Forums / Suggestions, Errors, Policies /
Story-Request option


  • Vanilla King
    Oct 3 8:57 AM
    Reply
    Hey folks from SW.. I have a suggestion! I already sent this to the mods, but Barbara suggested I post it here.

    I was walking home yesterday and I was thinking: "Man, it would be so awesome to have a story written with myself as a main character!"
    Then I realized there's no real easy way to do that. Either you ask someone to do it for you, or you have to open a contest etc. etc.

    So I figured, how about having a "Story-Request" section on the site?
    People can request a certain type of story (min/max words, topics, genres, etc.) and offer points for whoever wants to do it. Imagine I want someone to write a story of at least 1500 words in a Fantasy setting with me as the protagonist... I could put my request on the StoryRequest section and offer like 300 points or something.

    I don't think it's an option that will be used as much as other options like Contests & Groups, but it might be a useful section to some.

    Anyway, hope you like it, it might be a cool addition to the site.

  • Lady Pixie
    October 3 ↑
    Reply
    I've seen people write stories using themselves as main characters. Although.. sometimes, it doesn't work out very well when writing yourself in as a character. Sometimes it does.

    Your suggestion has some potential... but I think it needs a little more thought.

    Instead of offering points to just whoever wanting to do it (because, what if 10 people did it, and you're stuck with 10 stories and 10 people you're having to give away points to?), bids are made instead? And what if the story was a disappointment to the person who requested it- thus resulting in a waste of points?

    I'm not saying it's a bad idea... just needs to be thought through a little more I believe

    On a personal note, I think unless someone knows me well enough, it'd be awkward seeing me as a character in someone else's story


  • Valkyrie
    October 3 ↑
    Reply
    It's an interesting idea, and it could be used for much more than "write me into story X using these parameters". But like Lady Pixie said, you could end up with 10 stories, and how is that NOT a contest, essentially?

    The bidding idea is a good one, or maybe there could just be a first come, first served idea. I think the bidding would offer the creator a better chance at getting a story from someone he trusts, but it also wastes the time of people who come up with an idea and then end up not being chosen.

  • Vanilla King
    October 4 ↑
    Reply
    Yes, I agree with the bidding idea. I had in mind that people could respond to the request and offer their services, and then the requester could pick someone.

    I agree with that it's not a perfect idea... see it as a first draft. xD

    I think my username is just prone to being a protagonist... I can imagine a story with a Vanilla King. xD That's how the whole idea started for me.

    But yeah, thanks for the suggestions. I hope it could be worked out into something proper, I'd like to see this happen

  • Kevan
    October 5 ↑
    Reply
    Yeah, I like the idea, but it's kind of like a contest with the stage it's at now. "Write me a story using 'Vanilla King' as a protagonist, and receive points.'

    However, I am pretty much in love with the idea of a 'story request section.' We can start off by letting a few people make requests. For example "I want to read a story about a tiger." A second person would write a story about a tiger, and as a reward, they would get to place their own suggestion.

    This idea would also take more thought, but I personally would use it.

  • Lady Pixie
    October 6 ↑
    Reply
    perhaps this 'story-request' section that's being suggested doesn't necessarily have to revolve around someone asking to be placed as a character in a story, but about anything in general that's requested?

    But I think that's what Kevan just said now that I read the post better

  • wolfcub
    1 day ago ↑
    Reply
    It's quite a cool idea - you could get around wasting "bidders" time by ranking them on how many "requests" they've already completed, so the requester can make a more informed choice. Or you could ask them to enter their first paragraph. You would have to make sure it wasn't abused - people requesting homework!

    *sorry this is a random late reply, I just thought this looked like an interesting idea!*

  • Myryca
    1 day ago ↑
    Reply
    Maybe I'm not getting the right idea, but how is this in any way different to contests?
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