Header PromotionFor the last few weeks I’ve been involved in something really fun here at eHarlequin.
It’s called Pass the Plot.
When my editor mentioned it to me, I thought, “What the heck.” I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I’m so glad I did this.
It has been great fun.
The way it works is like this. An author writes the first chapter of a story, setting the scene, establishing the characters and hinting at least at a little of the possible conflict.
Then eight eHarlequin community writers brave doing a 1,000 word chapter each. The idea is to move the plot along over 10 weeks with the original writer (this time me) tying it all up at the end.
This one’s billed:
Pass the Plot: Murder at the Mountain Lodge: A snowstorm, a mountain lodge and someone with murderous intentions! Are you game?
There is no discussion among writers when it comes to what to write or the plot – just a lot of cheering and kudos along the way. Each writer gets to take the plot wherever she wants.
As you would imagine, the plot sways and weaves and twists and turns. It’s like a roulette wheel. No one knows where it will stop.
But playing is a blast. It is so much fun to see what each writer comes up with. Such devious minds we have here on eHarlequin! And some of them I’ve seen on this blog site!
To make it even more fun, the moderator Dee Tenorio, chooses some key words and phrases from the original chapter and gives points for how many times each writer can slip one of those key words or phrases into her chapter.
Things get a little crazy sometimes – especially when murder is involved. But while I’m sure there is some nail biting, the writers all seem to be having a great time and have proven how much talent there is out there!
So if you haven’t followed one of these, please stop in and check it out. We have four more chapters to go with me on the hot seat to wind everything up at the end.
Or if you’re itching to try your hand at the writing end, be ready when the next one rolls around.
To read the story so far or comment on the story or the wild things the writers are doing with it, go to: http://community.eharlequin.com/forums/write-stuff/pass-plot-summer-sizzler
Meanwhile, the 4th book in the Whitehorse: The Corbetts series, Smokin' Six-Shooter, is out now with the 5th and final in the Corbett series out next month.
And I am working hard on the next in my Whitehorse, Montana series. Whitehorse: The Winchesters begins next April.
BJ
I've been following it,
I've been following it, BJ. The first one of the Pass the Plots I've read. It does look like fun. I especially love the game of including specific words or phrases. It's been fun for me as a reader to go along and try to spot them, in addition to enjoying the story. Sounds like you're having fun with it, too.
How do the eHarlequin members get chosen to write a chapter? Do they just volunteer? Do they have to submit and chapter, and one gets chosen?
How many Winchesters are there going to be? All brothers?
Julie Miller
BEAUTY & THE BADGE-The Precinct, Dec. 2009--an RT Top Pick!
TAKEDOWN--The Precinct, April 2010
The Precinct: SWAT TEAM 1--coming in 2010
RT Career Achievement Award Winner in Series Romantic Suspense!
www.juliemiller.org
Julie,
The community members just throw their names in the hat, so to speak, and volunteer to write a chapter and then the moderator presumably just pulls out 8 names at random and assigns a chapter to each. I've loved reading them! The commentary afterward is almost as much fun as the chapters themselves.
Adopt a shelter pet. Save a life; gain a best friend for life.
View my DD's very public video acting debut at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E-v05kMucw.
July 2009 Member of the Month
Passing the plot
Julie, I think you can also throw your hat in the ring by letting your editor know you'd like to do it.
As for the next installment of the Whitehorse series...There are six Winchesters, all strong-willed, all with secrets and of course there is a murder or two or more. :) I'm having a ball with the family since there is a lot dysfunction. :) They'll be coming out April, May, June, Oct, Nov, Dec.
JV, glad you're enjoying the Pass the Plot. I'm a little nervous on the last part I play to tie it all together.
BJ
www.bjdaniels.com
Thanks for the info,
Thanks for the info, guys! I think it would be fun to try something like that.
And, BJ, I'm looking forward to the Winchesters. You do dysfunction so well.
Julie Miller
BEAUTY & THE BADGE-The Precinct, Dec. 2009--an RT Top Pick!
