Feedback requested about the Story Jam

[Doreen Peri]

What do you think of this type of event?

How do you think it's working?

I would love your input.

[judih]

It's hard to get into one storyline intensively.
Also, i'm suffering cause my internet keeps going down.

The plus side is huge, however.
Lots of stimulation, lots of fun, interesting to see what people do with the images.

i like it!

what about you all?

[Doreen Peri]

Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to spend here during the Jam but I looked through it and participated on a couple of the threads a little.

I started one story which seemed to have taken off into something entirely different than a story.

I guess that's why I'm asking for feedback because I was a little disappointed that stories didn't actually develop.

Maybe the concept is too chaotic?

Maybe we could do something different with the story idea in the future and pair people up. Pick-A-Partner-Story-Jam. Or something. Then, each pair of people could write a story together and it would actually develop as a real story.

I donno.

I enjoyed all the images! And I'm happy so many came out to participate!

Just wondering what others think, too.

Thanks, judih!

(ps - sorry to hear of your internet disconnection woes... sigh... that's a pain, for sure!)

[judih]

yeah, maybe those participating could attempt to stay on storyline.

Those of us who dig stream of consciousness could gather together on one thread.

Those who want plots that congeal could listen more carefully to the originator.

The one who puts up the image might have to offer a firm intro to the story to give others a clue as to the desired sort of style.

When i worked in a writing group, each writer had her/his individual style of writing and part of the challenge was to adapt to that, rather than roar out of nowhere.

Depends on the writer. Some of us might dig those unpredictable detours.

[Doreen Peri]

Yes, everybody's writing style is different... That's what makes it fun!

Stream of consciousness stories would be great for this concept... any type of stories.

Just seemed to me on several threads, it took off into more of a chat room atmosphere. Maybe it's me and I wasn't paying attention well enough. I've been trying to do too many things, I think. I need to pay more attention.

When I threw this idea out in the air to see if anybody liked it, I wasn't thinking of really strict sticking-to-the-plot kinda thing. Unpredictable detours are GREAT!

Creativity is the fun part. I think people should go wherever they want to go with it but if you're writing a collaborative story, it seems to me that adding to the storyline would make sense.

I'm rambling.

I'll shutup and hopefully others will respond and tell us what they thought of it.

[iblieve]

I wrote a long comment but it didn't post, lol, go figure. I really enjoyed this event and regret that I didn't get back in time to join in today. I really think it would help if the person that starts the thread writes an outline of say five things they want to happen so that the other writers can follow the storyline. Also if one person starts the stroy in prose the other post should be prose and if it starts as poetry it should stay poetry. I do apologize Doreen if I took your Road Trip story in a different direction but I did take it back to where I started, but I like wrecks and action in my sotries, all the main characters die, lmao.. Anyway I think this was a very creative undertaking and as we go it will become an even better and productive event. The story Cat Nip was hilarious and I hope it went the way Soberduck wanted.

So what is the future of the word jams and are we still going to have them together because our old schedule is exhausted. Let me know what ups and who is next so we can work it into our schedule and advertize them ahead of time..

We love you doreen and this experience was awesome for me.
iblieve

[mnaz]

Damn. And I was just about to go back and retrieve the road trip story..... I thought this jam went for two days.... oh well. The mere thought of writing about a road trip puts me "all over the map" in my thoughts.... and, magnified by my late-night "haze", uhh, well, it showed.... maybe it's because that's how I travel.... always getting sidetracked on some back road or another. Yeah, sorry about that, doreen....

[Doreen Peri]

Thanks for your input, iblieve & mnaz... and for being here to participate!

No problem with taking my thread in a different direction, either of you... Just like the road turns. I was just looking at all the threads and thinking there wasn't much story development in many of them, including my thread. Was it just me or did it seem like the threads went off in directions which weren't stories at all but more like chat? I donno. Maybe I expected something entirely different than can be accomplished during an event like this.

