The Backend
Collaboration and Discussion
After some effort I have found a solution which I think will work for this project. Drupal is an opensource content management system. It includes users, profiles, personal publishing areas, forums, and discussions. It would be nice to get a custom theme and graphics done but it is not important at this time.
More information can be found at drupal.org
Character/Interaction/World Tracking
A Wikki system will be utilized for accepted elements and mildly docummenting the interactions of everything.
Project: Community Written Book
So it dawned on me that with all the community type stuff that is happening across the internet I have still not seen a community written book. So it is time to change that. This thread will be the beginning of a long term project aimed at being the fictional first book to have been completely created and written by a large community of people across the internet.
I have not pulled all of my thoughts together on this, but as this will be a community driven project I think a small community should be used in setting this up as well. As things come to me I will be posting them here; I am also looking for contribution and ideas as how I can possibly make this work. All I have now is an end goal, a few ideas of how to start, an idea of what type of online system to use, and a few rules.
Anulien
19 years ago
Anulien
19 years ago
The License
Perhaps most delicate of all issues, the license will allow for writers to maintain control over the characters and elements they are attributed while enabling the works to be used in a collaborative project.
Submitted works will be covered under the Creative Commons License.
Details can be found at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/legalcode
I will maintain a seperate license for the concept of the project however, which will be under my sole ownership. The concept, not the works therein. The project itself will be covered under the Creative Commons License at this time.
Publishing
The ultimate goal is being to take a completed book(s) and submit them to a publisher. How viable this is is unknown as this has never been done in this fashion, our testbed will help us determine if we would seek book or online publication.
Perhaps most delicate of all issues, the license will allow for writers to maintain control over the characters and elements they are attributed while enabling the works to be used in a collaborative project.
Submitted works will be covered under the Creative Commons License.
You are free:
to copy, distribute, display, and perform the work
to make derivative works
to make commercial use of the work
Under the following conditions:
Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor.
For any reuse or distribution, you must make clear to others the license terms of this work.
Any of these conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder.
Details can be found at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/legalcode
I will maintain a seperate license for the concept of the project however, which will be under my sole ownership. The concept, not the works therein. The project itself will be covered under the Creative Commons License at this time.
Publishing
The ultimate goal is being to take a completed book(s) and submit them to a publisher. How viable this is is unknown as this has never been done in this fashion, our testbed will help us determine if we would seek book or online publication.
Anulien
19 years ago
The Rules (so far)
Persons cannot kill, harm, sexually interact or perform any controversial act against a character or element that is not of their creation without the creator's explicit permission.
Characters cannot ascend/transcend to become a god or onipotent/omniscent entity of any sort.
Characters not of the writer's creation cannot be controlled in first person without explicit permission from the creator.
Characters noted as elements cannot be controlled in the first person.
Purgery will absolutely not be tolerated, removal from the community will be immediate.
Failure to be abide by rules will leave the writer and the writer's works subject to removal from the community.
Persons cannot kill, harm, sexually interact or perform any controversial act against a character or element that is not of their creation without the creator's explicit permission.
Characters cannot ascend/transcend to become a god or onipotent/omniscent entity of any sort.
Characters not of the writer's creation cannot be controlled in first person without explicit permission from the creator.
Characters noted as elements cannot be controlled in the first person.
Purgery will absolutely not be tolerated, removal from the community will be immediate.
Failure to be abide by rules will leave the writer and the writer's works subject to removal from the community.
Anulien
19 years ago
How will this work?
Now it gets simple! All you do is create and write and submit! The community will chose by some type of ranking systems what elements and characters and stories are the direction they want. As more people contribute more intricate plot lines and interactions can be weaved.
How big will this be?
A global internet community, English will be the official language however. Because this is a huge and daunting setup we will first use a very very small community of dedicated writers so we can create and work out any problems early on that might arise from having hundreds of writers.
How long will the project last?
There will be a timeline, without a doubt. Because writers given the ability to take as long as they want tend to. Initially I want will say 1 year from opening date to close of submissions.
Beyond that I have no details or ideas yet, I just thought of all of this during the weekend!
Now it gets simple! All you do is create and write and submit! The community will chose by some type of ranking systems what elements and characters and stories are the direction they want. As more people contribute more intricate plot lines and interactions can be weaved.
How big will this be?
A global internet community, English will be the official language however. Because this is a huge and daunting setup we will first use a very very small community of dedicated writers so we can create and work out any problems early on that might arise from having hundreds of writers.
How long will the project last?
There will be a timeline, without a doubt. Because writers given the ability to take as long as they want tend to. Initially I want will say 1 year from opening date to close of submissions.
Beyond that I have no details or ideas yet, I just thought of all of this during the weekend!
Anulien
19 years ago
Help Me!
