As I said earlier, I have an idea.

I am well aware that ideas, especially mine, are quite dangerous. However, I believe this one might have one heck of a benefit.

My idea:
Begin a community-wide, mass written, work of art.

I know this sounds convoluted and confusing, so I will try to elaborate.


My idea is to start a story, by writing just one chapter.
Shocking, I know.
But, I won't write beyond that.

I am fairly certain that at this point, anyone who would read this journal is familiar with the chain letter. This is usually where someone sends you useless spam that says something along the lines of, "If you send it to X people, then the love of your life will kiss you in the next month," or, "If you don't send it to X people, then you will die in three weeks." blah blah blah.

Now, what if the letter only asked you to send it to one person? Better yet, what if the letter was original and interesting to read? Even better yet, what if you got to add to the letter?

My idea: Start a story. Write one chapter, then pass it on to one of my watchers. He, in turn, will continue the story, write one chapter, then pass it on to one of his watchers. They will (I'm guessing you get the pattern here) continue the story, write one chapter, and pass it on to one of their watchers.

The end result would be one massive epic story, ranging far and wide over the landscape of DeviantArt. Writers would get to do what they love (write), people would be introduced to other writers, and general fun could be had by all.

Imagine, a story that begins as a sweeping mystery of murder and betrayal turns into a romantic comedy, or a monumental war story. Characters may be born, live, and die over the course of three, or thirty chapters.

I have only begun to think on general guidelines and requests, but the big one I'm hoping for: Don't kill the story. Leave a cliffhanger, but don't kill off everyone, or suddenly put the current main characters in an un-winnable situation. Don't just let the story fester, pass it onward. Remember, it's not your story, but the communities.