Post by dulcinea on Jul 3, 2007 3:21:46 GMT -5
Alright, I'll get the ball rolling, since our esteemed mistress of the boards (or at least one of them) asked me to post something along the lines of a discussion I was having within my clan on Hollow tonight.
Firstly, the following is my opinion, and anyone may choose to make rude gestures or eat any tip that I post, I won't take offense. ^_^ Its the compilation of years of RPing on Hollow and other sites and games and of Creative Writing and other various classes and sources, such as debate classes. Which you wouldn't really feel would help, but they really do.
Lesson 1
The first thing that you learn in CW and many other courses. Learn by doing.
As fiction writers learn by writing, you must learn dueling by dueling. This does not mean to go out and get yourself killed by Death Dueling the first person you find. Sparring and duels for light-stakes would be advisable. Unless of course you absolutely hate your character, in which circumstance, jumping off the nearest cliff would be just as effective (and even more avisable if your name is Cheesewhiz or Bigkahuna or Jesuschrist).
The more you rp and duel, the better you'll get at it. Its just plain common sense. I would recommend that you also keep a dictionary or thesaurus open in your browser or next to your computer. These are helpful guides that will keep you from saying the same words over and over, and from using words in the wrong context or setting. You want to make sure not to go overboard however. Don't use some horribly large word such as 'pulchritude' and expect people to want to interact with you. Exchanging words such as 'eyes' with 'orbs' or 'optics' is a good example. If you are making a post in which line of sight is a main theme, I would advise you to mix it up a bit. Also, know more than one descriptive word for your weapon or attack. Saying 'sword' or 'firebolt' over and over is repetitive and boring.
Remember, your post will be read by other people. Not only just your opponent(s), but also any onlookers, or passerbys. It might even end up on a rp website, so make sure that people are going to be able to read it. And that they are going to want to read it. There's an even more simple reason for making your post less boring. If your opponent gets bored, they may not read it as carefully as you want or read it all the way through. In which case, they are likely to either leave in the middle of the duel or duel badly, which is not going to be a credit to either of you. Plus, how are you going to get an audience if you put everyone to sleep with your posts?
If you are the first one to post, you have the responsibility for setting the tone and setting of the rp. Pay close attention to your opponent's description, and the description of the room that you're in. You can use both to your benefit. Make sure that you describe everything your character does in his attack. This doesn't mean that you have to add a whole paragraph on your character's 'long, flowing, gleaming hair' or even more than a sentence or two about their personal description. Adding stuff along the lines of 'His green eyes gleamed with the light of combat, sweat beading along his brow as he concentrated on his opponent.' makes for good reading. You have to describe what's going on to paint a picture in the minds of those reading it.
When you respond to someone's post, being second, or third, or so on in a duel, you must read carefully what your opponent has posted before. I know, I know...some peoples' posts will bore you to tears, but you have to read them all. One thing you learn in debate, is that you can't drop any arguments or you automatically lose. I'm going to say the same thing here. If you drop or omit any part of your opponents attack, you will lose. You can't just ignore them trying to cut your head off because you have some amazing piece of armor that prevents your head from leaving your shoulders. You still have to rp, write out, how or why it does that. Anything that your opponent includes in their attack against you, you must acknowledge or respond to. If you leave something out, one can assume that you didn't block it, or stop the move, and ooops...there goes your head.
***NO AUTO-HITTING!***
At no time in an rp duel, are you allowed to auto-hit. Auto-hit is for example: 'his katana came down and severed the dragon's tail from his body...' This is a NO NO! The rp god shall come down from his spaceship and smite thee. -_-
You always leave the post open in a way so your opponent can counter attack or dodge or block...or let it hit. If the dragon was in a particularly froggy mood, he might let his tail be whacked off. So, writing a post like that, it would be better to say: 'He brought his katana down with all his might, attempting to sever the dragon's long and scaly tail from its body.' (This is a simplistic example, but I'm sure you get my point.)
Most duels last three posts for each person and then a 7th post usually known as 'the final defense'. Time is allotted for each post, and its done with three judges. One judge chosen by each duelist and a third (hopefully) neutral party. You have your first duel post, which I've coverd, and then your second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth posts should consist of roleplaying out your physical responses to each others defenses and offenses. The seventh post aka 'the final defense' is made by the person who attacked first, obviously to give them the time to respond to their opponents last attack (giving both duelists 3 attacking posts), and will do what the previous posts did, but shall not include any new attacks, hence the title 'the final defense'. You will respond in defense and finish anything that you need to, but you will not bring in anything new to the duel. This is the same as Auto-hitting and will bring about the almighty-shun.
