WarLeic is a growing group of people who have come together, in one way or another, to write collaborative fiction. The name originated from the two university societies that first participated, Warwick and Leicester.

Not at all. We started off that way, but anyone can now join in the fun! This is exemplified by the fact that our editors, while all ex-students, now live in Milton Keynes and even the United States! All you need is the will to write, and preferably an internet connection.

This is a story written by many authors, not one. Think of it like those odd childhood games where one person starts a drawing, folds the paper, the next person draws the middle, folds it, and so on. The only real difference with our collaborative fiction is that you can see everything that has been done so far - so you can make your section fit in with the rest of the plot. Each author writes a section of story (which sometimes directly follows on from the previous scene) and submits it to the editors. The editors check that it is consistent with earlier sections, and insert it in a suitable place. Ta daa! You have written the next part of the story, and someone may want to pick up on what you've done and write the next bit!

Ultimately, we are building one story together. It is important not to 'screw over' previous authors' insertions, but to build on them, make them relevant, and gradually lead towards the end of the tale. We are in no rush to finish!

Well, this is the third generation of the WarLeic project. Two earlier stories were created, one in a steampunk setting and one in a cyberpunk setting. Every so often, we create a new setting for our authors to have fun in. This generation, we're doing high sci-fi. If you'd like to see the other stories, you can see them here (Steampunk) and here (Cyberpunk).

Simple! Just send us an e-mail at jenna_manley@hotmail.com with the following details:

--- Your full name --- Which university or city you're hailing from --- Your e-mail address (at which you should be happy to receive e-mails about the story and the occasional piece of fiction). Please indicate if you would NOT want this address to be available to other registered authors. --- (Optional) An alternative way of contacting you (e.g. Phone number, a different e-mail address, a snail-mail address - in case e-mail providers go down, for example) --- Any other comments about what you've written in the past or why you've decided to try this out are appreciated - or even just a few things about yourself: hey, this is a social thing, you know...

You don't need to pay any money to join in, and you can leave whenever you'd like - but it'd be nice if you said bye!

The editors will try to resolve all the pieces of story so that it all fits together as neatly as possible. If you feel your section really doesn't make sense where it is placed, e-mail the editors: they will do everything they can to sort it out.

Sci-fi is a huge genre. Our details on the setting should clarify the sort of environment the story is taking place in and give some ideas for possible stories.

Before writing, do check what previous authors have written, and see if you would want to use anything that they've begun. Can you think of a good plot for one of the characters? Perhaps you want to write a scene using a character who has already appeared in the tale. Perhaps you have a new character whom you would like to put into the story or enter another author's plot. You may even have an idea for where the whole story is going...

We have a mailing list where you can chat about the plot to the other authors and to the editors - but you are also welcome to surprise us!

The key to it is simply to try writing a piece! Do not worry if you come up with something no one else has used - that's the beauty of this sort of fiction. Rest assured, the other authors will join in!

You can write as much and as often as you like. As a loose guideline, most people write the equivalent of 'a scene' - the action that takes place in one location, for example. Experienced collaborative authors may want to stop mid-scene to allow another author to add their character's side of the dialogue: only try this if you've spoken to the other author first! I personally recommend you write little and often, so you can keep your hand in the story and it can be as 'interactive' as possible.

Your writing must be within the setting already specified - although whatever you write will probably add details to this original, basic setting. The only other 'must' is that you do not screw over other contributors by, for example, intentionally ruining their plans or killing off their characters willy-nilly. Any author who submits material intended to upset/anger other authors or ruin the story for everyone WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED on the Net. We are understanding of occasional mistakes in judgement, but this is a forum for fun, not spite.

The webpages are copyright to the editor, but your writing is copyright to you (as per the web copyright 'You Own Your Own Words' - YOYOW).

The editors reserve the right to reject inappropriate text, but will inform the author why and allow him/her to edit the submission. They will not show favouritism to any author. The editors reserve the right to reject an author's registration, or to cancel it in the event of an author becoming abusive or ruining the venture for everybody else.