We are launching an online renga - a collective storytelling exercise inspired by a traditional Japanese poetic form - to explore issues of gender and power.

If you would like to take part, please send us your suggested first paragraph - of no more than 200 words - for a story on:

"How she got to the top" - a story about gender and power

Include in your email two sentences about why you want to take part and send it to sarah(dot)lindon(at)opendemocracy(dot)net by 25 February.

You should be motivated to contribute two paragraphs of writing - about 600 words in all - to Sarah over the next two months. We need fifteen contributing authors for this first renga.

The concept

The renga is designed to explore how fiction can tackle ethical and political issues journalism doesn't reach.

It is based on Carl Djerassi's "science-in-fiction" genre, originally developed for ethical discussions in science. As a renowned scientist, novelist and playwright, he has used it with students and colleagues in the academic world.

We recognise that fiction can allow writers to explore issues and experiences that documentary journalism cannot legitimately access, while the renga form opens up topics to collaborative examination.

A gendered renga: how she got to the top

As part of our 50.50 initiative, launched in January this year, we have picked a topic that will encourage writers to discuss gender and power. Women are largely excluded from decision-making worldwide, so how do - or might - women get to the top - in business, politics or other fields?

How it works

Readers will participate in one renga, while a group of openDemocracy writers will produce a second, both on the same topic. The groups will work simultaneously and independently.

For the readers' renga, a panel of oD judges will choose the best first paragraph and then select the writers. The story will be sent to the first writer who will add another paragraph and return it within three days. It will then go to the next writer for the addition of a new paragraph until all participants have contributed. Finally, everyone will be invited to submit a final paragraph. The group will then be asked to vote on the best ending for the story.

The finished story will be published with a list of all the authors' names without attributing individual paragraphs, so that the final result is "owned" by the group collectively.

Questions? - please email Sarah, at sarah(dot)lindon(at)opendemocracy(dot)net.