Daquesta

Daquesta is a fictional concept used in speculative fiction and online collaborative writing to describe a modular, interactive form of storytelling. It refers to a narrative practice in which a central quest or objective anchors a story, while the surrounding scenes and subplots are generated collectively through a sequence of prompts and responses from participants. The term is often treated as both a stylistic approach and a social practice within fan communities and writing platforms.

Etymology and origin: The word is a portmanteau of elements suggesting both questioning and questing. Its precise provenance is debated within fictional circles, with attribution to several online writing communities in the 2010s. In-world lore sometimes traces the term to the fictional archipelago of Daquesta, a setting used to teach collaborative storytelling.

Form and mechanics: A typical daquesta cycle begins with a prompt that states a challenge, a dilemma, or a goal. Contributors supply short, self-contained segments—episodes, dialogues, or world-building notes—that respond to the prompt and advance the collective narrative. The prompts and responses reference shared world rules, character inventories, and a central causal thread.

Variants: Full daquesta implies a long-running arc with a clear goal, while micro-daquestas are brief, self-contained units. Some communities emphasize dialogic daquestas, focusing on character interaction, and others favor worldbuilding daquestas.

Reception: As a fictional construct, daquesta is discussed as a way to study collaborative creativity and narrative design. Critics note benefits for participation and cohesion, alongside risks of inconsistency and uneven voice.