^ (you can also click this image to access the Google Docs with all chapters updated)
In this thread, different people take turns writing chapters in a long-term collaborative story. Each person writes from the perspective of their own personal character. Anyone can participate, yes, even YOU reading this right now.
In fact, here's the 6 steps you should follow if you want to participate!
Before you do anything, grab some popcorn and catch up with the story so far on this Google-Doc.
Alternatively, you can listen to the audiobook narrated by sametdze:
If you want to, you can check out the Resources section at the bottom for more information about the world and characters. Note that all of these resources will contain major spoilers.
Everyone will write from the perspective of a character they have created. This character can be anything. Maybe you want your character to be a self-insert stemming from your profile picture, or you want to make up an entirely new character. The only thing you can’t do is choose an established character that already exists.
When you create your character, use the character creation template in the Character Compendium:
If you want to, you can also take a character from the "Other notable/named characters" section in the Character Compendium. Interesting characters will be labelled with (good character to take), but you are free to choose any character.
Note that the character compendium has massive spoilers, so read the whole book first before checking it out. The book is written in a way that you don't need to refer to the character compendium to learn about the characters, the character compendium simply catalogues them and fleshes them out.
When you're done making/choosing your character, give an editor the relevant information regarding your character and we’ll add it to the Character Compendium. You don’t have to rush, just give us the details before we post your first chapter.
You may also own multiple characters, but they must be closely related somehow. (We are still working on the specifics of how having multiple characters will work, because it is currently happening and owning characters will likely get more complicated in the future. This will likely result in pretty big changes to these rules.)
Extra information and tips
Keep your character SFW, NSFW characters will be rejected.
Be creative with what character you make; you can literally be anyone and do anything. You don’t have to make a character that necessarily fits with the story.
You don't need to go into detail with the descriptors, just a brief description or a few words is fine.
You can also choose to leave some descriptors empty, if you are not set in stone with your character or if you want your character to be mysterious, or if it simply isn't important to know. At least give enough information so we have a good idea of your character though.
Other people will write whatever they want with your character. You should just roll with what they write, even if you dislike the direction your character is going. This way, the characters will be dynamic and constantly evolving, whereas if we were to keep everyone’s characters the same, they would become stagnant.
This is also why you can't choose a character that already exists, they wouldn't be easy to flesh out and do whatever we want with.
The descriptions of the characters in the Character Compendium are changeable. They will follow what the character does in the story and how they change throughout the story, not the other way around. If you want any changes made to the description of your character, just tell an editor.
If you are unable to write from the perspective of your character because of their situation (eg. they are dead), then you may create or pick a new character and write from the perspective of the new character. You don't necessarily have to do this, maybe you can keep writing from the perspective of your character in the form of flashbacks or some sort of media relating to them.
Be creative with what character you make; you can literally be anyone and do anything. You don’t have to make a character that necessarily fits with the story.
You don't need to go into detail with the descriptors, just a brief description or a few words is fine.
You can also choose to leave some descriptors empty, if you are not set in stone with your character or if you want your character to be mysterious, or if it simply isn't important to know. At least give enough information so we have a good idea of your character though.
Other people will write whatever they want with your character. You should just roll with what they write, even if you dislike the direction your character is going. This way, the characters will be dynamic and constantly evolving, whereas if we were to keep everyone’s characters the same, they would become stagnant.
This is also why you can't choose a character that already exists, they wouldn't be easy to flesh out and do whatever we want with.
The descriptions of the characters in the Character Compendium are changeable. They will follow what the character does in the story and how they change throughout the story, not the other way around. If you want any changes made to the description of your character, just tell an editor.
If you are unable to write from the perspective of your character because of their situation (eg. they are dead), then you may create or pick a new character and write from the perspective of the new character. You don't necessarily have to do this, maybe you can keep writing from the perspective of your character in the form of flashbacks or some sort of media relating to them.
The order of people writing will be determined by a queue. Write /queue in this thread to a queue.
There are three queues:
If it is your first time writing a chapter, you will the priority queue. People in the priority queue will go first before everyone else.
If you have written a chapter before, you will the regular queue. You can only the regular queue once. If you want to again, you will have to do it after you write your chapter or after you leave the queue. You also can't the regular queue if you are currently in the priority queue.
