Fiction Writing: Escaping Reality through Writing
A recent post on bringing dialogue to life did more than expected: It brought our readers to life in the comment section in ways we never expected.
It all began with a response to the post on embellishing dialogue with action. Melissa Donovan dropped a comment that what we seasoned gamers refer to as “In Character”, or IC for short. She took our fiction scene example and continued it.
From that point on, everyone who passed by our post that day followed in kind, filling up the comment section with scenes, actions and words that did more than contribute to the conversation – they brought a story to life.
I was pleased. I scrolled through the comments to read the story unfolding. James was right in the thick, playing along with our readers. I whipped off an email to him that read, “They’re gaming already, and they don’t even know it. This is perfect.”
What Was So Great About that Moment?
I’ll tell you. For some time, James and I have been working non-stop on a top-secret project to set the blogosphere afire.
It all began a few months ago with the idea to branch out into fiction writing on our blog. We used to love playing role-playing games (in fact, that’s how we met), and we missed having that escape from reality in our lives. Co-authoring the novel wasn’t enough. Writing our advice on fiction wasn’t enough.
We wanted that spark of playtime back – and we were going to create it.
You may have seen other creative writing blogs attempt collaborative writing. Each author contributes a little to a never-ending story. Experienced as I was with role-playing games, the efforts I noticed were noble, but they lacked true potential.
I’m a veteran play-by-post gamer and so is James. A blog isn’t the right format for supporting an unfolding collaborative story. We knew a better way – and as old game masters, we knew how to make it happen.
A Way of Escaping Reality
For many people, role-playing games, collaborative creative fiction and writing novels are all ways of escaping the monotonous routine of everyday lives. In fact, reading a book or watching a movie achieves the same goal – for a while, we escape reality and revel in the potential of imagination.
When we realized the number of aspiring fiction writers that would enjoy what we’d already grown to love, we set to work.
But we had to be sneaky. We had to test the waters and drop hints. We had to prepare people for our plans. Not everyone has a warm feeling when they think of role-playing games – and almost all the perceptions come from lack of knowledge.
Gaming isn’t for geeks. Gaming isn’t for the dreamers or the eccentric. People in high-profile jobs working in places like IBM and Nike are closet gamers. Regular folk who enjoy a good story are gamers. Friends who get together enjoy tabletop board games all the time, and then they go back to their regular lives the day after.
There’s nothing weird or silly about it. A role-playing game is simply interacting creatively with others. There’s no strange dress code or behavior required. It’s just people letting loose with some fun fiction.
After a few posts on fiction writing, we realized that we had a whole group of potential gamers on our hands. They may not have known it themselves, but they revealed it in this post, where everyone let loose to have some fun through creative writing.
Are You Ready?
Our readers were gaming in our comment section – and they didn’t even realize it. They each responded to comments left by others with fictional action and dialogue that made everyone wait eagerly for the next comment to come. It’s like anticipating the turn of the virtual page of the novel to see what happens next.
Sure, the gaming was a little rough around the edges and some etiquette rules were broken, but all that was missing was a little polish and a little know-how. The potential was there. The creativity was high. The moment was perfect.
We’re making the final touches to our new role-playing game boards, where creative fiction meets gaming. We’re building up the information you need and a place to play.
Are you ready? All you need is to think up a character that you can let loose and bring to life through your writing. In a modern day setting, we’ll help you escape reality and find freedom to play. It’s a wonderful break from the day and there’s no huge commitment required.
But we warn you – it’s addictive. You’ll always want to turn the page to see what happens next. You’ll fall in love with your character and you’ll look forward to that break in the day when you can post. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll bite your nails.
Oh yes. You’ll have the time of your life.
Of course, we’ll have a new blog to go along with the game. We’ll share tips on playing, setting up scenes, enhancing your characters… just about everything you need to know.
We’ll be releasing the launch date soon, so stay tuned and start thinking. And we’ll be looking forward to escaping from reality along with you.
131 Responses to “Fiction Writing: Escaping Reality through Writing”
Comments
Read below or add a comment...
Go ahead. Leave a Comment!
-
Affiliate Program
-
James Is Reading…
-
Social Hookups
As Seen In…
Overheard on the Web
MwP is Powered by…
So….drinking games anyone?
RLD: Taekwondo Happiness’s last blog post..Whoops!
@James Thanks, don’t mind if I do. Wine may actually be a prerequisite for the after 7PM crowd here. Or will I need to switch to beer?
Fascinatinger and fascinatinger…
Nicole Brunet’s last blog post..Little Pink Jake
@ James: are we more businesslike in the morning because we’re tired, and it takes us a while to get wound up?
Brett Legree’s last blog post..the hero everyone said they knew.
@Bret: That’s my take on the situation.
@ Jamie: that’s the amazing power of wine/beer/whisky
Brett Legree’s last blog post..the hero everyone said they knew.
@ Harry – The quiet ones? Oh my. I had better start making more noise around here, lest anyone get the wrong idea!
Allison’s last blog post..New York Roll
Because we’re polite, and we know we don’t get to play in the sandbox unless we act smart before… we don’t?
