The maraton thing sounds really cool and absolutely possible with a group of this size. I'm all for it.
Maybe on a weekend, or start on a weekend, or something, so most of us will have time. Plus, then we could pull in other people. I know a couple of folks who have been hemming and hawing on joining without actually doing it (Toshi, for example).
I also like the 100minute story idea, for the same reasons.

"10-minute mob" is very cute.

...

I shoulda hit that girl with a brick when I had the chance. Ah, well; live and learn.

In fact, if you want it, I've had this blog registered and done nothing with it since November.
If we wanted to, y'know, keep this one like it is. I like 600seconds. Adding to it rather than completely changing it may be the right way to go.

I think it sounds like a great idea, even though I've survived more than a couple failed continuing story projects already. (I'm involved with one now that, I think, has been awaiting its next chapter for about four months.) As long as we establish some ground rules and agree to follow them, I think we should be fine. It could get a little complicated if whoever's next on a given day doesn't post, or if there's a rush of posts competing with each other as the next installment. (That, of course, would require more than one or two of us posting in a day, which has proven an increasingly rare occurence.) I think Ben's got a good idea; some kind of numbering system might actually help eliminate confusion, as well as encourage more people to write.

Again, some simple ground rules are probably all we need. I'm certainly interested to see where it takes us.

On ongoing stories and how long to post on 'em: I'd say it depends on the story. Some of 'em end early. My vote would prolly be for them to be numbered, and then anybody can end the story after any post, as long as there've been at least 8 (so everybody gets a shot at it if they want). That's a little convoluted, but we can think over the weekend.

Shawn: since you mentioned it.

You guys make me cry. What's it take, y'all? Is there a format change that might inject some life here? A new position to rekindle passion?

I'm about to be out of town for a few days, so I don't know that I'll be posting regularly. When I get back, I'd like to try an experiment: Instead of a topic, the first poster will start a story, writing for 10 minutes. Whoever's next can pick up the thread. We can let the story spill over days. (We should number the posts, since the ordering of the blog will make that confusing.) And perhaps one story will run for, what, 10 posts?

Wow, I'm already qualified. How 'bout you, Faith? Should I look into getting you an axe of your own?

You should ask her.

I like this round-robin journal idea. I may start a collaborative story; it's been too long since running to the mailbox was an event of anticipation and elation. After California, after my first draft for White Wolf, after my software design spec, I'll get that going. Thanks for the inspiration, Shawn.

Yay, thank you, Fred.

Hey, Shawn, some of my best friends were Mormons. *poke*

Well, okay...

C'mon, c'mon! Posting a wav file for a topic is so clever. Go back and write for Saturday, you guys. Come aw-un.

"waiting to be described by poets"

Yes.

Glad somebody said it before I did. I'd assumed it was a coincidence, but if Sharon hadn't picked a topic, I was going to post "under your spell" as one.

In homage of my reluctant paladin.

What comes of talking with artists and looking at their books.

Well that's weird. If you want, you can delete mine and repost yours. I posted Sunday's topic, after all.

The problem, of course, is that nobody's writing. I just wanted to make sure we had plenty of things not to write about.

Oop! Hello, Fred. Posting simultaneously...

Backdated.

Buh.

A man
     cuts in half
                just like he

                             snaps a pencil

Saskatoon is in tha room.

Hey Remi.

And I was just coming over to say: Yay for Ben, posting regularly. Need to get my act in gear.

It's a good topic, though, so no complaints here.

Hunh? Who posted that? I thought I had gone with one of my earlier thoughts, "bone-crushing," and had this whole story mapped out for it. I sit down to write and see that the topic is "before I wake," which must have been when I posted it. *blink blink*

May I just say? Colds suck.

Well, I am writing, just not yet for today's topic. I'm getting there. I'm still playing catch-up for yesterday's with the next installment of my weird "Dashiell Hammett meets the Weather Channel" story. Too much exposition this time, but I'm working on it. Blog noir is tough.

Of course, thanks to Josh, I've had that song stuck in my head for two days.

It's just so nice to be able to post again... Not that I'm writing, mind you.

Corporotica.

This might answer that question.

Okay, so I faked it. Now what the heck does "crunk" mean, Remi?

Wow, Garrison is writing for 600 seconds. Woo hoo!

And that's a terrible pun. You must be so proud, Shawn.

Gave me goosebumps, Josh.

I like this mantra. Yes!

My new mantra: I don't believe in writer's block.

Contest came together after all. *whew*

I owe so many favors...