The undertaking has been moving along effortlessly, with the team showing signs of excitement and interest for the challenges that face them. With the closing date here and all the offerings submitted, waiting for the final phase, it won’t be long before the endeavor gets to the printers press. The deadline date had been extended once; nevertheless we were assured it would not be extended further. Seventeen of the thirty-eight submissions gathered from the first call–out are ready for review. Myself and two other writers will undertake these reviews with little enthusiasm. We had been very eager to take part in this project prior to the deadline extension. However, the effect of the extension has played havoc, as schedules had to be adjusted, and other pressing matter was set to one side to accommodate the extension.
I have been writing occasionally, whenever I am challenged, or from time to time out of boredom for quite a few years since I purchased my first computer. It’s amusing that I never took up the task as a serious career, as I find the activity is both rewarding and stimulating. On the other hand, the more I find my fingers type, the more my brain activity ensues, and for the good or bad, the more I transgress…which could be part of the reasoning I never took that much interest in writing professionally. My associates on the review team have been in the business for much longer than I and are skilled to a capability that I can only just comprehend. Often they will laugh at my writings in jest harmless though, as I know they have high regard for my steadfastness and strength.
Our main task for this particular project is to determine how one individual contribution will fit the puzzle of this project. As this is a puzzle with no boundaries or edges, we do not see this as a simple task! And what is such a puzzle you may be asking; well as the chapter unfolds you will understand what I speak of now. So how will we accomplish a review of the contributions? We didn’t use much of our imagination, though we have devised a checklist, an A to Z checklist, generally giving a merit or measure of each item on our list. It’s a little comical; in that we will start with Aptitude, move to Desire, and on to Superiority and end with Zest. Rating each submission using our checklist between 1 and 5. Our aim is by Sunday next week we will be done, ready to select four submissions from the short-listed seventeen. We hope it will be challenge free, but are realistic of the job at hand.
It’s Monday and we struggled well into Sunday with little result on our review of the submissions. The checklist we planned was a complete failure. Blindsided by the silliness of the plan we lost site of its real complexity and the time involved to measure each attribute we decided upon. Having hit a stumbling block we are now in search of a new technique for the balance of our review, knowing we will need to subject all previous reviews in the same fashion we are completely exhausted. Our next meeting will be late tonight, when we can meet up after work. We have until Thursday to finish our part of the submission process and it is going to require serious concentration, with little joking about.
Our chosen four submissions have been sent to the final reviewing members for their choice for Chapter One. It took our entire spare time to complete what we initially deemed would be a simple task. As Chapter One may become the body of the novel, or categorically lead the other submissions, to give way to a completely different novel we had to be sure the chosen submissions would meet the criteria fully and easily.
It was our Internet support staff that instigated the development of the novel. They had been bouncing unusual ideas for novels around and came up with the extraordinary scheme of taking proposals from the wide-ranging public to see if they could ultimately twine together the most unexpected story. I was excited when I learned of the idea, and even more pleased to hear the company was planning to put it into action. And oh how I wished I were able to contribute; however as rules go, no affiliated person can make submission. Ultimately I believe this rule will provide for such diversity, it in itself will be a compelling part for everyone involved. This idea will also bond strangers in a unique style and at the same instance lead to challenges for the reviewers, as they will decide on succeeding chapters. It will also give writers an opportunity to expand upon their talent, as each successive chapter will be borne from the preceding.
As writers we frequently seek occasions to hammer keyboards or old-fashioned typewriters putting into view words of wisdom, thought or plain fantasy. It’s a creative side that springs forth, not always grammatically correct or well thought out. Expression merely flows from writer’s fingers. And many times, once started, a writer goes for hours and hours allowing thought to transfer out. Of course there is also the stumble many writers face, when somehow, in all the splendor of writing we are at a failure for words. Oh, sure there are words, just time and again they become repetitive, uninteresting and then the challenge sets in.
Challenges can make for serious headaches, or for some it easily brings out the determination to move on. For me a challenge results in function. I can digress or persist on with the theme, either way I will end up writing, and sooner or later the flow will start all over again. I have never considered that I am a skilled writer; I measure myself as an amateur in truth. With this kind of measurement I can always fall back on it should I be negatively reviewed or lethargic in my writings. It’s not the best approach; still I claim it as mine.
I have also been making claim to a number of oddities these past few years, it could be suggested I’ve started probing into life’s meanings, or possibly it’s just an age thing. Whatever it is, I discover myself taking notice in scores of mixed views. Just yesterday I was looking at an opinion that all human souls were reincarnated and only a small fraction have been here before. All the rest of the seven plus billion humans on this earth are considered very, very new souls. Souls that are in the first incarnate of life. Souls that have not had the previous life lessons to move forward effectively in their current life span. It’s such an interesting concept that I will have to seek out others opinions and more information, tomorrow or another day, as I have again transgressed and this writing is for the assignment at hand.
Project 101, that’s what this venture is being referred to as. It makes me think of those do it yourself books that surfaced a few years ago. Do-It-Yourself…Project 101, Build your very own bookcase this weekend! Only this Project 101 is all about writing, writing and more writing, with or without censorship is yet to be determined.
