I think the idea of taking it in stages works quite well. So we GDoc a copy of the story, then each go through and... basically low-grade MST it: we each write in-character comments on every line we want our character to make a specific comment. That's your 'absurdities and plot points' step, only slightly tweaked. Choosing an end point will probably happen pretty naturally in there.

Stage two is replies, and trimming out unnecessary lines. We're still basically in MST format at this point. If there's scenes with nothing really said, we designate them to be skipped.

Stage three thus starts with the dialogue basically complete. We then designate the actions, both in the gross sense - to move from the cave to the woods, the agents portal past the scene in the bog - and the small - hS scratches his head at that. Most of the latter probably came in during the first two stages, but this rounds them out.

Throughout, we can also run comments on the side, to help with making decisions on cutting, about things to remember, or any details that don't fall under the above ('hS should be getting more and more worked up during this scene' 'Derik's reaction IMMEDIATELY follows this event').

It's only in stage four that narrative gets written; at no point prior to this do both writers need to be on together. The narrative could be done entirely by one person, or by both jointly - or, which I tried and failed to suggest, by both separately, to produce two accounts of the same mission.

I know, it's a bit strange - but I think it'll drag the mission away from the MST-y style cowrites often slip into. Thoughts?

hS

There, as here, I am Voyd. I usually hang around in Writing or Other Metas.

... for being a tetrapod. ;) No front legs! Just wings!

I think Tolkien would have, if not necessarily approved, appreciated the change, as well. The dragons he drew were six-limbed, but also a long way from the Western norm; they were basically snakes with wings and feet. This lovely drawing sticks in my mind, for obvious reasons. So yes, I think Tolkien wouldn't have minded Smaug the Pterosaur.

Also he was cool. ;) Though I missed his jewelled waistcoat.

Ancalagon... I dunno, the idea of him being huge is very close to fanon. As far as I can tell, it comes solely from the fact that the towers of Thangorodrim (=volcano fortress mountain of DOOM, because Sauron was a plagiarist) crumbled beneath him when he fell. Which, okay, maybe - or maybe he was just a fairly ordinary-sized divine-powered dragon. Smaug smashed the whole of Lake-Town to bits when he fell, remember, and that was thousands of years later.

And... why would Morgoth have created a kaiju-sized dragon? What would he be for? Ancalagon was presumably in development from the moment Glaurung was proven a success, so his probable target was the hidden city of Gondolin - Morgoth knew it was in the mountains, but couldn't fly anything over to check because Eagles. A flying dragon would've been perfect - unless it was so huge that it a) couldn't get off the ground, b) couldn't fit out the gate of Angband anyway, and c) couldn't land to attack Gondolin.

No, I don't think Ancalagon was particularly immense. That would make no sense as a weapon - and a weapon is what he was. What I think is that Tolkien had a liking for smashing mountains when things died - remember the balrog of Moria? Yeah. That wasn't very big, either.

hS

I'm suddenly getting a hankering for an elvish coat of arms. Maybe a yellow rose on a green background? *puppy eyes* Whenever you have the time, of course.

Not trying to steal your... thunder— *ducks flying objects*

And I already have a plot bunny bouncing around about how she single-handedly infiltrated the cult and killed each of its leaders, and how her bow was broken in the battle against the last and eldest leader. No worries, though, she crafted a new one. ;)

So it's the other 20th century analogy. I was close!

(Also: until they agreed you let it be taken? I didn't know you were a villain!)

hS