Team-Writing a Fantasy Novel

Or how I’m writing a third of a novel

I am writing a novel. More accurately, I am writing a third of a novel. I am part of the team, the fairy tale writing team.

The other evening when I went into the younger girls’ bedroom I discovered Gemma-Rose scribbling in her notebook. She and Sophie were discussing the novel they are going to write together. They told me they intended to write alternate chapters. “Sophie is going to write her chapters from the view point of Symphony Riddle. She’s the princess’ companion. I’m going to write as Princess Gloria.”

I then asked, “Can I join in? Can I write the novel with you?”

Sophie and Gemma-Rose’s eyes lit up. They smiled. “Of course you can! You can be Prince Eldon. You’ll need to write it as if he is saying the words. Use the word ‘I’. First person, you know.”

So the girls are letting me be part of the team. We’re going to write a fairy tale together. But how are we going to organise the mechanics of three people writing one novel?

“Shall we save our novel on a USB stick and pass it onto the next person?” asked Sophie.

“How about we share our writing using Google Drive?” I suggested. None of us knew how to do this so we consulted my husband Andy who showed us what to do.

So we were all ready to start writing. Gemma-Rose had one concern though.

“You will be a consistent writer, won’t you Mum? It’s very frustrating when someone holds everything up by taking a long time to write their bit.”

I assured Gemma-Rose I’d be a consistent and reliable writer.

Then she said, “You might find this a bit hard. You’ve never written fantasy before. We’re used to writing this kind of novel so it’ll be much easier for us.”

“I’ll try hard,” I said. “I’ll do my best.”

So this morning Gemma-Rose wrote the opening chapter of our new novel. She then sent me an email with a link to the document so I can write the next chapter. There was only one problem. I didn’t listen carefully when the girls told me the plot.

“Can you tell me again what I’m supposed to write about?” I asked.

Gemma-Rose rolled her eyes. Mothers never listen. “I’ll write it down for you.” Here’s what she wrote:

King Derek is eating dinner and apologising that Gloria has run off when Symphony enters and says something like this…
 
“Gloria was riding ahead of me and I lost sight of her. As I came round a bend, my horse wouldn’t move on. It was like there was a wall. Then a man appeared and told me to tell you Rothbart has returned and he has Gloria.”
 
Eldon’s father volunteers his son to go and rescue her, and Symphony insists, as companion to Gloria, she is coming too.”
 
I found several other helpful notes:

Eldon: tall, dark and handsome. Weapon: sword.
Symphony: golden brown hair. Weapon: bow.
Gloria: golden wavy hair.
 
Now what shall I write? I’d better think quickly and begin my chapter. Sophie is waiting to write chapter number 3, and she can’t start until I finish. And I did promise to be a reliable and consistent writer. Can I write fantasy? I don’t know, but I shall do my best. I can’t let the team down, can I?

“Gemma-Rose!” I shout. “What’s the name of Prince Eldon’s mother?”

“Aurora!”

“And what about Princess Gloria’s mother?”

“Odette!”

Got it! Now I can start…

Has anyone else ever considered team-writing a novel? Team-writing? I picked up that term from the girls. Writing as a team. That sounds like a lot of fun. What do you think?