" is kind of growing on me. Maybe I'll stick with it after all.
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Ha hah, I knew you'd see it!
I think what you gotta do is just start. Put the link up so we can follow your progress, perhaps.
Oh, I think I figured out a system. What you do is, set your Google doc so that it only allows comments. We comment on your work there and here on FiMFiction. You pick a person to write the next part (say, me
) Then you give that person editing rights (
) and let them write the next part. Hypothetically speaking, it doesn't even have to be by chapter if you think about it. (I suppose that's a good quantum, though.)
Come on, let's kick this baby into gear!
Woohoo! Haven't written in a while, so this'll be good to kick my ass back into gear.
This sounds like a lot of fun. Being able to steal- take ideas from the comments for inspiration is a good idea, and rotating authors will be interesting. Maybe everyone will bring their own little speciality to the table?
Some are good at writing angst, whilst some are good at writing romance. We can use eachother's strengths to make up for weaknesses! Sure, it could all collapse under it's own weight, but not if we build a strong foundation.
C'mon guys! LET'S DO THIS! (Oh god I'm way too hyped right now ^^)
Here's a suggestion.
All participating authors should be given a general idea of what the plot is first, then we can work on how it works out, wraps up, etc. I'm not so sure the reader-suggestion thing is a good idea, though. It'd feel like the broth is getting too many cooks, and you know how that ends up.
By the way, I'm interested in helping to write this story. Do you already have cover art for Chaos Engine? If not, I'd be happy to draw some.
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Hey! Thanks for the interest!
You do raise a very good point about reader suggestions. The current idea is that whoever writes the next chapter can take or leave whichever suggestions they want. I guess we can experiment with different methods if we think it's not working or something. The first chapter will likely just be the product of ideas from you guys, so we'll have time to discuss this without delaying on starting.
I hadn't even thought about cover art yet! I'd be friggin' stoked if you could provide some!
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Need people to provide some ideas before I can start the first chapter, and since we have no readers yet, you guys are all I've got! (Not that I'm disqualifying anyone else from providing suggestions.) Should I start a new blog post specifically for that, or do you guys want to just put your ideas here?
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Let's see what I can brainstorm from that.
I think this is as good a place as any. I'm glad to see we've got a couple people to prime the pump.
Now, as to ideas. What have we got so far? ... A title.
cha·os noun
1. a state of utter confusion or disorder; a total lack of organization or order.
en·gine [en-juhn] Show IPA
noun
1. a machine for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy or power to produce force and motion.
4. any mechanical contrivance.
So, based on the title, we have some sort of device that can either create chaos or use it as fuel. Of course, we could be talking about something more conceptual, but for the sake of argument...
The first obvious thought is Discord. Perhaps we could use a more archaic definition of engine (4. obsolete any instrument or device: engines of torture). In this idea, Discord creates... some plan or another, that acts as an instrument to release him and allow him to rule Equestria. I have a story concept for just this occasion! ... But it's something I'd rather do myself, so we'll have to try something else.
What if we had some sort of... dimension ruled by the Chaos Engine? I'm thinking the third definition of chaos here (3. the infinity of space or formless matter supposed to have preceded the existence of the ordered universe). The ponies access this device and form the world. But the ponies start to argue about what exactly should happen, and everything falls to pieces. So meta!
How about that conceptual idea I was theorizing? Maybe it's a device that creates chaos, but not directly. Rather, it's something that causes ponies to argue with each other and refuse to cooperate. Like the Internet.
Or what if it were a machine that one of the ponies made that caused rampant destruction everywhere it went... No, that's just a rehash of Contraptionology.
Hmm... anyone else got any ideas?
>>Like the Internet.
Don't make that joke, we're doing this over the internet. Touch wood!
And that idea is pretty cool. I've never thought to come up with the name first, and then use that to create a story idea. I like the idea of a machine that makes ponies fight, but that's kinda like Discord himself. Maybe Discord has followers and such who try to free him by creating chaos? I dunno. I think you came up with some very good ideas there, Mr. Priest.
I like some of this material. Perhaps there can be some manner of Discord cult called the Order of Chaos (puns yay).
But I think we might be getting a little ahead of ourselves; we should probably focus on a starting point for now. What's gonna happen in the first chapter? Is the focus of the plot going to be immediately relevant, or are we going to build up to it over time?
Once I've got enough to make a start, I'll send out links to a Google Doc so people can make fun of me while I write.
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Split up the country, chaos everywhere. It's perfect!
Hmm... you're right. Part of the idea is that we start from square one and let the plot go from there. Maybe we can just start with something really generic and see what happens.
