Write Away! Right Away!

Recently, 2 of my contacts/friends had asked me to join their writers' group. Both for short stories, one of them in which the writer can write about any topic he/she chooses, with maximum of 100 words; in the other one must write about a given subject by the group admin, with the top limit of 56 words. I didn't accept either offer. I mainly write for my own pleasure, not to compete.

Quim Monzo is a renowned columnist and accomplished writer of the national newspaper 'La Vanguardia' in Spain. He started a couple of years back what might be termed 'collective writing'. This initiative is not just for dedicated readers but also to give them the chance to 'help' write a novel, on line, in the 'Quick Novel'. He himself would write a few beginning paragraphs published on the paper online, of 2 short novels, one in Castellano (Spanish) and one in Catalan (Catalunya). The readers were invited to continue writing the story in no more than 300 words, or in both, if you are a very capable writer in both languages.

One can also pick up the thread any time and continue with the story as many times as one wishes, always extending the story line from the entry before you, accompanied with photos, pictures or illustrations if so wished. Guim Monzo himself will collaborate throughout. These will be edited and judged by a team who are also responsible for giving the conclusion to the stories, staying posted in the 'La Vanguardia' digital online. The winner would be awarded with a lovely weekend stay for 2 in the most prestigious hotel in Valencia, all expenses paid.

The story in Spanish begins with a bookstore owner who, after all preparation work for Sant Jordi Book Fair the night before, goes to his establishment to begin his work day, and discovers something unexpectedly in the book 'The quickest book'. The story in Catalan tells of a lady writer who goes also to a hotel for the book fair to have a photo taken with some other authors, and encounters a very unpleasant surprise.

I was at first rather tempted to take part to join in the fun. But I thought I might enjoy it more following the development of a collective novel by multiple writers, most likely with different trains of thoughts and styles, yet must strive to harmonise with the others without losing altogether his own individuality and personal styles & ideals. It's great fun to read all the entries and to see how things come together at the end.


Tags:CollectiveWriting

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