Fiction tips

Today we will have a few minutes to go over your ideas. We will also be going through some of the items from the list below that may help you with your various fiction projects. 

Remember, while the projects are flexible, they must be works of online fiction, that is to say that a short story online doesn't work, it must be something that incorporates not only internet technologies, but culture and represents the type of fiction afforded by it. 

If you are unsure as to whether or not your project qualifies, please contact me ASAP.

Today, hopefully, we will have enough time for you to go through the first three steps of the snowflake method. For Weds a rough draft of your fiction should be online. We will go over them together in class. 

• The Snowflake method (Go through steps 1-3 in a new post)
  
• Creating believable characters
• Short story structure and tips
• Thirty tools for writers (very useful to go through once you have your initial idea)
  
• More useful fiction writing tools, scan for topics applicable to your projects
  

The older cousin of online fiction

This may be helpful reading for some of you working on your online fiction pieces.

From Kotaku, a gamer blog:

• A History of Interactive Fiction

and the original

• Let's Tell a Story Together

Online Fiction

Today we will discuss online fiction and the directions it can take.

The two types of online fiction we will be looking at are blogging fiction and the alternate reality game (ARG). Defining either is difficult, as they, like most web trends, constantly evolve. However, for this class we will take the fictional blog as one that takes on the appearance of a blog, but is not based in reality. It may however have a strong sense of verisimilitude. The ARG also looks real, but is actually a game that takes you down a path with a constructed narrative that you have to play to find.

Both types of fiction utilize a chronotope that says bloggers are real folks operating under real circumstances. As a result, even when we know they are a hoax, they can still be compelling. Much of the writing is actually pointing, they rely on an external reality that readers already understand for their internal validity.

For Wednesday create a post with links and brief description to two pieces of online fiction. Also, we will be brainstorming/working on your fiction topics, so create a second post with some ideas for your fiction project.


Wikipedia on Alternate Reality Games

ARG Network

I love bees

Wikipedia article on Blog Fiction

How to write a blog-buster

Geoffrey Chaucer Hath a Blog

Panel on ARG




Emokidohio

Last-leg schedule

Just as a heads up, here is how I see the rest of our schedule working out.

• Week 12 March 24, 26 - Minor wiki edit due
• Week 13 March 31, April 2 - Major wiki edit due (major points!), new wiki topic idea due
• Week 14 April 7, 9 - New wiki post due (first draft on the 9th, final draft on the 14th)
  
• Week 15 April 14, 16 - Writing fiction
• Week 16 April 21, 23 - First draft of fiction due
• Week 17 April 28, 30 Finals Week - Final version of fiction due