Because we really do think these dudes have brilliant things to say, so we like to let them know that right off the bat?
Or because Harry and James both know the goofiness is part of the magic?How do you get comment sections that make other bloggers green with envy? Flirt and offer liquor. ROI, baby.
I think I know why James never comments on my blog.
No shiraz.
Kelly’s last blog post..What If That’s All You Have to Say?
@ Allison: we know that Darth Sushi lurks quietly in the shadows…
Brett Legree’s last blog post..the hero everyone said they knew.
Sushi and wine? I’ll pass tonight, thanks anyways. Anyone have any pizza?
@ Jamie – Unless it’s rice wine…
Allison’s last blog post..New York Roll
@ Allison, yes, but a good slice of pizza is almost better than sex.
Hah! New York, $5 medium pizza with one topping. It’s the only thing I heart about Brooklyn. Having moved to Boulder, no other charms sway me, but $5 14-inch pizzas will win me over.
Tei’s last blog post..Plague-Ridden: Working When You Feel Like Death
@Jamie I just pictured everyone looking your way with blank stares.
Nicole Brunet’s last blog post..Little Pink Jake
Well, guys and gals, I’m off to search for a slice of, um, pizza. It’s been real entertaining.
Okay, who was on the committee to remind me to go out and buy black ink cartridges?! You’re fired!
Nicole Brunet’s last blog post..Little Pink Jake
@ Jamie – Yes, but you haven’t had my sushi.
And, dare I say it depends with whom? Well, I assume so anyways. Not like I would know… 0:)
Allison’s last blog post..New York Roll
So, let me get this straight…
Ritgh about 7 or 8PM the beer starts to flow like wine, and by 9:30PM (or is it 10:30 there) you’ve all passed out at your keyboards? That explains a lot about the morning crowd.
Nicole Brunet’s last blog post..Little Pink Jake
Nicole, in a word: Kids. Several early risers here caused by moments of indiscretion some years back. Probably also causes the goofiness. Definitely, at least in my case, causes the early exhaustion.
Harry has no excuse.
Kelly’s last blog post..What If That’s All You Have to Say?
@Kelly: Hmm…let’s see…up at 6…work until 6pm…make some food, take a short break…back to the computer sometimes until midnight. (fights the urge to insert another smiley)
@Kelly Ahh.. well you’re excused then.
@Harry So?
Nicole Brunet’s last blog post..Little Pink Jake
Gotcha, so for future reference I know I have a relative small window of time where I could miss something fun. Otherwise it’s all business, eating, working and sleeping. Good to know.
Nicole Brunet’s last blog post..Little Pink Jake
Harry,
I meant, cuz you’re a few time zones away, you can play later. That, and cats rarely ask for another glass of water or could you tuck me in better or the other three thousand things.
I didn’t say that, cuz I thought I’d see if I could draw you out.
My evil plan worked.
Thanks, can’t stand the smileys, necessary though they seem to be at times. You care, you really do!
Sometimes I’m up working until wee hours, but I tend to ignore distractions after a point, since I realize around… now… that they’re part of why I’m up so late. Your wee hours come a long time after ours out here.
Later,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..What If That’s All You Have to Say?
ACK! I knew it was a trap! You evil, evil woman you!
Cats don’t ask for anything – they demand it. They relentlessly jump onto the bed (often from the heights of the headboard or the nearby windowsill) and land on very sensitive areas. Not fun.
Although I have to say that after a week of sleeping on the far side of the bed away from the window and barricading access to the headboard, I won the battle, and they no longer demand that I wake up and feed them the moment the first rays of light hit the horizon.
After all the kisses I blow, the massages I send your way, to call me evil? Just the plan, darlin’, not me. Mostly. How about witchy? It worked for the Eagles.
If I wanted to be evil, I’d tell you there was a button malfunctioning. That would draw you out at three a.m….
Had four cats, a long time ago. Sadly, they went with an ex. (Quebecois aren’t the only shacker-uppers, and then you lose your kitties in the faux divorce. Is that just me?) I miss those furry snuggles on occasion. Mine were never jumpers, which does sound rather awful.
Do you win the prize for most-commented MWP post with this one? It must be pretty close.
Kelly’s last blog post..What If That’s All You Have to Say?
Oh boy! I can’t wait! This is going to be totally fun.
Geek’s Dream Girl’s last blog post..Diary of a Drow, Day 20 (morning)
@Kelly: 125? Nope. Bloggers That Fake It had 166.
Ooh, yeah. That was a good one. Of course if you had to count only on-topic comments it would be a whole different game. My guess is the one last week—*fiddles with bookmarks* …. Who Would You Thank—that might be tops. Nobody messes with Harry when you go all mushy.
(See how kids wear you out? I said I’ll wait ten minutes to see if Harry has anything to say before I go to bed. Thirty, too long.)
Hoping the cats are kind today,
Kelly
Kelly’s last blog post..What If That’s All You Have to Say?
So, uh, what happened to this? Still new to the site, and working my way around, but this is intriguing.
Thomas Bowman´s last blog ..Christmas Eve