Naturally, it does not appear that censorship could play into this project, as if the intent is to take 25 different authors and meld their works together to form one story, then surely censorship has no place to rear it’s head. I’m very much against any form of censorship; I believe that all humans have the right to express him or herself. Naturally I realize that this thought process will and does lead to misunderstandings with others. Mostly I believe this is due to our societal beliefs directly connected to prejudices and its misrepresentation. The general populism has lost the true understanding of what a prejudice is. Most humans mistakenly label another in this fashion, not realizing they have done so incorrectly. Suggesting that a person is prejudice as they have stated they dislike another race of humans is a very uneducated statement as it is merely someone expressing their opinion. Perhaps not an opinion many would hold, and not a well liked one. Ideally, it would be sensible if we would all just take some time to learn the true definitions of words that are so often misused and misunderstood. If that same person were to express they disliked snakes, would we label them as prejudice?
Far too often opinion is confused with prejudices and even hatred. Unfortunately we have become a society that is no longer tolerant of opinion, and quick to label or censor another.
And as an opinion is simply one’s own personal thought, why are we no longer tolerant of others thoughts and so quick to judge? Perhaps we could better our understanding of others by accepting their opinions, the same, as we would like our opinions to be accepted by them.
We cannot educate nor learn if we suppress opinion. And all efforts, such as taking many different authors opinions and thoughts, well written or not, to form into one novel must not involve censorship. It must require all judges are unbiased and willing to support the ever-challenged “freedom of expression” a task the media seems to constantly struggle with.
And so the project will begin with an opinion and could traverse lightly the boundaries of all sensible, confined writings, completely stagnate from lack ability to carry on from the last chapter submitted or it could prosper. These next few months will be fascinating to those who have submitted, to those who have judged, to those who were not fortunate to have their submissions chosen. Fortunately, each chapter will be borne of new submissions. Who knows what the next chapter brings forth? Thankfully the reviewers of the project submissions will recognize the unique talent of all the writers and will consider all submissions with equal status. It was announced in the early stages that submissions would be circulated for review without the reviewer knowing whom the writer is so as to provide for equality, as it is expected that seasoned and published writers will submit work for consideration of the project.
Will it be a mystery, or a true-life experience? Will it make us happy or sad? Will it hold interest? If I were to be submitting for this project I start with a simple thought, say one about emotion. Maybe love, or fear of not finding love, maybe hatred or misunderstandings.
Misunderstanding is an emotion that everyone experiences. Frustration has come from misunderstanding. More serious events have been the consequence of misunderstandings. And misunderstanding is just the lack of ability to successfully exchange a few words. Every now and then people just don’t recognize that another does not always identify with the words they choose to express themselves. It is fascinating though, if we identify that two people yelling at one other, still an outward appearance of communication, is just that independently they are both misunderstood.
One could suggest that the result of such communication confusion between two persons involved in an argument is simply that they just are not listening to each other, however I believe that the problem is deeper that the lack of hearing another. Somehow, we seem to have different levels of communication and I believe we are not cognizant of another communication technique. Once we recognize the other communication structure we can then endeavor to modify our terminology to project our thought in a style they can appreciate. As an example, when speaking in an authoritative manner, another person could become intimidated and unable to respond appropriately. By altering our mannerism, while still maintaining the authority required, we might immediately enable the other individual to react according to our requirements.
As the project moves along from chapter to chapter each writer will need to be aware of the previous and possible future contributors method or communication for the novel to flow smoothly. Naturally trying to predict what a prospective contribution style will be hard, but if the preceding journalist takes into consideration the diverse styles of communication in their submission and can find a way to include such, it may lend a hand to the next writer. I suppose an example of this would be if a chapter were to flow along and then suddenly take an unusual turn in the plot or in the form of writing altogether, say to go from first person to second person. Not a particularly hard task, yet for this assignment it would need a powerful constraint of being soundly orchestrated.
I personally do not envy the task that will be placed upon the reviewers for each following chapters, although I do envy that they will be privy to many, many different writers works. Reading is as much a pleasure as is writing, however, as said before the delivery of the message is an important key to holding the audience. Many times an audience is drawn away from the writers words simply by setting the work down to continue reading later. It takes a supreme ability to embrace a reader so enslaved that they “just have to finish the page”. It is not often that I have found myself held so captivated, however on the rare occasion, I do find such works, I do finish the page, and the next and the next, until the novel is read and I am searching for more of the writer’s works. I cannot believe that every writer writes solely for this purpose, though I am convinced many writers just write, as they simply enjoy formulating sentences. Very often you will find writers not writing novels or drama, just writing, maybe company policies or drafting company memos. You can always tell if they are a true writer or someone who just needs to be heard. A true writer will go so far as to take on the challenge of writing up company policies. I can not think this form of writing would be the most satisfying kind of writing, yet it still serves a purpose for someone who desires to cast words into purposeful importance. A writer simply writes.
Well I have used up considerable time thinking of all the potential outcomes for this work of fiction and truly imagine it will be a grand venture, one with wide-ranging venues. I am looking forward to following the project to its final arena. In the meantime, I recognize that I have transgressed way further than just explaining to you how I became caught up with this project. With any luck, I have held your attention and given you some insight into my feelings on this assignment. With sadness I declare the moment has come that I have to beg off from this chapter and move onward into the next.
Now whom should I encourage to attend the social unveiling once the novel project is finished? And what will I wear?