That's about it for Lesson 1. We'll go more in depth in various aspects in lessons to come. For now, here are some more simple pointers from a writing perspective:
Writing is an art, there are skills, tools, and techniques that can be learned in order to develop talent.
To be a good writer you need to read a lot, listen and observe everything about you carefully, and write a lot. Writing a lot takes discipline, because writing can actually be hard work- but very satisfying. Setting up a routine for writing is important; it is very easy to find something else to do besides writing. A compulsion to write is very useful.
Fiction writers should have a good grasp of the language, but most of all they must be storytellers. A really good story can compensate for less-than-brilliant writing, but brilliant writing will not save a bad story.
Readers of fiction want very much to find the writer's work to be believable. It is the task of the writer to produce a story that does not jolt the reader into recognizing that the narrative is just the writer talking, just fiction. The writer should write about what he or she already knows through experience or can learn about through research. The narrative should read as if the writer really knows what he or she is writing about.
Dialogue makes fiction seem real. However, dialogue that copies reality may actually slow down a story. Avoid unnecessary or repetitive dialogue.
Style is the way the writer uses language. The longer the work the less important language becomes. Above all, the writer's work must tell a story. The writer should not be more concerned with the words used than with the story the writer is trying to tell. Don't be a fanatic about words. The language is less important than character and plot. However, a combination of a good story and good English will be a delight to read.
Mistakes in English amount to author intrusion and detract greatly from the story being told.
The most effective writing uses the active voice. Shorter, concrete words tend to be stronger. Long words tend to be abstract. Avoid wordiness. Write in a concise, precise, concrete, and specific manner. However, recognize that English has an enormous number of words in it, and the words can have very precise meanings. Sometimes no other word will do. And be specific. Don't mention just a tree; say what kind of tree it was.
The choice of words can help set the tone of the story.
Beginning writers may get defensive and touchy about their style. When offered constructive (or maybe destructive) criticism about their style, beginning writers may tend to say something like,"Well, that's just my style." The implication being that the reader must like whatever style the writer chooses to use. But that is backwards. It is up to the writer to please the reader, not the other way around.
Contructive criticism and feeback is always helpful. You may not always like what is said, but its always something to take in account with everything else.
And above all...plese, remember to have fun and enjoy what you are doing. If you enjoy it, so will your fellow rp'ers and audience.
Firstly, the following is my opinion, and anyone may choose to make rude gestures or eat any tip that I post, I won't take offense. ^_^ Its the compilation of years of RPing on Hollow and other sites and games and of Creative Writing and other various classes and sources, such as debate classes. Which you wouldn't really feel would help, but they really do.
Lesson 1
The first thing that you learn in CW and many other courses. Learn by doing.
As fiction writers learn by writing, you must learn dueling by dueling. This does not mean to go out and get yourself killed by Death Dueling the first person you find. Sparring and duels for light-stakes would be advisable. Unless of course you absolutely hate your character, in which circumstance, jumping off the nearest cliff would be just as effective (and even more avisable if your name is Cheesewhiz or Bigkahuna or Jesuschrist).
The more you rp and duel, the better you'll get at it. Its just plain common sense. I would recommend that you also keep a dictionary or thesaurus open in your browser or next to your computer. These are helpful guides that will keep you from saying the same words over and over, and from using words in the wrong context or setting. You want to make sure not to go overboard however. Don't use some horribly large word such as 'pulchritude' and expect people to want to interact with you. Exchanging words such as 'eyes' with 'orbs' or 'optics' is a good example. If you are making a post in which line of sight is a main theme, I would advise you to mix it up a bit. Also, know more than one descriptive word for your weapon or attack. Saying 'sword' or 'firebolt' over and over is repetitive and boring.
Remember, your post will be read by other people. Not only just your opponent(s), but also any onlookers, or passerbys. It might even end up on a rp website, so make sure that people are going to be able to read it. And that they are going to want to read it. There's an even more simple reason for making your post less boring. If your opponent gets bored, they may not read it as carefully as you want or read it all the way through. In which case, they are likely to either leave in the middle of the duel or duel badly, which is not going to be a credit to either of you. Plus, how are you going to get an audience if you put everyone to sleep with your posts?
