If you somehow landed here without reading The Game, please read it first, then come back.
This is the most complicated and ambitious writing project I have ever tried. When it is finished, it will almost certainly be at least novella-length, and involve something like a dozen characters.
It began much more simply.
I originally envisioned what fun it would be for a couple (husband and wife, say) to play a little war game, shooting each other with water guns or stabbing each other with rubber knives or something, stripping each other as they proceeded.
The problem was that every time I tried to work out the story, or write a few words and let it work itself out, I'd end up with something I wasn't happy with. For some reason, I just couldn't get the idea to work for me.
Another idea I had, not particularly original or very good, was to set up some kind of "Miss Sleepy America" contest. Not much story there, so I didn't do much on that at all.
A reader who sent some feedback on my stories asked for a follow-up to Waves, possibly also involving Caroline. I didn't think of Waves as the first part in a series, but I also liked Tommy, Tina, and Lacey enough that I didn't really just rule out the thought. After tossing around a few ideas back and forth, some from me, some from my reader, it seemed that doing the "war game" idea with the Sigma Sigma Gamma girls might be good. Then, they could "do in" each other. Mix in a few sub-plots and it seemed like an idea.
A very big, complex idea. I'm used to writing short fiction. I haven't ever written using extensive notes, or character sketches, or back-stories or...
Still, it sounds like fun, and, while I don't have lots of time to write, and I'm not a particularly fast writer, it might be neat to do something a bit longer.
So, here goes...
BTW, things aren't completely worked out yet, so if you
have any ideas or thoughts, I'd love to hear them.
Notes on Chapter 3
OK, now that was quite a chapter. It started out as only a few paragraphs at the front of the next planned chapter (about the pre-Game party), and ended up as sort of a set of stories of its own.
BTW, the inscription on the ring in the last section of the chapter is
intended to be Latin for "The wearer will sleep
eternally." It's a machine translation, so it's probably wrong
somehow. If anyone knows the correct Latin, or, perhaps, a cooler
language to use, e-mail me and
I'll change it when I do the next chapter or two.
Notes on Chapter 4
It took a bit to get this chapter together, even though it seemed at first fairly open-ended. The main plot points were to introduce Lianne and to give Caroline's "Eva" story. The trouble was that I got bored writing so much exposition, and I thought maybe you would get bored reading it.
I also wanted at least one sleepy scene, but not one that fit with the rest of the Game. A little bit of discussion and mild role-playing with a friend from yahoo (glovedfemale) gave me the idea of the cartoony/comic knockout sequence.
The bit where Tommy goes under and he hears Tina call him "adorable" is an old fantasy of mine, based on an episode of Laverne and Shirley, no less. In it, they find this guy lying on their couch and they spend several lines talking about how adorable he is. I used to think how great it would be for women to talk about me that way.
Lianne, by the way, was born in the imagination of the reader who
first suggested a Waves sequel. Lianne is
not exactly like my friend's idea, or description of her, and I'm
using her a bit differently from the way she was originally
envisioned, but I hope he will be pleased with her role, and the
scenes she will be a part of.
Notes on Chapter 7
I think this may be the most controversial part of this extended story. By all means, let me know what you think. To be honest, I decided to write this and post it quickly so that I would have the guts to do it.
I wanted to do a very passionate scene in the old movie style, where everyone always has one foot on the floor, and the camera pans away for the juiciest bits. I believe that to write that sort of scene, the reader needs to feel more than a little uncomfortable, like they're not really supposed to see this. I think it's that intimacy which, oddly enough, draws you into the story.
I also wanted to see if I could write such a homosexual love scene. I am a man, and I am willing to admit that it might have been partly for my own comfort that I chose two women to be my first such characters, and not two men. I am also willing to admit that this story bears no resemblance whatsoever to the way actual lesbians act in private moments. If you believe the scene is stupid or laughable, then by all means laugh at me. You won't be the first.
As another note, I want to ask again that you please e-mail me with your feedback. I've been doing this a while now, so I'm probably ready for criticism as well as praise. Either way, I don't bite, and I'm not looking for a sexual relationship. I just want to know if what I do makes a difference to anyone.
I also want to thank the people who wrote me so far. I know it
takes courage, or at least effort, to do that, and I am very
appreciative. You are the reason I didn't close this site down long
ago.
Notes on Chapter 13
As I said in the acknowledgment section, I had to make a few changes before putting the final chapter in place: naming Caroline's husband, and putting a silver bullet through the heart of my "different narrator each section" experiment. I also went back through and tried to clean up any inconsistencies.
I'm glad I finished this, but I'm more glad I started it. I really do enjoy writing short or very short fiction, but this was a very good adventure.
As always, you're feedback is greatly appreciated.
Copyright 2005-2009.
The Game by DPsleepy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 License.