You can leave a queue or delay your spot in a queue as much as you want at any time. However, if you delay your spot when you are the person that is currently writing, you will need to go back at least 3 spots.
Currently writing:
- samX500
The priority queue:
The regular queue:
- Corne2Plum3
- Anaxii
Extra information and tips
The purpose of the priority queue is to make it easier for new people to get involved.
The reason why you are only able to have one spot in the regular queue is so it's fair for everyone, and there isn't a group of people spamming /queue and making it extremely long.
The reason for the 3 person minimum when you are delaying your spot in the queue as the person currently writing is threefold:
- If someone were to delay their spot in the queue multiple times when they are the person that's currently writing, more people would have the chance to write in-between the delays, speeding things up.
- This would act as a deterrent for delaying when it is your turn to write. If you know you'll be busy, you'll be more inclined to delay your spot in the queue before it's your turn to write, and you'll be more inclined to see it through when it is your turn.
- This would give more time to the person that is delaying to finish their chapter, instead of them having to delay multiple times and slowing things down for everyone.
If the number of spots you go back in the queue by is longer than the queue itself, you will be placed behind a PLACEHOLDER, which will be filled in by people queuing in the future.
This isn’t botted, so I’m manually adding people to the queue. As such you won’t be added immediately, and I may accidently skip over you. If I do just tell me so I can add you in the proper place.
The reason why you are only able to have one spot in the regular queue is so it's fair for everyone, and there isn't a group of people spamming /queue and making it extremely long.
The reason for the 3 person minimum when you are delaying your spot in the queue as the person currently writing is threefold:
- If someone were to delay their spot in the queue multiple times when they are the person that's currently writing, more people would have the chance to write in-between the delays, speeding things up.
- This would act as a deterrent for delaying when it is your turn to write. If you know you'll be busy, you'll be more inclined to delay your spot in the queue before it's your turn to write, and you'll be more inclined to see it through when it is your turn.
- This would give more time to the person that is delaying to finish their chapter, instead of them having to delay multiple times and slowing things down for everyone.
If the number of spots you go back in the queue by is longer than the queue itself, you will be placed behind a PLACEHOLDER, which will be filled in by people queuing in the future.
This isn’t botted, so I’m manually adding people to the queue. As such you won’t be added immediately, and I may accidently skip over you. If I do just tell me so I can add you in the proper place.
Once you reach the front of the queue and the previous person finishes writing their chapter, it is your turn to write a chapter.
You can write whatever you want, as long as it adds to the story.
Make sure you’re caught up with the story before you write your chapter, so you can stay consistent with the plot, the setting and the characters.
For your first chapter, include a mention of your character's name somewhere (it can be in the title), as well as at least a mention of your character's appearance (again, it can be in the title).
Finally, to come up with a name for your chapter.
Extra information and tips
Keep everything SFW. NSFW entries will have the NSFW parts edited out or be rejected all together.
Pay close attention to the chronology of your chapter. Every chapter in each storyline should be in chronological order, unless you make it clear that it is not. It is okay to not follow a chronology if your chapter is distanced enough from the current storylines as it won’t affect the chronology of any of the storylines.
If you want a brief summary of a chapter or see the important points that happened in each chapter, you can go read the chapter summary listed below each posted chapter, or go to the Chapter Summaries Google-Doc.
If you want to dig into or check something about the lore, you can check out the Lore Wiki Google-Doc.
Also that you can check out the Character Compendium for information on characters, including what they were last doing in the story.
You can write as little or as much as you like.
You are free to take the story in any direction you like. Just also respect the directions that the people before you took the story.
You can write with and do whatever with any of the characters, as long as you keep the focus or at least heavily involve your character. You are also free to make up other characters, but I’d advise sticking to other people’s characters as primary characters, and only making up other characters for minor roles.
Even though before chapter 14 it was highly encouraged to write in first person, now you are free to write however you want.
If you choose to write in third person, you are allowed to prominently feature other characters. Just make sure that you character is either the focus of your chapter or at least heavily involved in your chapter.
You may also choose to write from the perspective of another character, but then the focus of the chapter must be on your character.