TAKEDOWN--The Precinct, April 2010
The Precinct: SWAT TEAM 1--coming in 2010
RT Career Achievement Award Winner in Series Romantic Suspense!
www.juliemiller.org
Write what you know
Thanks, Julie. I do know dysfunction. I thought my family was the most dysfunctional there was. I've since realized they were pretty normal. Well kinda.
BJ
Sounds
like fun. I would love to check it out. I have worked with English teachers who have used similar games to get students to write. Sometimes they get to know what the one before has written or at least a general idea and other times they are just told the characters and which paragraph to write. It can be very funny.
Cee Jay
Dysfunction
Isn't dysfunction normal? I haven't checked out the Pass The Plot forum yet, but will try to when I get a chance. CeeJay, alot of the teachers I know, including me, have used the Pass the Plot idea. It did get a little hairy, but the kids seemed to enjoy it
.
Minniem
Pass the plot
I was a newbe to pass-the-plot and a participant. I've had blast. Yes, the nail biting thing did happen. I bit both mine and the perilous pouch
. And the discussion board perks up the writers.
I've been introduced to kindred spirits who's given this writer a boost of confidence and had the chance to congratulate my competitors. Though the eharlequin Intrigue line can be murder, the fans are great!
B.J. I've just finished SMOKIN' SIX-SHOOTER. I'm still in that afterglow period! OHHHHH! A great read. I'm now working on getting the ones I missed . . . Though I started the series late, I'm hurrying to catch up. I'll know all of the Corbetts soon, and I can't wait to get to know the Winchesters from book one!
p.r.
I participated in the PTP
I participated in the PTP before BJ's--it was an Historical. I ended up in one of the middle chapters (Chap 6 I believe).
It is a bit nail biting--especially when it is not a genre this newbie-not-published-novelist is attempting. But it is tons of fun. Everyone here is supportive. Many of us who toss our virtual hats into the ring have been participating in other challenges offered here.
Thank you eharlequin for all you offer to the wannabees.
Do go check out the Pass the Plot, Date with Destiny and other Write Stuff forums.
Nancy
January 2009 Member of the Month
Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Pass the Plot Spring 2009
Pass The Plot
This sounds like a lot of fun. Well and nerve wracking too. I will have to go check it out. I've liked all the Whitehorse books. I'm glad you have more next year.
Linda Henderson
Off topic
Nancy, were you aware that you won a book on Maxine's blog in the Desire Author's forum?
Adopt a shelter pet. Save a life; gain a best friend for life.
View my DD's very public video acting debut at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E-v05kMucw.
July 2009 Member of the Month
Thanks everyone!
Cee Jay, pass the plot would be fun with kids. I would imagine it is very entertaining.
MinnieM, I wish they did things like pass the plot when I was in school. I would have loved it!
P.R., you did great in the pass the plot! It is a great place to have fun huh along with boosting confidence. I'm delighted you enjoyed Smokin's Six-Shooter. I really love writing the Whitehorse series. I feel like I can do anything I want -- kind of like pass the plot!
Nancy, I read the last pass the plot. It was great.
Linda, I think you'd have fun on pass the plot. Glad you're enjoying the Whitehorse series.
Thank you all for your wonderful support! Nice seeing you here!
BJ
www.bjdaniels
Pass the Plot..
B.J.
I've actually used this technique in my English classes and it has always been fun but they learn so much about the craft of writing in the process....
I've read the story and think it great...I've been enjoying it.
wj
JV--thanks for the heads up!
JV--thanks for the heads up! Off to the Desire blogs...
Nancy
January 2009 Member of the Month
Participant in Date with Destiny 2009
Participant in Pass the Plot Spring 2009
Great writing exercise
Wayne, I think it would be so fun for the teacher as well as the writer. I played with this a little in my book that is out now. I have a one-room schoolhouse teacher who gives a writing assignment to her students like mini writing class -- I thought it would be a fun and different way to tell one part of the story. Hopefully it worked. :)
BJ
www.bjdaniels.com