I'm not saying there was anything wrong with anybody's posts... please don't get me wrong. I just thought it would be cool to write collaborative stories and I don't think that's what happened.

iblieve, your idea of having the original poster post a short outline might be a good one. But then again, we don't want to stifle the direction a story can go. That's the fun of it, not knowing what's going to happen next and who's going to add events, characters or elements to the story which weren't there before.

This thread is like a brainstorming session. I think the idea is a good one and I was so happy many came out and participated and there was a lot of good stuff going on. It just wasn't how I imagined it. So what? LOL! Nothing ever turns out how anybody imagines it will! That's the way life works. It's exciting!

A few questions to all....

Are collaborative stories too restrictive?
Is having multiple threads confusing?
Can you think of any other ideas to organize such an event?

I'd just like to talk about other ideas to make this story thing work so stories are developed OR whether it was a good idea or not... OR whether it's possible to develop stories collaboratively and spontaneously.

A lot of great things happened... good interaction and images and words flowing.... I'm just wondering how can we better organize it so it will be an even better experience next time?

I haven't read the Cat Nip story... gotta go read that one!

mnaz - I thought the journeys Jam we had was one of the best we had here! Lots of people love to travel as you do... and when we created a joint travelogue, it was fabulous! Sorry I locked up the Jam before you thought it was going to be locked up. Maybe we should have the Image-ination Jams all weekend long instead of just 24 hours from now on? What do you think?

As far as the upcoming schedule for jams, I haven't had a moment to think about it but that's another good question.

Is having them every 2 weeks too often? Should they be more often? I'd like to keep the ideas flowing in so we're always doing something exciting together, incorporating different types of arts and writing experiences.

All ideas are welcome.

Thank you ALL for coming to the Jam and participating! Each and every one of you made it a unique and intriguing experience!

[Arcadia]

I have no practice writing stories both in english or spanish and for me it´s easier to read english in a poetry style but I enjoyed participating.
Maybe less threads could encourage a more concentrated participation if it´s one of the objectives.
Maybe the initial post has to work as a more "traditional frame" of the story, always there is time to play with it, change it or subvert it.
I don´t know.
All stories must have a plot?
Willie Who was very postmodern!
saludos,

Arcadia

[iblieve]

I would say at least every two weeks for the word jams. I enjoy them and hope to get a schedule running so we can invite more friends to join us no matter what site it is at. Hard to do when you get the name and schedule the night before, so many of the DARc poets come and go and it might be days before they check in. But whatever works for you my friend I will make it work for DARC.

[Doreen Peri]

iblieve -

Thom wants to have his next one in January, after the holidays.

I'm always so swamped around here that I never get a chance to create the announcement until the night before. I'm not complaining. I'm happy to have work that pays me, though sometimes it's a lot and my day job has to come first, so I fit in the work for S8 when I can.

Would you like to help? Why don't you come up with a schedule you think will work going from now through February, then send it to me via email or pm?

I actually have DARC down on my calendar for a Word Jam this coming weekend. I just noticed this after seeing your post and checking my calendar. Do you want to host one this weekend?

Also, for the Jams at your site, it would be great if you could help by writing your announcement as early as you'd like... then you can send it to me and I'll have a starting place for writing the email and announcement for the S8 community. If you could use one of the announcements in the What's Happening forum which announce a Jam at your site as a template... you know... who what where when why and the links.... then edit it to fit the next Jam at your place, that would be great!

Let me know what you think of these ideas. Thanks so much!

[izeveryboyin]

D, I've heard great things about it, but the time to partake in it has parlously escaped me... I fear I am missing out on all this grand, Studio Eight fun. It makes me sad.

--k

[judih]

no need for sadness, K
join in the first opportunity

doreen, we can try to jam at poetryjams. Let's see if we bust the system

december is a great month for jam warming

[iblieve]

The notice for the Jam at Darc is up and the schedule for the upcoming jams is done and hopefully in your inbox. I hope they meet your approval and if not I will gladly do it again. Anytime you need help with the jams I am at your service.
Sincerely
ibleive