I actually really like the Order of Chaos (Also, lol, Order/Chaos). Perhaps... perhaps they are the engine! Or they have some sort of ritual called the Chaos Engine. I think, though, that if you want to implement some group like this, they need to be different than the Nightmare Moon cultists that appear in every other dark fic. Maybe they could be like the Discordians. (I don't know that much about Discordianism, but...)
You know what else we need? We need the... wait for it... Apple of Discord. *ba-dum tish*
Ooh, ooh! What if you started there? Something with the Apple...
All of a sudden, I had a retread of the beginning of the Iliad jump into my brain. Instead of Aphrodite, Hera, and Athena, it's Cadance, Celestia, and Luna (respectively)! What do you think? Don't know where to go from there, but hey, that's why you're writing the first part, right?
Oh. Oohhhhh. http://youtu.be/7DZ5jx_UnZU Idea! What if the three alicorns got into a big fight because they couldn't decide who deserved the Apple?
Here I go brainstorming again. What do you guys think?
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The only Nightmare Moon cult I'm even remotely familiar with is the one in Past Sins (which I only read the first chapter of before giving up on). I'm guessing that most of them (like the Past Sins one) are the typical dark and mysterious black hoods and robes affair? If so, how about making the Order of Chaos less formal and broody (Discord wouldn't approve of that anyway) and more eccentric and silly? They meet in strange places, have ever-changing rituals, wear silly hats, that sort of thing.
The Apple of Discord idea has potential. Essentially something like a souped up Want It, Need It spell? If it's gonna target the three alicorns, that could be part of some convoluted, labyrinthine plot that the Order concocts. If we do use the Apple, what form should it take in the story? Probably not a literal apple; it'd be a little strange if a bunch of ponies in silly hats had access to something that could so powerfully affect the minds of the princesses.
Anyway, I'll probably try to make some kind of start sometime tomorrow. It will probably be awful. Should I just leave a link to the Google Doc here, or PM it around?
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Basically, everything they do is an exact reversal of what the NMC would do, in such a way so as to make fun of the cliches of the NMC. See, we got this down! 
I can't immediately recall every story I've ever read that had the Nightmare Moon cultists, but they're all pretty much like that. They're called subtly different things or have slightly different goals, but they're always "hide in the shadows, scary robes, Evil=Good" type guys.
Your description of the Order of Chaos sounds kind of like the Discordians: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discordianism.
Hmm... you know what? What if you made them like a parody of the Nightmare Moon cultists? Or a... contraparody, if that's what you want to call it.
I'd argue that the Apple of Discord in the original story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_of_Discord) didn't actually have any enchantment upon it. It played upon the goddesses' inherent greed and self-centeredness. Celestia may be near-perfect, but she must have some flaw, right? Hmm... perhaps you could put "to the most loving" on it, or whatnot. Celestia loves her people, Luna loves her creations, and Cadance is... well, pretty obvious. And, of course, that would explain why they break up into separate nations... See who is the best leader after all.
I'd say... put the link here. That way, if more people decide to show up, they can join in on the fun! :D
Hmm... trying to teach myself the dative case of Ancient Greek is tougher than I thought. Whodathunk?
I think, if you wanted to say "to the most loving," you would say "αγάπη" or "agápi̱." If you think that "Friendship is Magic," you could go with "φιλικό/filikó" which is more "love between friends." I don't think "ἔρως/eros" (
romanticintimate love) or "στοργή/storge" (familial love) would be appropriate.Hooray for getting caught up in minor details! XD
>>I actually really like the Order of Chaos (Also, lol, Order/Chaos). Perhaps... perhaps they are the engine! Or they have some sort of ritual called the Chaos Engine.
I like that idea. Don't know why, I just like it a lot.
Letedwend makes a good point, though. We need a good starting point. I'm still pushing through my writer's block at the moment, so I can't think of anything. I seriously like the idea that the cultists could be the engine, though. And I know this is a bit unrelated, but maybe Pinkie could be one of the cultists? I personally can't think of anyone more chaotic than that bouncy pink mare.
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Who says they have to be the bad guys? I've been on this crazy Discordianism binge in response to this, and one of their key tenets is that they aren't really ordered or chaotic, neither good nor evil; they just are. If that's what we do, then Pinkie can absolutely be a member. She can even be a Saint.
See, their actions are what drive the plot, but that doesn't necessarily have to make them evil. Bah, I don't know. Maybe I'm just making this too hard.
If I weren't working on a dozen other projects, I'd write a quick starter based off of my "agapi" idea. I'm pretty enamored with it, but if it's not in the cards, so be it.
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You can find the doc here. I haven't started actually writing yet; at the moment, I'm just planning out the opening scene and some other odds and ends that people have come up with. Commenting is enabled universally, so feel free to contribute!
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"Like the Internet"...?
