I know RLG stand for random line generator, or something, but I don't understand what it is. Is this where someone writes the first line of a story, then others take it in turns to add a few lines, continuing the story?

Kat

Ah, that brings back memories!

It started in January 2004. I told Jumbo I had a line banging around in my head and I couldn’t get rid of it. He suggested I use it in a short story. Eventually we decided to offer it as a challenge to all members; write a story, poem, play, whatever. No restrictions except it had to open with that line.

We had a great response and decided to keep it going as a monthly event. It wasn’t a competition, there was no monthly winner. I provided the January line, Jumbo did February and, by then, we had more than enough people queuing up to provide opening lines to take us through to the end of the year.

It was great fun and we got some fantastic stories out of it.

Dee

How come it stopped? It sounds like fun, and a great way to practice expanding a writer's imagination. There any chance it could be started up again?

S.M.

Just take a look in flash poetry to see what we're doing with the RLG. It is still alive and kicking!

Darren

Excellent!

S.M.

Looks like you're having fun with it in Flash Poetry.

The main difference, though, is that the original one was not confined to a group. There were suggestions to create a new RLG group, which we resisted as we wanted to keep it visibly open to everyone. And also, there was no sense of competition, no winners.

Ste, why don’t you post a new thread to see how many people would be interested to start it up again?

Dee

Good idea, Dee, I'm on it.

S.M.

I'd definitely be up for it. It's interesting how many of those stories ended up getting published. I've done a quick personal tally, and was amazed to realise that, out of the eleven RLGs I wrote, five ended up finding a home. That's many times my normal strike rate that's for sure!
If it were to return, count me in.
Sam

Hi Sam,

That's impressive. I've posted an RLG thread in the Lounge.

S.M.