What about

'AN INTRODUCTION TO FLASHING'

The Flasher's Ultimate Companion

It may not be big, but it sure is clever

Inside we have a foreword (by someone known!) introducing how it was put together, the concept of flash, etc.

Then we can either go straight into the pieces

eg TERROR IN TOWYN by Derek Ham

(just mix them up, or sort certain ones by any common themes) or order them by writer eg Dee's six, then Sam's six, etc.

If we go for the first option (all mixed up), we then have author biogs at the back.

If we go for the second option we have author biogs at the start of our six pieces (like we each have our own chapter).

What does everyone think?

Shay

Hey ... hang on a mo'...how did you know my full name? I don't remember entering it anywhere? Not that I mind (although it's a rubbish name)...but I'm a little spooked.

I think mixing them up is the better option BTW... a bit of variety for the reader.

I also prefer mixing them up. That way we can "texturise".

Ok that's cool. Any other views? If we mix them up are we totally random or do we try to find a balance (follow a suspense piece, with a humour piece). What about our biogs? Is the rear of book the best place (like an appendix)?

Derek - I had a good mooch around the dekstar site. Interesting what one can find out...


Shay

I reckon we should mix them up in a deliberate fashion...to kind of pace the book and ensure that there's not a whole bunch of storys by one person in a row...a balance as you say.

I think the back of the book is good for the biogs.

Oh and...I'd never make it as a secret agent would I...bugger!

Derek.

I think we should either try to theme them or, better, have one story leading into another... but that could be difficult to balance...

Biogs at the back sound fine. I'm easy. (but don't tell anyone... I have a reputation!)

Dee
x

You have now Dee....

I don't know whether the theme grouping would work. It'll work great for some stories...but do we have enough that fit similar themes? If we have, then great. Maybe we could separate serious from funny stuff...

I love the theme idea though...I think it's a great one for the second book (yep I can see it coming)- we could start out with the intention to write around themes.

Derek.

Right, so maybe we should elect a layout and sequencing panel. No, Dee sequence, not sequins. Let's say four people, who are well placed to meet up, could sort it. Obviously everyone has to be happy with the edit of their stories and nothing will be done without consulting the masses.

Derek - could you mock up a couple of covers with some of the copy suggestions?

I don't think putting our names on the front cover will sell it (sadly) unknown as many of us are, at this stage(!)


What about the back cover? When we do 'Volume II - The Flash Generation', we'll be able to have a back cover headline ' Praise for An Introduction Flashing' (there's optimism for you), but what about this one?

Shay

I cross-posted with you there, Derek. I agree about volume II themes. Themes for this one could include stories that have come from one word challenges and RLG's.

I'm also still open-minded about individual sections per author...

Shay

Shay, I'm a new boy really...so I'll leave any editing to you more experienced people, if that's OK. I can mock the cover stuff up... it may be the middle of the week before I can do it. I'll post here when I have...

Derek.

Oh while we're all chatting - What does everyone think of the typeface, and the colour of the typeface, that I used in the original cover idea??

<Added>

Hmmm...well we were chatting...looks like everyone else is tucking into the Sunday dinner... Good idea.

I'm back Derek, but my fingers are all crinkly from bathing the kids!

Typeface? Is that same as font? I like the colours, background colours could be sky blue, silver, pink.... I'm serious!

BTW I've gone off that grouping by theme bit. We haven't written to themes and some groupings might be a bit tenuous / vague. In fact I've gone off themes altogether. Whilst I think I've written some of my better stuff for one word challenges, to do it for a volume could be a bit prescriptive and restrictive. Not sure if I'm making sense.

Shay

Shay, Yeah, I meant font.

Background colour - by the way, is going to work best as white with this current design. If we have a different background colour the effect will change drastically (notice, the edges of the flasher are currently faint/faded as though there's a light about him...this won't work in a colour). Changing the background colour is a major change, believe it or not....it's not something that I can do as quick mock-ups or variations. If we're going to change the overall background colour I need to do that soon, cause there'll be a fair amount of redesign needed.

Derek.

Are you sure we can't group them loosely by theme?