Derailing Fiction

The act of actively derailing a fictional story is sometimes frowned upon by others as poor etiquette but it is something that sometimes needs to be done. At times the piece of fiction may need a kick in one way or another to get the others participating more involved. The problem is it may cause people to not wish to participate anymore after something "overly random" or "adversely destructive" has happened.

Most only have a problem with such derails when it is drastic. One of my two recent examples have been the killing of characters and changing of a setting. The easiest thing to do is change the setting as actually killing off a character usually kill the active project more then anything else.

Snippet From De Profundis Correspondence Game

Urgent Message to Sam Montgomery;

Due to an error that was made in the regards as to whom did or did not have any ties to the crystal formations your mother, Carla Montgomery, has been a tormentingly killed. She claimed no knowledge of crystals of any sort even after a letter you sent was found on her property. You, and the rest of the Botanical Dome Personnel are hence forth being noted as traitors. There is also news that Wallace has helped in assisting with the escape of Lily, both are to be put to death.

This letter has been sent because you are a minor and as of now have no living family, do not think your treatment is less because you did no wrong. We hope to be able to re-educate you with a more proper form of thinking.

You shall be picked up and taken to a facility for your safety, arguments will be met with force.

Secretary of Space Defense.
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While the post itself did not actually claim any other character dead as there was no visual scene of the death, others may find it poor form. It was done anyway for purpose of this post and to show the frailties in the current rule set of the game.

However, killing of your own characters for any reason is never poor form but it still may upset others. While changing the genre and setting of a collaborative writing project it is not always best to destroy your own character while doing so as it is then to simple for others to fully remove the character from the story. That is, of course, if the character was intergrated to begin with.

That is unless there is another character created in its stead that has forced itself into interaction with many of the characters as quickly as possible. This is usually done by something large rather then taking each character and addressing them individually. Crashes, explosions and other such devices work well but like all things, if the person or people you are trying to derail are better and/or more creative writers then yourself you will be the one who gets out matched.

Snippet From Milgram High <3

It didn't take long for Commander James Q. Waller to find the safety switch that would prevent the self destruction of his ship. In a panic he smashed it into the dash thinking it was a button. Commander James Q. Waller screamed out his toothless mouth letting his neon green, glow in the dark hair burst about the low gravity chamber he was sitting in.

The galaxy outside spun itself around the tiny capsule that held the odd looking captain but he was not phased. Pressing for time as the pod leaked oxygen into the empty space about he looked for the nearest planet that resembled his own, luck would have it that Earth was not far away.

Lucky was on Captain Waller's side as he broke the atmosphere with limited heat destruction and hull breaches. The ship would never fly again, even with brand new parts but the captain was going to be alive. His ship decended quickly and smashed into the Migram High, the lunch and science areas to be specific.

It was unfortunate for Robby that the ship incoming would smash him in the face and destroy half the school in its wake. Especially as one of the science club members found a cure for Robby's infliction. Worse still that the chemical discharge from the liquid was highly explosive, if not temporarily dormant. Captain Waller had no knowledge of any of this as he opened the pod door and sent it smashing into a lunch table.

"I am Captain James Q. Waller and I come... in peace," He said loudly through the cloud of white fume came from the pod, it was sterile atmosphere but only to the captain. One unlucky student passing by and choked to death on the cloud. It seemed, Commander & Captain James Q. Waller may not be coming in as peacefully as he thinks
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Tricks for derailing a thread are difficult to give or follow as it is dependent on each individual writer and the ones he or she is interacting with. Some fellows will try and resurrect the mess that was caused but most, if not done lightly, will chose to not want to participate with any further projects while you are present. Derail fictional works at your own risk. This will bring bad bread if done incorrectly or with strictly malice intent.