Your chapter doesn’t need to be a direct continuation of the story. Maybe you go over some previous events from the perspective of your character, or you can start a completely new storyline if your character allows for it. It would be cool to have multiple storylines happening simultaneously, with them interweaving with each other. The possibilities are endless. Just to make it clear what you are doing.
Your chapter doesn’t just have to be just prose, you can submit a poem or some sort of mock document such as an email or a report or whatever else you can think of. You can also submit other forms of media such as images, videos or music if you want. The only restriction is that you can't submit a file for people to .
I'd suggest that you have your chapter be open ended, so that people can build off it in whatever way they want.
Pay close attention to the chronology of your chapter. Every chapter in each storyline should be in chronological order, unless you make it clear that it is not. It is okay to not follow a chronology if your chapter is distanced enough from the current storylines as it won’t affect the chronology of any of the storylines.
If you want a brief summary of a chapter or see the important points that happened in each chapter, you can go read the chapter summary listed below each posted chapter, or go to the Chapter Summaries Google-Doc.
If you want to dig into or check something about the lore, you can check out the Lore Wiki Google-Doc.
Also that you can check out the Character Compendium for information on characters, including what they were last doing in the story.
You can write as little or as much as you like.
You are free to take the story in any direction you like. Just also respect the directions that the people before you took the story.
You can write with and do whatever with any of the characters, as long as you keep the focus or at least heavily involve your character. You are also free to make up other characters, but I’d advise sticking to other people’s characters as primary characters, and only making up other characters for minor roles.
Even though before chapter 14 it was highly encouraged to write in first person, now you are free to write however you want.
If you choose to write in third person, you are allowed to prominently feature other characters. Just make sure that you character is either the focus of your chapter or at least heavily involved in your chapter.
You may also choose to write from the perspective of another character, but then the focus of the chapter must be on your character.
Your chapter doesn’t need to be a direct continuation of the story. Maybe you go over some previous events from the perspective of your character, or you can start a completely new storyline if your character allows for it. It would be cool to have multiple storylines happening simultaneously, with them interweaving with each other. The possibilities are endless. Just to make it clear what you are doing.
Your chapter doesn’t just have to be just prose, you can submit a poem or some sort of mock document such as an email or a report or whatever else you can think of. You can also submit other forms of media such as images, videos or music if you want. The only restriction is that you can't submit a file for people to .
I'd suggest that you have your chapter be open ended, so that people can build off it in whatever way they want.
You will have a time period of 72 hours to submit your chapter.
When it is your turn to submit a chapter, we will add you to the editor Discord chat. To submit your chapter just post it in the Discord chat.
If you don't have Discord or aren't willing to the Discord chat, DM your chapter to both Corne2Plum3 through the osu DMs.
The best way to submit your chapter would be in a Google-Doc of your own. Other options would be to submit it in a text-sharing website such as Pastebin or just as raw text in the Discord chat/osu DMs.
If you can, submit your chapter as early as possible. This way the project can move along faster.
If you miss this deadline, we will skip over your chapter and move onto the next person, and you will lose your spot in the queue and will have to requeue. No exceptions. If you were in the priority queue when this happens, you will the regular queue if you requeue. If you can't submit your chapter on time but still want to write it, you can delay your position in the queue, but you will need to tell and editor this before the deadline.
Extra information and tips
Try not to tell others about your chapter before it is posted on this thread, as it will be more fun for everyone if the new chapters are kept spoiler-free.
If you have a good idea for what you want to write for your chapter, you could start writing it before you get to the front of the queue so you have more time.
Don't send us anything to because we won't.
The 48 hour period is subject to change depending on if people think it is too long or too short.
An editor will message you on Discord or the osu DMs to remind you at the start of your 48 hour period. An editor will also message you a day before the end of the 48 hour period if you haven’t messaged anyone back at all. An editor will also message you 2 hours or so before the end of the 48 hour period (if we to) if you haven't submitted your chapter yet.
You will also be sent a reminder when you move to second or first in the queue, so that you can be prepared in advance to write your chapter.
If your chapter has specific formatting, the best way would be to send it to me in a Google-Doc so it can just be directly copy-pasted with the formatting intact. If that isn't possible, you can send a screenshot.
