Collaborative writing group idea

Idea for a study group: we collaboratively write a book in Chinese to improve production skills. Would be kind of intentionally chaotic but fun maybe. It could end up being fiction or non fiction of any variety that we are interested in writing.

We could ask everyone to propose a genre -> vote on genre;

all propose a specific premise -> vote on premise,

propose a set of principles, and characters if fiction, vote on best one;

continue like this all the way down to chapter and then to section/scene. A section is probably sufficiently decomposed, at that point we'd just write. Suppose this is a unit of ~300 words, something we could write in a short session.

I should and could write myself, but it could be fun to do this collaboratively, maybe

This is roughly what I mean, and seems to have a history in language education.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_writing

could be fun if enough people are interested - I'd be keen - honestly I think a book is way too ambitious but hey aim for the stars...

On 1/20/2026 at 12:08 PM, matteo said:

could be fun if enough people are interested - I'd be keen - honestly I think a book is way too ambitious but hey aim for the stars...

Good point, yes, it is ambitious. Actually I tend to prefer building on "quick wins", so maybe we ought to start with something small like a ~3000 word short story/non fiction article.

yeah that sounds a bit more manageable! maybe split into 300 words sections each "author"? Time limit of a week to compose each section (because we are all busy).

I'd suggest fiction, no rules - complete creative freedom so we have no idea what crazy (or boring?) turns the events can take with the next writer. You can start with the first section to set the scene, and hand it over to anyone's who's keen to participate. If it's just the two of us...well not ideal but we can just keep alternating. 

What do you reckon? 

great idea! i’m also interested, 300 words sounds manageable. and i agree, fiction would be better. let us know how you’d like to organize this

On 1/21/2026 at 12:03 AM, jannesan said:

great idea! i’m also interested, 300 words sounds manageable. and i agree, fiction would be better. let us know how you’d like to organize this

I'm thinking Google Docs, what do you guys think? 

A new penpal Discord is going to join, so that makes 4 of us. I've put all 4 authors on the cover, and I invite you to switch out what I have for your name with a preferred or 中文 name.

I'm almost done the first section. I will describe a setting without nailing too much down regarding characters or events. 

I will send you all a link privately now

If we're going in the order of joining, it would be me, then Matteo, then the other person, then Janneson. I've set up some template pages in the doc, and will report back when my section is done, which will be before the weekend.

。 

Would you be open to writing a CYOA (Choose your own adventure)? Rufuyun could start, then readers could stake out a page and choose a path to develop. For example, "同意編寫一本互動式小說。翻到第2頁。"

You can do this more electronically in Google Docs.

1. Highlight your chapter's title. Select "Insert > bookmark"

2. Highlight your path option. Select "Insert > link > Headings bookmarks and tabs". Then select your chapter's title from the list.

This sounds amazing, although my standard might not quite be up to everyone else's, I'd love the opportunity - if I'm not too late to the party.

On 1/23/2026 at 1:04 PM, Singe said:

This sounds amazing, although my standard might not quite but up to everyone else's, I'd love the opportunity - if I'm not too late to the party.

Would be happy to invite you to join us. I will create some empty pages with your name on them and send you the link later.

Note that we didn't end up doing it with the voting and whatnot like I describe in original post, it's more like what Matteo describes a few posts down, chain writing style.