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Like You Really Need A New Time Waster

SF author and general raconteur John Scalzi writes on his blog about a new collaborative short fiction writing site called Ficlets from AOL.



Relatively easy to browse around, though you have to sign in to access stories marked as "mature" or to submit anything. They allow Open ID sign-ins, so I didn't have to create an AIM or Flickr or Twitter account but used my LiveJournal http address. Not having one of the AOL sponsored accounts means I don't get to use a nifty icon. (sigh) But the whole process takes seconds.

WARNING: This is "all too easy" and could really become violently addictive. I wasn't going to post anything, but decided to write the start to a story, "The Hero Business", which is sort of a mean-spirited riff on an SF novel I read years ago called The Galactic Medal of Honor (1976) by Mack Reynolds. The little editing window is pretty clean and cleverly keeps track of the number of words added and words left as you type. No pressure there.

This looks to be a lot of fun. Not only can you post little story bits, you can add prequels and sequels to your own stories -- or to other people's stories -- under a Creative Commons license. Oh now this sounds like a LOT more fun.

Ficlets is a new site and they are still ironing out some bugs and there are some issues regarding how to find something. Right now there's not too many stories posted. My one story has a URL which ends in 128 -- http://ficlets.com/stories/128 -- which I assume means it is just the 128th story. Cool. Last time I was "on the ground floor" of something new it was way back in 1989-90 or so and the birth of the Young Scientists' Network, where I within the first ten to find out about it.

Must. Go. Grade. Papers. Now.

Dr. Phil

Date: Sunday, 25 March 2007 23:06 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hundakleptisis.livejournal.com
It is way too much fun, I need a 12 step program to get me out of it

LOL

S.J.

Date: Monday, 26 March 2007 16:50 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com
I've confined myself to doing only three Ficlets -- did two yesterday -- and I still have to write up a bit here touting them. (grin) But too much addictive fun? Can you say trying to write a Ficlet on a PDA with a WiFi connection? And then coming in OVER the 1000-word limit and having to excise 24 words on a PDA? (grin)

Dr. Phil

Date: Monday, 26 March 2007 17:04 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hundakleptisis.livejournal.com
LOL. We can be the FAA founders (Ficlet Authors Anonymous)

I went in to do a couple and ended up with 49...

:)

S.J.

Date: Monday, 26 March 2007 17:38 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dr-phil-physics.livejournal.com
! Yikes !

And I thought I was doing good by posting two more yesterday, taking me up to three.

Lord, I am but a piker.

Hello, my name is Dr. Phil.
Hi, Dr. Phil.
And I haven't posted a Ficlet in 18 hours.

Dr. Phil

Date: Monday, 26 March 2007 17:50 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hundakleptisis.livejournal.com
Haven't been on for two days.... The tremors are getting bad. LOL
S.J.

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