Virus Alert: The Path Ahead [Not a story segment]

[WilloWisp]

Okay people and things that look like people, I'm sure some of you are probably wondering just how long I can keep this thing going - or at least, how long I plan on keeping it going. I thought it would be fair to give everybody an idea of what's in store.

At present, I have a clear outline for a total of at least 5 more full-length segments, and at least 20 additional shorter, in-between segments. I've divided the story up and sequenced it, and we're looking at essentially a 7-chapter story, but the final chapter doesn't have any mini-segments.

However, as I fit together this jigsaw, I'm coming up with a few extra pieces. They're pretty pictures, but they don't really move the big plots forward - they're just fun moments which would probably be quite popular reading material. I can't really find an appropriate place for them in the general sequence, although their chronological placement will probably be obvious once everything's said and done. Still, they're questions which are raised at some point, and it bothers me a bit to have loose threads that don't get any attention.

I'm probably going to have to take a brief hiatus from writing this weekend - Not discouraged or anything, I just won't have an opportunity until Monday or so. In the meantime, though, I've got a plan that I think might be fun. Alternatively, it might be the height of egotism and self-serving manipulation of others.

Those extra pieces would be extremely well-suited to a few of our resident authors. I won't name names, but there's some really great talent here, and I don't think I'm even close to the best example of what we can do. Consider this an open call to authors:

If you think you're interested in picking up one of the leftover pieces and fleshing it out into a vignette of its own, I'm all for it. Please let me know if you want to turn my meager scraps into masterpieces. BUT, and this is the part that's probably going to sound the most egotistical, this story universe comes with a rulebook. I've got a tightly woven plot mapped out, and part of that requires an internal consistency of the way things work. Obviously I can't prevent anyone from writing their own spinoff stories (I don't even think it's likely to come to that), but for purposes of my canon, for what it's worth, I'd really prefer to see what people can do within the boundaries I provide.

So, if you're generous enough to lend your talent, and masochistic enough to put up with my rules and nitpicking... there's probably a therapist who can help you redirect your energies to more productive things. But for right now, let me know if you're interested.