Multiple Authors Expanding a Single Story Arch: Has it been done?

[SlightlyAnxious]

I read a thriller anthology a while back where all the contributors wrote short stories that were directly related to one tale. A famous author wrote the first story. The rest of the book was written by other authors all based-on, or referring to the original story. In one case, it was a back story for the characters, in another it was about a woman attending a book club reading the story who finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery.

It was very entertaining seeing all the ways one story could be interpreted and inspire others to add to the anthology.

Has Literotica ever done this? This isn't just a themed idea because all of the stories are directly linked by characters, elements of the story arch, or the story itself.

If not, it might be fun to have a productive author write a new story, and then other authors build out the fantasies around it. They wouldn't even have to all be in the same category.

For example, in the baseline/unifying story, a husband and wife overcome some difficulties to re-ignite their passion for each other leading to a bunch of sexy encounters. Throw in a few supporting characters for depth. Make it 5-10K words. That could be enough potential to inspire other authors to write about:

• how the couple met, and their original relationship blossomed (Erotic Couplings)
• during college where the husband and his older brother have a sexual encounter (Gay Male, Taboo/Incest)
• the wife had been married previously, and her high sex drive could only be satisfied by multiple lovers (Loving Wives)

And so-on.

Would authors find this interesting?

 

[TheWritingGroup]

That would seem to be the little-used Literotica category Chain Story.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Yeah, Chain Story. I'm sure some authors would probably enjoy that. Like herding cats, but you could potentially find some that can stand each other.

Are you looking to write something yourself and looking for collaborators, or are you just asking more generally?

 

[SlightlyAnxious]

I had the impression that Chain Stories were linear, from a single starting point and the follow-on stories would chronologically follow that one in their telling.

I would participate, but I don’t know that I could manage the originating story. It might be easier with a more experienced author with lots of followers who would be willing to expand that story’s universe.

 

[TheLobster]

There are a few 'verses on Lit that have been contributed to by multiple authors, like Faeophobia or Quaranteam. I heard the latter even has its own Discord to coordinate the contributions.

However, what you're talking about seem to be tighter than just the same universe. It's kind of like a series with recurring characters, but not focusing on them exclusively and sometimes not at all. The other examples you give are also metafictional, as if the story itself was a character.

So I think the short answer is no, this doesn't seem to be much of a thing on Lit. There are few iconic stories that spawned sort of universes with many spinoffs, like the infamous February Sucks, but these are extremely rare exceptions. (Honestly, other than FS, I can't think of any).

 

[Andreas_Kreuz]

The author, VerbalAbuse created a story about a porn producer called Ella Foxx.
https://www.literotica.com/s/the-ballad-of-ella-foxx
He made it open, so I responded with a story using her character and scenario:
Which I added on to with my story: https://literotica.com/s/an-artist-in-the-park

Then there is the Virtual Literotica Convention, which also has multiple authors assembled about a common concept.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Multiple Authors Expanding a Single Story Arch: Has it been done?​

https://www.literotica.com/authors/Djmac1031/lists?listid=23187387

 

[Stanfield2025]

I had the impression that Chain Stories were linear, from a single starting point and the follow-on stories would chronologically follow that one in their telling.

I would participate, but I don’t know that I could manage the originating story. It might be easier with a more experienced author with lots of followers who would be willing to expand that story’s universe.

I'd be willing, too. If enough people got behind it.