Input On A Unique Concept For Books

[soberdick]

I wanted to get some input on a concept I am trying with my first novel. You can read the book proposal here: A Murder In Marchen: A Jack Rabbit Mystery Novel by Sean Oberdick — Kickstarter

I'm not necessarily looking for backers (although it would be wonderful if you did). I would appreciate feedback on my method of allowing backers to provide input on the direction the book should take. Thank You.

Sean

 

[Peder]

Isn't there a name for having different people write successive piecemeal story continuations to make an eventual total story? Can't put my fringer on it, but someone will know.
But good luck anyway!

 

[soberdick]

Peder,

That's not what this is. The backers aren't writing the novel. I am. What I am doing is giving them options on which way the story could go. The option with the most votes is the way I write the story. So they have input but ultimately I'm still the one writing the book.

 

[Peder]

My mistake. Sorry. :sad:

 

[Occlith]

Kickstarter is an interesting concept itself. As for your book, the idea of the backer voting is okay unless they don't like your "plot angles".

 

[Conscious Bob]

Peder,

That's not what this is. The backers aren't writing the novel. I am. What I am doing is giving them options on which way the story could go. The option with the most votes is the way I write the story. So they have input but ultimately I'm still the one writing the book.

Story by committee, yuck.

 

[beer good]

Honestly, I'm not sure the idea is all that unique. The concept of having readers play "Choose your own adventure" with a book or TV series as it's written has been tried quite a few times before. The reason you haven't heard of it is probably because it turns out very few people are interested in stories like that; you want a story to surprise you, to do something you wouldn't have thought of yourself. I'm thinking it might work if it's a famous author, where people already have faith in them as storytellers ("Wow, I get to tell Stephen King what to write!"), and there have been cases where writers have done things like give contest winners a cameo in their novels. But an unknown writer asking people for money for a novel he will write if they tell him what to write? I honestly don't know who'd be interested in that.

 

[sparkchaser]

Sounds interesting but like beer good said, you'd need someone marketable to do it in order for it to be successful.

 

[Peder]

But an unknown writer asking people for money for a novel he will write if they tell him what to write? I honestly don't know who'd be interested in that.

Tagging along on BeerGood's thought, I don't quite see a benefit for non-cash contributors of ideas. So far it sounds like everything flows to you -- cash, free thoughts, possible royalties, fame, who knows what. What flows in the other direction, back from you, to make it worthwhile for participants?