What is an Ongoing Story?

by The D.

"...it is the song that never ends, and it goes on and on my friend..."

An ongoing story is one of those tales that never ends. It begins with an opening paragraph (usually by the one who orginizes it) and then the rest of the group adds more to the story. This used to be a thing done around campfires long days ago. it is also a exercise in fun. Once you think the story is going in a cetain direction...poof! Someone comes up with a great plot twist or new charicter to muddy up the current waters.

Mark Hibshman and his zany crew also bounced around this concept untill someone (Mark) decided to go to the Internet with the concept.

I discovered Mark in cyber-space back in 97 (while searching for Godzilla sites) and found his little "mystery in progress" and began to add to it. (Entries by myself are listed in the frames as 'mars4554' and 'dragonproject2000'. My wife also posted entries under 'mars4554' and 'Peachy')

After awhile, a bunch of people got into the act adding bits and slices to the tale, and so the story grew.

But, somehow we got off the "mystery in progress" idea and drifted into strange veiled realms of thought that soon became re-labeled "The Lovecraft Story"

HP Lovecraft is a subject vistors to Tallons (and The DRAGON Project) have already been introduced to. His bizzare stories (that wrapped just enough facts around the fiction to make the whole thing hold a "plauseable" note) have always been a favorite of mine. So, I confess, I began dropping in "Lovecraft-like" elements into my entries. (Yes, it is MY fault! And I'd do it again! Bwh-ha-hahahaha!)

So, the tale rolls on. Mark recently has re-vamped his site and started an offshoot from Nitemare's Realm called Hibshman's Folly. All nice, well and good. (You can find links to these pulse-pounding sites on the "Who is Nitemare?" page of this section.(along with pictures. Hehehehehe! He has yet to get one of me!) But space limitations on his end was leaving the fate of The Lovecraft Tale in doubt.

So when the dust had cleared from the construction,we began to decide. What was to become of the Lovecraft Story?

After some discussion, we both decided the story should continue but it needed a new home to grow and thrive in. Somewhere where the atmosphere would induce growth and new entries from new people. ("Besides," Mark joked me in one e-mail. "It is YOUR story." How so, I asked. Mark then began to 'blame'-in a fun way- the entire 'Lovecraft angle' on me

(Who, me?)

So, my loyal legions of fans, after months of "Are You Ready Yet?" on both ends and a tad of a re-write, the Lovecraft Tale comes to You!

I will post a final entry to get the ball rolling again by next week (October 8th, 01-hopefully). I invite you all to enter the strange tale of MacKenzie, a private investigator who recieves a call for help in the middle of the night from a woman named Dora. From this starting point, we then meet Gailen, Jed, Gunther, the ferret, the slimy bunch of cretins from The House of Hastur , Randal, an all-too-familiar tentacle, and a few I may have forgotten here.

So relax, begin reading where others have gone before. Then, if you feel so inclined, add your own twists and sub plots to the tale. The rules page explains the do's and don'ts of this venture. And, if you do not feel like adding to the story, please drop us a note and tell us what you think. We may begin another of these if the demand is great. Also, for you Godzilla people out there, follow the link to Mark's site and try you hand at the Godzilla ongoing story.

Remember, this is not an excercise in literally excelence. This is just fun, plain and simple-so remember that while writing.

Enjoy!

Compliant or Defiant, join the Mythos Wars.


Join the forces of S.P.O.N.G.E. in their fight to stop the Mythos.
RULES CHAPTER ONE BACK TO THE MAIN PAGE WHO IS "NITEMARE"?