Hello!

I'm wondering if there is a Fidonet Echo where people can write stories on whatever they desire and where others can (optionally) contribute if they wish, sort of collaborative story telling / world building. I sometimes like to write and would like to get better at it, and figure this could be a good medium.

I read that it is possible to start a new Echo but figured I'd check before if something similar already existed.

-BH

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Hello bit haven!

** On Friday 24.04.26 - 19:59, bit haven wrote to All:

Hello!

I'm wondering if there is a Fidonet Echo where people can write stories
on whatever they desire and where others can (optionally) contribute if they wish, sort of collaborative story telling / world building. I sometimes like to write and would like to get better at it, and figure this could be a good medium.

I have not heard of such an echo. But maybe the ANYTHING_GOES echo could be a good fit.

I read that it is possible to start a new Echo but figured I'd check before if something similar already existed.

Let's try ANYTHING_GOES.

It's available from the TheRustyMailbox BBS.


--
../|ug

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Hello!

Good day! :)

I'm wondering if there is a Fidonet Echo where people can write stori on whatever they desire and where others can (optionally) contribute

I have not heard of such an echo. But maybe the ANYTHING_GOES echo
could be a good fit.

The word I forgot to use when I was describing it was "Creative Writing". A mix between creative writing and world building. But certainly seems like ANYTHING_GOES could fit the bill.

It's available from the TheRustyMailbox BBS.

All right, I'll drop by for a visit. :)

Thanks for your message.

-BH

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
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Hello!

Good day! :)

I'm wondering if there is a Fidonet Echo where people can write stor
on whatever they desire and where others can (optionally) contribute

I have not heard of such an echo. But maybe the ANYTHING_GOES echo could be a good fit.

The word I forgot to use when I was describing it was "Creative Writing". A mi
between creative writing and world building. But certainly seems like ANYTHING
OES could fit the bill.

I think maybe there used to be a "writing" echo but, if so, it is no more. August's suggestion is a good one.

Mike


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Re: Echo for Storywriting, Play by Post
By: bit haven to All on Fri Apr 24 2026 19:59:08

I'm wondering if there is a Fidonet Echo where people can write stories...

Your terminal program should have the ability to list available forums within Fidonet. Also, most BBSes maintain a list as well. Don't forget to check other Nets as well.
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Hello Mike

** On Saturday 25.04.26 - 13:45, Mike Powell wrote to BIT HAVEN:

The word I forgot to use when I was describing it was "Creative Writing".
A mi between creative writing and world building. But certainly seems like
ANYTHING OES could fit the bill.

I think maybe there used to be a "writing" echo but, if so, it is no
more. August's suggestion is a good one.

Are you thinking of LITRPG? (ie. Literary/RolePlayingGame). I think that one was just intended for RGP-style writings. Sometimes it seemed to reach out to just readers of any genre. But it didn't seem to gain momentum/ interest to become a writer's place.


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The word I forgot to use when I was describing it was "Creative Writing".
A mi between creative writing and world building. But certainly seems like
ANYTHING OES could fit the bill.

I think maybe there used to be a "writing" echo but, if so, it is no more. August's suggestion is a good one.

Are you thinking of LITRPG? (ie. Literary/RolePlayingGame). I think that one was just intended for RGP-style writings. Sometimes it seemed to reach out to just readers of any genre. But it didn't seem to gain momentum/ interest to become a writer's place.

No, I was thinking of an actual WRITING echo. Maybe I am mixing it up with
an othernet, though.

Mike

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26 Apr 2026 14:51, you wrote to AUGUST ABOLINS:

No, I was thinking of an actual WRITING echo. Maybe I am mixing it up with an othernet, though.

Yes, the Fidonet WRITING echo existed, at least in 1999.

Carlos

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Hello MIKE!

26 Apr 26 14:51, you wrote to AUGUST ABOLINS:

Are you thinking of LITRPG? (ie. Literary/RolePlayingGame). I
think that one was just intended for RGP-style writings. Sometimes
it seemed to reach out to just readers of any genre. But it didn't
seem to gain momentum/interest to become a writer's place.

No, I was thinking of an actual WRITING echo. Maybe I am mixing it up with an othernet, though.

I have a fido "writing" echo here, it's linked to my uplink(s), but not seen anything in it.


Stephen


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Hi Stephen,

On 2026-04-27 11:26:54, you wrote to MIKE POWELL:

I have a fido "writing" echo here, it's linked to my uplink(s), but
not seen anything in it.

I could find it at 4 of my links. For 3 a rescan didn't give any results. I'm still waiting for the 4th...

This site has some (old) content for the area:

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/msgs/



Bye, Wilfred.

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Wilfred van Velzen wrote to Stephen Walsh <=-

I have a fido "writing" echo here, it's linked to my uplink(s), but
not seen anything in it.

I would love to see some traffic on that area. I've dabbled in writing
for some time (the first post on WRITING on that archive was me talking
about NANOWRIMO, on my 3rd try I completed a draft that I've wanted to
complete.