Gentlecolts. I have a grand idea for the story:
The Chaos Engine is a hivemind similar to the Internet, created by Discord in case he was ever banished/imprisoned in stone/whatever other punishment Celestia found suitable. Because it exists, ponies behave irregularly and may become discordant, and if they become discordant enough, Discord can return.
General Information:
>Everypony who has ever existed exists also in the Chaos Engine.
>The Chaos Engine is the reason discordance exists.
>When a pony dreams, they are actually recieving information from the Chaos Engine while dormant.
>In order to prevent Discord from escaping ever again, Twilight Sparkle and her friends embark on a quest to destroy it. However, Rainbow Dash comes to the understanding that without the Chaos Engine and its ability to cause irregularity, free will would cease to exist. Thusly, one half the Mane Six are trying to destroy the Chaos Engine, while the other three are trying to protect it, effectively causing discordance between them--enough that Discord is freed once more.
>The outcome of this story is the moral that free will is extremely important despite the fact that it is a double-edged sword. Without it, no one is able to mature or grow or learn from mistakes.
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I love it. Even better, it leaves room to use the divided Equestria as a parallel plot line, if we're so inclined.
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OK, good!
Let this be a bit of a lesson, lads: write an opening, then an ending, then possibilities. In that order. You'll find it's much easier to write and complete stories this way.
Happy writing and good luck, everybrony!
{GIVE IT ALL YOU GOT, FELLAS!!!)
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I love you.
No homo.
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*jumps atop a pile of roses, cocks eye suggestively*
How much?
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H-hey! I said no homo!
...
Unless... y'know... you don't mind...
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We'll just see what happens later, Boomers.
Till then, why don't we brainstorm some possibilities for this story?
1) Because everyone who has ever existed or ever will exist exists also in the Chaos Engine, should this mean that
>Applejack gets to meet her deceased parents?
>Rarity gets to meet her future children? I'm throwing in Rarity here because I think this kind of thing would affect her the most.
>They meet one of the G1 ponies? I'm thinking Dash meeting Firefly.
2) Besides Twilight Sparkle, who else would want to destroy the Chaos Engine?
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1. I don't know any G1 ponies or anything.
2. Applejack's parents would be interesting. Maybe meeting them or something would make her want to stop the Chaos Engine too?
3. Rarity's children. Who would she have children with...? (shipshipshipship)
4. He called me Boomers
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I've made a start on actually writing the first chapter, now. Sorry about the unprecedented delay. Now that I've made a start, though, there shouldn't (shouldn't) be any further delays like that.
I could probably use some help with editing, though; I'm kind of a crappy writer.
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I can edit it if you want. Just PM me the chapter and I'll see what I can do.
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1. You really don't need to be as well-versed in G1 characters, it was really just a throwaway idea. Although it would be pretty funny if the Mane 6 were to catch a glimpse of G3 or G3.5 and all feel queasy from the sugariness of it all.
2. I'm assuming that by meeting them within a dream, Applejack would be more than convinced that the Chaos Engine needed to be protected instead of destroyed.
3. Let's say Rarity is saved from a Nightmare creature by her future son, who doesn't look like anypony she recognizes. During the epilogue, she meets a stallion who is both charming and familiar...
4. Yeah I called ya Boomers.
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Here you go. I'm still only about 40% or so through the first draft.
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A billion percent sorry, guys. I swear this isn't dead; I've just been a combination of distracted by other creative endeavours and straight up undiligent in my work ethic.
I'm about 80-90% done with the draft, and I've hit a small snag in that we haven't nailed down what the Chaos Engine thingy actually looks like. I'd really appreciate some assistance on this from anyone who's still willing to give me the time of day after the massive delay. Hopefully I'll be able to get through this last bit in the next few days.
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OK, the Chaos Engine should probably be described according to who gets to see it first.
... in short, the Chaos Engine should have no real shape. It's Chaos.
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Hmm... What if it looks like Chaos when it's "active," but while it's dormant it has a more ordinary, defined appearance?
Or should it just be all Chaostastic from the start?
EDIT: Okay, here's what I'm going with at the moment. While the Chaos Engine is dormant, it appears as a miniature stone tree. After it becomes active, it appears to Daydream as...
"...a great, inexplicable machine of indeterminate form and function, gears of smoke and glass and razor-sharp metal twisting and turning in impossible ways and to no known end, lights and levers scattered about the machine’s surface blinking and toggling seemingly at random. In the midst of the mechanical chaos, pained sobs and terrified screams echo, muffled by the strangely thick air, and if you look closely, you can see tiny ponies inside, some sad and exhausted as they work the machine’s various components, some trapped or crushed by the hell of shifting parts."
It's supposed to be symbolic or something.
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Not bad, but its dormant form probably changes every day. If it's active, everypony sees it differently, but while it's dormant, it just recreates its subdued form every day.