"A Manifesto for the Open-Source Writer."
Stop writing in the dark. A book is not a statue to be unveiled; it is a garden to be tended. Bring the discipline of version control to the chaos of creativity.
Inspired by Walt Whitman's neverending, but often public, Leaves of Grass
The modern writer works in a silo. We hoard drafts for years, terrified of the blank page, waiting for a "perfect" launch day that rarely comes.
This is why most stories die on the vine.
> git status
fatal: publisher not found
> last_modified: 3 years ago
> status: abandoned
"We need a system that encourages growth, feedback and experimentation."
What if literature could benefit from the best protocols of software development? You don't need to build in secret; bring your ideas to life, invite collaboration, grow the vines with most promise.
Stop hoarding. Write in the open from Day 1. The timestamp is your copyright.
Visuals are faster than verbs. Share sketches and drafts to generate the "vibes" instantly. Don't wait to describe a finished product.
Velocity over perfection. You cannot fix a page that does not exist. Ship drafts accepting they are imperfect.
Nothing is final. Evolve past chapters fearlessly. The history is part of the art.
Your readers will find mistakes. Embrace it. Let them flag the plot holes, inconsistencies and rough spots so you can refine them out in the open.
I am currently writing Sunflowers for Austin using this exact method. Read the drafts, view the commit history, and submit reports.
The protocol is open source. Fork it, make it your own, and share your journey.
Create with the Protocol→