As I sit and think about how this is all going to work I already see how complicated this really is and how much help I am going to need. It is already planned that 3 backend systems are going to be used. Well, those take administration and moderation. As we get things going positions for dedicated people will open up. But for now here is what I envision will be needed:
Administrative:
Forum Administration/Moderation
Wikki Administration/Moderation
Blog Administration
Senior Editor
Creative Editors
People who like to read lots
As I sit and think about how this is all going to work I already see how complicated this really is and how much help I am going to need. It is already planned that 3 backend systems are going to be used. Well, those take administration and moderation. As we get things going positions for dedicated people will open up. But for now here is what I envision will be needed:
Administrative:
Forum Administration/Moderation
Wikki Administration/Moderation
Blog Administration
Senior Editor
Creative Editors
People who like to read lots
Anulien
19 years ago
Art?
Yes please!
Yes please!
Anulien
19 years ago
Theme
We will testbed a fantasy theme, beyond that it will be up to the writers to build a world. Including but not limited to animals/races/factions/religions/names and then placing then creating characters to interact in this world, interacting together or on their own journeys are up to you!
For the testbed a world will be predetermined. I love conflict, and how people become heroes or casualties in conflict. So I imagine a dark world already covered in war will be the start. History and backstory is still needed though.
We will testbed a fantasy theme, beyond that it will be up to the writers to build a world. Including but not limited to animals/races/factions/religions/names and then placing then creating characters to interact in this world, interacting together or on their own journeys are up to you!
For the testbed a world will be predetermined. I love conflict, and how people become heroes or casualties in conflict. So I imagine a dark world already covered in war will be the start. History and backstory is still needed though.
Anulien
19 years ago
Ok, here you have it folks. My idea. Now let's make it happen. I will be purchasing a domain in the next couple days will cover all costs of hosting. I will setup all required systems and will help administrate. I will aid in finding writers and driving people to agree on the finite details of building this project. Beyond that this will be up to people to make happen.
This project defintely needs a name so i can register a website, please post a name suggestion when you post and feedback/comments you have.
This project defintely needs a name so i can register a website, please post a name suggestion when you post and feedback/comments you have.
Verileah
19 years ago
I am more than a little intrigued. I'm not exactly clear on the details...but I think this could really work.
I'm up for writing if you'll have me and would gladly help out more, though I'm not quite sure as of yet where I would be best suited.
I'm up for writing if you'll have me and would gladly help out more, though I'm not quite sure as of yet where I would be best suited.
Anulien
19 years ago
I think it can too once we figure out how to start it. I am not clear on the details either, I am just dumping things out of head as I keep thinking on it. Suggestions are welcome.
Verileah
I am more than a little intrigued. I'm not exactly clear on the details...but I think this could really work.
I think it can too once we figure out how to start it. I am not clear on the details either, I am just dumping things out of head as I keep thinking on it. Suggestions are welcome.
Temprah
19 years ago
now this sounds COOL.. I'd like to help with writting, art or whatever I could. Will await further details =)
Anulien
19 years ago
Ok posted a license, the backend, and some information of the initial theme. All i need is a name for this project so i can get a domain and setup the backend stuff! Then I can go to town with getting content up and people working together.
Anulien
19 years ago
I've set up a test site off my work computer, when I obtain a name and a domain I will move it and the database.
http://unic0rn.net-md.net
You are free to create an account and post as you will, suggestions/comments are very welcome.
I will create a FAQ and Project page on the site very soon so people will have a better idea what this is about.
http://unic0rn.net-md.net
You are free to create an account and post as you will, suggestions/comments are very welcome.
I will create a FAQ and Project page on the site very soon so people will have a better idea what this is about.
ROzbeans
19 years ago
This is kick ASS, anu! I'm all for it. How exciting!
Blackrabbit
19 years ago
I've always wanted to do something like this. 
I'm registered as well, and willing to help with both writing and editing, having done both in the past. If you want me, of course!!
I'm registered as well, and willing to help with both writing and editing, having done both in the past. If you want me, of course!!
Anulien
19 years ago
I will take any and all help I can get. I am not a writer and have no experience in this type of project. All I want to read a really good book and have infinite amounts of backstory to a world people can feel a part of. And I am going to name something Bob. I better put that in the rules now.
Anulien
19 years ago
openpen.org has been registered. once the dns propogates i will move the stuff off my work computer to its real webspace. mmmmm free 1.5GB bandwidth.
Sarah
19 years ago
I would love to help. If the backend programs are easy to learn I will help with admin and editing. Writing however will not be on my list, as I have enough people floating around in my head, adding more will only confuse me.
Gilae
19 years ago
I love the little alien dude hun
And you know I'm always down for helping with your projects. Let me know whatcha need.
And you know I'm always down for helping with your projects. Let me know whatcha need.
Rikr
19 years ago
I'm not a writer, but I will help whereever needed.