Collaborative fiction
March 15, 2007 7:45 AM   Subscribe

Ficlets are extremely short stories (a maximum of 1024 characters). Other writers swoop in and write prequels and sequels to your ficlet, making interesting branching narratives a la Create Your Own Adventure.
posted by Plutor (13 comments total) 10 users marked this as a favorite
 
... a la Create Choose Your Own Adventure. Damnit.
posted by Plutor at 7:49 AM on March 15, 2007


Natalie Portman sat, naked and petrified, looking at the most recent Netcraft reports. *BSD was dying and you didn't have to be Kreskin to see it.
posted by DU at 7:54 AM on March 15, 2007


It's one of John Scalzi's (mefi) projects. FYI
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 8:17 AM on March 15, 2007


It should be duly noted that blogging guru, frequently published author, New Comprehensiblist, and guy who tapes bacon to cats, MetaFilter's Own John Scalzi is seriously involved with but not primarily responsible for Ficlets.
posted by wendell at 8:17 AM on March 15, 2007


Best 2 out 3?
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 8:22 AM on March 15, 2007


I'm not gonna fight no jedi.
posted by wendell at 8:28 AM on March 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


I should probably add that I'm more of an "Old Man's Warrior", but I won't.
posted by wendell at 8:29 AM on March 15, 2007


He glanced from the blue-hued screen to the teabag that lay on top of the trash. "Decaff" it read, and he sighed, his lethargy explained.

Blue tones turned white as Word launched. A screen blanker than his face, his mind, filled his vision. Obligation weighed on him. Pride too. Was he expected to contribute? Certainly, he expected himself to. He needed the approval of [+], but in his current state he couldn't compete with past glory.

He’d have to try, though, to keep up with his nemesis who did not know he was a nemesis. If that slipped, then the contest would be lost. He could only win if the other did not play. His strategy, big long stories tossed into unexpected threads, was good, but it could not keep up with the rush of quips and jokes his nemesis could bring to bear. He did not feel like a winnar today.

Still, he placed hands to keyboard and began to type. A few words here, then a check of the count. Even though he was not happy (he never is) with the final product, at 1,024 characters exactly, he stopped
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:44 AM on March 15, 2007 [13 favorites]


Excellent, a yardstick! Thanks robocop is bleeding.
sympathy [+]
posted by carsonb at 10:43 AM on March 15, 2007


Great find! This sequel -- to an entertaining story in and of itself -- is genius!
posted by eurasian at 11:14 AM on March 15, 2007


What would be even more impressive would be stories short enough to fit into a text message (160 chars or less).
posted by rhymer at 11:27 AM on March 15, 2007


Did you ever read that short story from Hemmingway?

6 words

For sale
Baby shoes
never worn.
posted by subaruwrx at 1:30 PM on March 15, 2007 [1 favorite]


Thanks Plutor, haven't got time to explore as much as I'd like right now, but it looks like a great link to a fun idea!
posted by Ira.metafilter at 5:44 PM on March 15, 2007


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