For the next six weeks I am going to write a short story each week. And you're going to tell me what to write.

Why would I do such a thing? This past year I wrote my first novel. It's called The Collective. As I was casting about for ways to distribute it, I watched my friend Robin's wildly successful Annabel Scheme project and I was inspired. My plan is a little different from most Kickstarter projects because the book itself is already finished. But, it does take money and backers to give this book as wide a distribution as possible. I just thought I'd make it fun for all of us.

So what's the project? It's called Andrew vs. The Collective and it's sort of like live writing. For six weeks, the duration of the project, I'm going to write a short story every week. Six in total. But here's the catch (for me): each story is going to include a piece of input from every single one of the backers (that's you). That's my challenge. And your challenge, as a backer, is to try to stump me. Give me your most difficult words, sentences, characters, etc. and I will be forced to weave them into that week's story.

What do you get out of backing this project? First off, a copy of The Collective. Which has garnered very high reviews from my mother and three close friends. I'm going to make it available for sale after the project - but you'll get the first edition. Perhaps more importantly, though, you'll get access to Andrew vs. The Collective. You get to be a part of the process every week and have your input in six different stories.

How will it work? Each Wednesday I'll ask for your input in a Kickstarter update. You can respond in the comments there, or you can send me an email, or a Twitter DM, whatever you want to do. At noon on Friday I'll stop taking suggestions for that week's story. And then Friday evening I'll do a new post with all the suggestions. I'll write over the weekend and then Tuesday the story will be published. Don't worry about sending your first input in yet - I'l post an update asking for it next week. The first round of suggestions are due Friday, February 5. You'll read the first story on Tuesday, February 9!

A few caveats and clarifications: I reserve the right to ask you for another suggestion. This will never be because something is too difficult, I promise you that. I just don't want to have to write anything horribly offensive!
Also, if you want to submit a lower level of input than what you've pledged, that's fine. Like if you signed up to submit settings but all you wanted to submit was sentences? Don't lower your pledge! Just let me know. I'll let you suggest multiple inputs from lower levels (we'll work out an exact number when it comes up).
Also, if this is your first time to Kickstarter, you should know - your pledge is one amount for the whole project. It's not going to cost you the amount you pledge for each of the six stories!
UPDATE: Amazingly, the project hit 100% funding in about a day. Now, while that's really exciting it doesn't mean pledging is all wrapped up. A hundred percent is just the beginning. I set the deadline for pledging all the way at the end of the six stories so that more people could get involved even as the project was underway. Here's a handy guide. You should sign up if:

- You want a copy of The Collective

- You're want to torment me personally.

- You're interested in a fun new experiment in writing.