If you have a good idea for what you want to write for your chapter, you could start writing it before you get to the front of the queue so you have more time.
Don't send us anything to because we won't.
The 48 hour period is subject to change depending on if people think it is too long or too short.
An editor will message you on Discord or the osu DMs to remind you at the start of your 48 hour period. An editor will also message you a day before the end of the 48 hour period if you haven’t messaged anyone back at all. An editor will also message you 2 hours or so before the end of the 48 hour period (if we to) if you haven't submitted your chapter yet.
You will also be sent a reminder when you move to second or first in the queue, so that you can be prepared in advance to write your chapter.
If your chapter has specific formatting, the best way would be to send it to me in a Google-Doc so it can just be directly copy-pasted with the formatting intact. If that isn't possible, you can send a screenshot.
Once you submit your chapter, it will go through a brief editing process.
An editor will read over your chapter, to make sure it makes sense, and to fix up any grammar and spelling or whatever. If you write your chapter well, there probably won’t be a lot of changes, if at all.
We will work closely with you (mostly by spamming you with questions), so make sure that you have a period of time soon after posting your chapter to talk about your chapter.
Once the editing is finished, an editor will post your chapter on this thread as well as in the Google Doc.
They will also write a brief summary and a list of important points, so whoever is writing next knows what to keep in mind.
Information about editors
If you want to volunteer to be an editor, tell me and I’ll make you one.
What you need in order to be an editor:
Every 20 chapters, there will be a "Big Edit", where the entire story is read through and edited.
What you need in order to be an editor:
- Be caught up with the story.
- Be confident in your ability to edit other people’s work.
- Have some spare time on your hands you are willing to spend as an editor.
- Have Discord (for the editor group chat).
- Have an email you're willing to give me (to edit the Google docs).
Extra information and tips
The reason for this editing process is so that there is a good level of quality for the chapters, and so the story continues to make sense and progress without any problems.
The process of editing and posting your chapter could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours (which is the rough range of how long we’ve taken to edit and post previous chapters). This period can become multiple days if you and an editor aren’t online at the same time.
If you for whatever reason have a problem with the edited chapter, tell us we’ll make the changes.
The process of editing and posting your chapter could take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours (which is the rough range of how long we’ve taken to edit and post previous chapters). This period can become multiple days if you and an editor aren’t online at the same time.
If you for whatever reason have a problem with the edited chapter, tell us we’ll make the changes.
Note that all of these documents contain massive spoilers for the OT! Book itself, so read the book first.
The OT! Book Audiobook
The Character Compendium
The Lore Wiki
The Chapter Summaries
The Patch Notes
List of unanswered questions
The chronology diagram
(for archival purposes)
MrMcMikey22's OT! Book analysis (up to chapter 41
Authors (probably outdated)
- keremaru
- [ Sebastian ]
- Manishh
- YyottaCat
- z0z
- nominomu
- dPeace
- octowave
- Corne2Plum3
- Scyla
- yoony1
- - cirno -
- B0ii
- haha i rolypoly
- 179bpm
- samX500
- Rigbyuis
Editors
Audiobook
Other
- eblf2013 (helped edit z0z’s chapter)
- Ephemeral (Contributed(?) to chapter 22)
- radar (Contributed(?) to chapter 22)
- Naltz (Did the custom art for chapter 27, not associated with osu (i.e. this isn't an osu name))
Special Thanks
- dPeace (For coming up with the "apocalypse" scenario)
- keremaru (For coming up with the "school" scenario, providing a character template and writing the first chapter.)
- Corne2Plum3 (For taking keremaru's template and editing it to fit this project, and making all the Google-Docs really nice (like wtf how’d you make them so nice))
- sametdze (For creating and narrating the OT! Book Audiobook)
- 179bpm (For editing several of the audiobook chapters)
- Ephemeral (For pinning this thread)
- Patatitta (For writing the article on osu!monthly)
- To all the editors (For volunteering your time, energy and brainpower to help me do this)
- To all the authors (This whole thing only exists because you wrote it into existence)
- And finally, to YOU reading this (I don’t know who you are or what you did, but I didn’t want to leave you out
)