If you are the first one to post, you have the responsibility for setting the tone and setting of the rp. Pay close attention to your opponent's description, and the description of the room that you're in. You can use both to your benefit. Make sure that you describe everything your character does in his attack. This doesn't mean that you have to add a whole paragraph on your character's 'long, flowing, gleaming hair' or even more than a sentence or two about their personal description. Adding stuff along the lines of 'His green eyes gleamed with the light of combat, sweat beading along his brow as he concentrated on his opponent.' makes for good reading. You have to describe what's going on to paint a picture in the minds of those reading it.
When you respond to someone's post, being second, or third, or so on in a duel, you must read carefully what your opponent has posted before. I know, I know...some peoples' posts will bore you to tears, but you have to read them all. One thing you learn in debate, is that you can't drop any arguments or you automatically lose. I'm going to say the same thing here. If you drop or omit any part of your opponents attack, you will lose. You can't just ignore them trying to cut your head off because you have some amazing piece of armor that prevents your head from leaving your shoulders. You still have to rp, write out, how or why it does that. Anything that your opponent includes in their attack against you, you must acknowledge or respond to. If you leave something out, one can assume that you didn't block it, or stop the move, and ooops...there goes your head.
***NO AUTO-HITTING!***
At no time in an rp duel, are you allowed to auto-hit. Auto-hit is for example: 'his katana came down and severed the dragon's tail from his body...' This is a NO NO! The rp god shall come down from his spaceship and smite thee. -_-
You always leave the post open in a way so your opponent can counter attack or dodge or block...or let it hit. If the dragon was in a particularly froggy mood, he might let his tail be whacked off. So, writing a post like that, it would be better to say: 'He brought his katana down with all his might, attempting to sever the dragon's long and scaly tail from its body.' (This is a simplistic example, but I'm sure you get my point.)
Most duels last three posts for each person and then a 7th post usually known as 'the final defense'. Time is allotted for each post, and its done with three judges. One judge chosen by each duelist and a third (hopefully) neutral party. You have your first duel post, which I've coverd, and then your second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth posts should consist of roleplaying out your physical responses to each others defenses and offenses. The seventh post aka 'the final defense' is made by the person who attacked first, obviously to give them the time to respond to their opponents last attack (giving both duelists 3 attacking posts), and will do what the previous posts did, but shall not include any new attacks, hence the title 'the final defense'. You will respond in defense and finish anything that you need to, but you will not bring in anything new to the duel. This is the same as Auto-hitting and will bring about the almighty-shun.
That's about it for Lesson 1. We'll go more in depth in various aspects in lessons to come. For now, here are some more simple pointers from a writing perspective:
Writing is an art, there are skills, tools, and techniques that can be learned in order to develop talent.
To be a good writer you need to read a lot, listen and observe everything about you carefully, and write a lot. Writing a lot takes discipline, because writing can actually be hard work- but very satisfying. Setting up a routine for writing is important; it is very easy to find something else to do besides writing. A compulsion to write is very useful.
Fiction writers should have a good grasp of the language, but most of all they must be storytellers. A really good story can compensate for less-than-brilliant writing, but brilliant writing will not save a bad story.
Readers of fiction want very much to find the writer's work to be believable. It is the task of the writer to produce a story that does not jolt the reader into recognizing that the narrative is just the writer talking, just fiction. The writer should write about what he or she already knows through experience or can learn about through research. The narrative should read as if the writer really knows what he or she is writing about.
Dialogue makes fiction seem real. However, dialogue that copies reality may actually slow down a story. Avoid unnecessary or repetitive dialogue.
Style is the way the writer uses language. The longer the work the less important language becomes. Above all, the writer's work must tell a story. The writer should not be more concerned with the words used than with the story the writer is trying to tell. Don't be a fanatic about words. The language is less important than character and plot. However, a combination of a good story and good English will be a delight to read.
Mistakes in English amount to author intrusion and detract greatly from the story being told.
The most effective writing uses the active voice. Shorter, concrete words tend to be stronger. Long words tend to be abstract. Avoid wordiness. Write in a concise, precise, concrete, and specific manner. However, recognize that English has an enormous number of words in it, and the words can have very precise meanings. Sometimes no other word will do. And be specific. Don't mention just a tree; say what kind of tree it was.
The choice of words can help set the tone of the story.
Beginning writers may get defensive and touchy about their style. When offered constructive (or maybe destructive) criticism about their style, beginning writers may tend to say something like,"Well, that's just my style." The implication being that the reader must like whatever style the writer chooses to use. But that is backwards. It is up to the writer to please the reader, not the other way around.
Contructive criticism and feeback is always helpful. You may not always like what is said, but its always something to take in account with everything else.
And above all...plese, remember to have fun and enjoy what you are doing. If you enjoy it, so will your fellow rp'ers and audience.