Was thinking about writing some short stories and submitting them, see
if there's any feedback/interest.



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Re: Echo for Storywritin
By: MIKE POWELL to AUGUST ABOLINS on Sun Apr 26 2026 14:51:00

No, I was thinking of an actual WRITING echo. Maybe I am mixing it up with an othernet, though.

A better venue might be Github (hey, it's not just for programmers anymore). You can create your story and allow others to make changes while keeping previous versions so you can see how it progresses.
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux
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No, I was thinking of an actual WRITING echo. Maybe I am mixing it up with
an othernet, though.

A better venue might be Github (hey, it's not just for programmers anymore). You can create your story and allow others to make changes while keeping previous versions so you can see how it progresses.
--- SBBSecho 3.37-Linux

I didn't realize that about Github. I am not a writer so hadn't thought about it, but there are others on the BBS nets that are I am sure.

Mike

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Hello Wilfred!

** On Monday 27.04.26 - 13:47, Wilfred van Velzen wrote to Stephen Walsh:

I have a fido "writing" echo here, it's linked to my uplink(s), but
not seen anything in it.

I could find it at 4 of my links. For 3 a rescan didn't give any
results. I'm still waiting for the 4th...

This site has some (old) content for the area:

https://www.ipingthereforeiam.com/bbs/msgs/

The WRITING group certainly brings back memories. "Vija" is my mom. She really enjoyed the echo and made great personal connections there.. and submitted several personal pieces like "Going to the Moon".


--
../|ug

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I read that it is possible to start a new Echo but figured I'd check before if something similar already existed.

Let's try ANYTHING_GOES.

It's available from the TheRustyMailbox BBS.

I tried finding ANYTHING_GOES at a couple of my connections (that carry a lot of stuff!) and they don't carry this one. I remember I used to carry it a long time ago. I am wondering if it is still linked or maybe is a dead area that Alan hasn't deleted?



--- ScorpioWeb v0.32a (Linux/x86_64)
* Origin: Project Scorpio TEST (1:2320/106)

Hello Mike Powell!

** On Monday 27.04.26 - 23:59, Mike Powell wrote to August Abolins:

Let's try ANYTHING_GOES.

It's available from the TheRustyMailbox BBS.

I tried finding ANYTHING_GOES at a couple of my connections (that carry a lot of stuff!) and they don't carry this one. I remember I used to carry it a long time ago. I am wondering if it is still linked or maybe is a dead area that Alan hasn't deleted?

My last post was:

/FIDO/ANYTHING_GOES
+ 564 01.12.25 August Abolins All books: bookshop.org


Not much action there since. But doubt that Alan has ended it so soon, and with warning.

I still think that echo would work for the writing folk, or until the WRITING echo or something else more suitable emerges.

It is unfortunate that it becomes quite a hunting process for users to find echoes that they would like to participate in.

We have a FILEFIND system that reports in files on various BBSes. We should have a ECHOFIND that does the same thing but reports on what BBSes carry which echos.

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Hi August,

On 2026-04-27 20:34:00, you wrote to Mike Powell:

My last post was:

/FIDO/ANYTHING_GOES
+ 564 01.12.25 August Abolins All books: bookshop.org

Not much action there since. But doubt that Alan has ended it so soon, and
with warning.

I still think that echo would work for the writing folk, or until the WRITING
echo or something else more suitable emerges.

The WRITING echo is still around. 5 Of my links still had it in their configs, so I connected it, and set it up here too...


Bye, Wilfred.

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Mortar M. wrote to MIKE POWELL <=-

A better venue might be Github (hey, it's not just for programmers anymore). You can create your story and allow others to make changes while keeping previous versions so you can see how it progresses.

I have heard of writers using GitHub - I liked the backup and version
control, last time I wrote I relied on the cloud and manual backups.
Github would be much nicer. You could also keep all of your background
materials, outlines, and other information in the same repo.

There's a whole tutorial at https://medium.com/@RichHosek/github-for-writers-an-introduction-8cec9d9ece2



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August Abolins wrote to Mike Powell <=-

I tried finding ANYTHING_GOES at a couple of my connections (that carry a lot of stuff!) and they don't carry this one. I remember I used to carry it a long time ago. I am wondering if it is still linked or maybe is a dead area that Alan hasn't deleted?

My last post was:

/FIDO/ANYTHING_GOES
+ 564 01.12.25 August Abolins All books: bookshop.org

Not much action there since. But doubt that Alan has ended it so soon, and with warning.

Is he the mod? What I meant was he was still subscribed to a dead echo
that no one else was carrying (and is not in the ELIST). If he is the mod, that means it isn't getting out very far.

It is unfortunate that it becomes quite a hunting process for users to find echoes that they would like to participate in.

We have a FILEFIND system that reports in files on various BBSes. We should have a ECHOFIND that does the same thing but reports on what
BBSes carry which echos.

We used to have something like that in the GT Power network... there was a monthly file distribution that was an echolist that showed what systems reported carrying what echoes. It ran a different topology than FTN so I am not sure how that'd work in the modern world.


