rpanons | I'm bad at this

I'm bad at this

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hey! i'm one of those people who aren't really popular in games but get a ton of tags (several hundred on posts, always new people tagging my top levels). you might not even notice me in the game even though i get a bunch of comments! so, this isn't advice from a popular standpoint but someone who gets a lot of fulfilling comments and never wants for threads.

mostly, at least!

- set the scene. if it's not part of something planned or an event, be really descriptive of the surroundings. are you in a store? what kind of bad top 40s is playing in the background? is it some pop country travesty talking about how some chick stole your man and how you're going to get even with her? how does this make your character feel? are the words and music grating? does the music put a little bounce in their step even though they hate the lyrics? or worse...do they like it? lol. is it elevator music? some bad jingle that's telling you industrial packs of tp are half off? if you use internal monologue and introspection in a starter, make it short and punchy. like "right. 200 rolls of tp. then again... it is halloween!" he roughly veers for the area but it seems a little crowded. is it really worth someone getting the wrong idea or having them in mind when the entire block is covered in two-ply?

descriptions of surroundings that aren't just items. use your senses. if you're struggling for a visualization, use your own surroundings then replace words (sometimes this helps me quite a bit!) or use google. is the supermarket's floor sticky? is there a wet floor sign nearby yet somehow they missed the damned spot in front of the apples? is the fruit looking a little overly ripe? does your character grab one and is it firm? do they grab another and notice a bit of bruising? do they set it back and go for a different kind or another fruit? hand cart? shopping cart? what color is it? is the metallic smell of the handle bothering them because it probably hasn't been cleaned in a while? how wide are the aisles? is the selection extensive? are items out of stock? is some parent letting their hellion run around and touch stuff?

- if it's an event, first look at what others have posted so you don't have the same thing up. then, i would suggest making sure that it isn't as large as it would be if you had an open post. though people love to receive meaty tags, they don't always love responding to them. events can be quick gratification the same way memes are and if there are 20 options up and people are skimming they might roll their eyes and ignore you.

- keep character description to a minimum. hair, clothes, make-up (if applicable), don't go overboard with specificity or style. if it's something out of the normal that you think is worth mentioning or you want someone to pick up on, write it down. write that her lipstick is a bright eye-catching red as opposed to the demure dusting of babypink they normally sport. write that his collar is popped since he put on a jacket but the weather is so nice he figured he'd start sweating if he wore it out and took it off and that he hadn't noticed that pulling it over his head had left it up in the process. write that the boots are dragging a thick or thin trail of mud or that they're encrusted in dry mud with flecks of dirt occasionally showing up on the linoleum.

- you don't have to have a ton of hooks. "hooks" are subjective and to me, not all are meant to be addressed but meant to add a little spice to the flavor. it's the same thing as a fine detail. this means you've got bland ones like that popped collar and you might have more pronounced ones like your character stopping a robber when they snatch an old lady's purse. then you have the overwhelming ones like tripping "an approaching [your] character" or grabbing them or asking a question. i think those are a little too forward and as cheap and boring as no hooks at all. i think using hooks that are more mild multiple times win out, especially if you have moderate or short length top levels or open posts with multiple options. while you can have the same premise and started for multiple threads that lead in a different direction, just how many times is your character going to trip? imagine that every other character in game replies to you...is your character this clumsy? do you want that kind of reputation? your character gets frustrated and throws something on the floor...does your character have anger issues? because if 10 characters somehow decide to reply, they might start to think that.

- planning. think of how you'd reply to something or what you've seen and what more could be done to make it better. think of the threads you've had that were like pulling teeth, starters you've done that feel wasted on the threads you're doing, or even read threads that bore you. what details could be added to save it (don't just think "better writing", whether it is lack of detail, oocness, little/no/boring dialogue, only dialogue, someone not picking up on hooks, someone dismissing or solving a problem or activity that is proposed, etc.). go through a few and embellish yourself. if you're feeling bored, rewrite it completely while using the original as a base template. add what would make it interesting to you. this can help you in your own threads and help you steer things in a direction you're happy with.

- don't be afraid to ask people for feedback. chances are you'll get an extreme either way and if anyone dares bother, the issues will be slight and they won't give you true concrit. however, you doing a little plotting with that person can help. ask them if they have anything they really want to do, what they'd like to come from the thread. i've found a lot of people dont' know what they want and that can make the thread suffer. it sucks being the one that suggests things, but it can definitely help make a thread better and give you a good reputation for being fun and creative. after a while, it might also tell you who to avoid.

- don't be afraid to be spontaneous, either. feel like that supermarket is getting stale even though you're only four comments in? so what! suggest a change in direction. how about that robber? have them take off to the park, the red light district, into a punk rock club or a disco club and take off after them. have your character suggest walking and talking and check out the location page of your game. you might find something new or an idea might spark right in the moment. only want sol? invite them over for a cup of coffee. want a little more active sol? have your character feel the other one out for that night of mischief complete with excessive eyebrow raising and coy tone until you think you can trust them with your devious tp and egg-tossing plans.

- read a lot of short fiction. i know people are going to always suggest reading a lot, but short fiction has helped me really get a hold on how to come to a close naturally and with ease more quickly, even though i love infinite threads of excessive length! find compilations and anthologies, they'll expose you to tons of different writers and their own styles.

- trial and error. reply to other people's top levels. you may not get a ton for your starters if you're off replying to half the game's starters, but people appreciate that and most reciprocate the favor. you can get a feel for how they write, what they like to write (and what a lot of the game likes to write), and how they want you to focus on the interaction and their characters in the process. putting more time into others before doing your own posts will usually net you more replies. an example would be that i don't usually post my first introduction post (or log) until at least a month after joining a game and i'm hyper-vigilant at tagging out, especially on the network. i assume my character observes and i don't always have them just ask questions. sometimes i throw in assumptions and thus have them corrected. this curbs the traditional "question" post that people have for intros. by the time i'm ready to post an intro, my character has a feel for the game and the people there. i think of what information i have and have them act accordingly. is there something missing that's in their world that's in the game? what kind of information feels missing? how comfortable are they? do they want someone to netflix and chill with or do they want to go exploring? be specific. beefcakes only reply thnx or guys with swords who know how to work with magic users only!! take care in text, video, voice. is your character purposeful? do they not care? are they on the toilet texting or have they sat down in the kitchen and made sure the lighting is perfect? are they changing their voice? is it a video but they make sure they're obscured? do they know if their names/usernames are attached to it? do they have names or usernames? would they abuse it not being there or assuming that? so on.

- do posts in conjunction. did you do a text post in the park? have them in that park for action attached or a log. are they paying attention to their surroundings? so on.

- really, just ask questions. try writing something basic and bland, then add questions for details. and always think about what you want out of a thread. if your answer is "everything" or "all things" it's not bad! just try to throw a few specifics, especially if you know something about the other character. have them fight over a collectible they both have in common or make a quiet offhand comment about it, don't be afraid of confrontation or it staying that way, don't be afraid of it playing out as a misunderstanding. don't be afraid to have your character misunderstand, mishear, assume things. put it in the introspection. pick up your phone and see what suggested words sometimes pop up for what you're posting. little details can make the world of a difference.

i'm not sure how much of this will help, but i hope you find some use of it and it helps you become more successful and improve your writing or tagging!

da here but holy shit thank you for this, this is really helpful for me as well!

anytime, anon! i don't always come to rpanons, but when i do i try to be helpful!

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