Scribemus

Scribemus is a term used in literary contexts to denote collaborative writing or, in Latin, the first-person plural future form of scribere, meaning "we shall write." In modern usage, scribemus is often employed as a label for a writing practice in which multiple authors contribute successive sections to a single text, typically guided by a shared prompt, theme, or set of constraints. The approach emphasizes collective authorship and improvisation, with contributors maintaining continuity in voice and perspective while allowing stylistic variation.

In practice, participants agree on rules such as word limits, point-of-view constraints, and the order of authors, then submit passages in turn within a thread, document, or designated platform. Versions are usually archived to track evolution, and some groups establish guidelines for attribution, licensing, and editing to balance collaboration with recognition.

Etymology: scribemus derives from Latin scribere "to write," with scribemus as the future indicative form "we shall write." As a modern concept, it is not tied to a single canonical tradition and appears mainly in online writing communities, classroom exercises, or informal writing circles.

Notes: Because scribemus lacks a formal, standardized definition, its meaning varies by community. It is sometimes used as a project name, a slogan, or a description of a collaborative experiment rather than a fixed literary genre.

See also: collaborative writing; participatory storytelling; writing prompts.