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Hello Kurt!

** On Tuesday 28.04.26 - 07:32, Kurt Weiske wrote to Mortar M.:

I have heard of writers using GitHub - I liked the backup and version
control, last time I wrote I relied on the cloud and manual backups.
Github would be much nicer. You could also keep all of your background
materials, outlines, and other information in the same repo.

There's a whole tutorial at https://medium.com/@RichHosek/github-for-writers-an-introduction-8cec9d9e ce2

Interesting.

But all that assumes that one is willing to release one's work to the public domain?
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Re: Echo for Storywritin
By: August Abolins to Kurt Weiske on Tue Apr 28 2026 11:43:00

But all that assumes that one is willing to release one's work to the public domain?

Not at all. You can make it as public or private as you like; you can decide who gets access.
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Hello Wilfred!

27 Apr 26 13:47, you wrote to me:

I have a fido "writing" echo here, it's linked to my uplink(s),
but not seen anything in it.

I could find it at 4 of my links. For 3 a rescan didn't give any
results. I'm still waiting for the 4th...

It's most likely got several systems linked to isolated islands....


I just posted something to the area....




Stephen


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Hi Stephen,

On 2026-04-29 11:43:50, you wrote to me:

I have a fido "writing" echo here, it's linked to my uplink(s),
but not seen anything in it.

I could find it at 4 of my links. For 3 a rescan didn't give any
results. I'm still waiting for the 4th...

It's most likely got several systems linked to isolated islands....

We'll see...

I just posted something to the area....

I had 1 setting wrong for the area, so it ended up in my BAD area, but that is fixed now and the message is tossed to my connected links...

Bye, Wilfred.

--- FMail-lnx64 2.3.3.1-B20260417
* Origin: FMail development HQ (2:280/464)

Let's try ANYTHING_GOES.
It's available from the TheRustyMailbox BBS.

I tried finding ANYTHING_GOES at a couple of my connections (that carry a lot of stuff!) and they don't carry this one. I remember I used to carry it a long time ago. I am wondering if it is still linked or maybe is a dead area that Alan hasn't deleted?

My last post was:

/FIDO/ANYTHING_GOES

> + 564 01.12.25 August Abolins All books: bookshop.org

I still think that echo would work for the writing folk, or until the WRITING

>echo or something else more suitable emerges.

It is unfortunate that it becomes quite a hunting process for users to find

>echoes that they would like to participate in.

When you mentioned that echo I went looking for it to get a look
at what you got up to but my access is through Mike's board and I
asked him about ANYTHING_GOES which got him looking for it but not
having any luck..

I suppose it wouldn't have to be in some special writer's echo
but, in any case, I'd imagine that sort of posting anywhere would
get quite long fairly quickly and a lot of echos limit the length
of messages which might make the basic system unsuitable for your
project.

---
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Hi Carlos.

26 Apr 26 19:26, you wrote to MIKE POWELL:

No, I was thinking of an actual WRITING echo. Maybe I am mixing
it up with an othernet, though.

Yes, the Fidonet WRITING echo existed, at least in 1999.

Correct, exists in my bbs, just one message there from year 2012.

'Tommi

--- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20260304
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Hello Rob!

** On Wednesday 29.04.26 - 08:49, you wrote to me:

/FIDO/ANYTHING_GOES

+ 564 01.12.25 August Abolins All books: bookshop.org

I still think that echo would work for the writing folk, or until the
WRITING echo or something else more suitable emerges.

It is unfortunate that it becomes quite a hunting process for users to
find echoes that they would like to participate in.

When you mentioned that echo I went looking for it to get a look
at what you got up to but my access is through Mike's board and I
asked him about ANYTHING_GOES which got him looking for it but not
having any luck..

I think you have seen my summary of past participating systems for the ANYTHING_GOES echo. My last post there was in Dec 2025.

Checkout https://claudes.lovelybits.org/ ..for echomail. You might be pleasantly surprised by the options and presentation. I've asked the sysop to consider getting the ANYTHING_GOES and WRITING echoes too.

I suppose it wouldn't have to be in some special writer's echo
but, in any case, I'd imagine that sort of posting anywhere would
get quite long fairly quickly and a lot of echos limit the length
of messages which might make the basic system unsuitable for your
project.

Well.. the WRITING echo has been re-introduced now.

I concur with your assessment that "that sort of posting" for RPG/neverending stories would get long. But replies don't necessarily need to quote/copy *everything* in the previous posts. The continuations/addendums just need a brief reminder of the previous paragraph or just a few previous sentences.

Ideally, a reader system that supports MSGID/REPLYID would help following a thread too.



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On 29 Apr 26 18:46:00, August Abolins said the following to Rob Mccart:

Ideally, a reader system that supports MSGID/REPLYID would help following a thread too.

Maybe its just me but I've had no problems following message threads since '92 when I was a caller on a BBS with plain Ascii and uppercase-everything.... before any of this stupid Msgid/Reply kludge nonsense.

Nick

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