TIPS FOR WRITING STARTERS / a rp guide.
A 2021 updated reupload from my former blog !
1) Ask yourself “Do I need this part?”
One thing that can really weigh down a starter is information that isn’t vital to the scene; key word being scene not the plot entirely. That in depth character analysis might be great writing, but a writing partner can’t really reply to meta. It’s not something their muse can interact with or use to further the scene. I know sometimes our writing gets away with us, and I have often times taken parts out of replies and then later expanded on it in another separate post because it was more suited there The same thing can be said for backstory; while I am always a fan of backstory, I’ve noticed a trend where people try to summarize their entire plot in the first starter, both for their partner and for any one outside reading it. It’s always good to set up something in a starter, but keep it focused on that specific scene. A partner cannot reply to just meta and backstory, you need to give them something to respond to.
2) “No really, do you really need this part?”
I cannot stress this enough; your starter needs to set the scene --- so it really needs to be focused on that scene. If your starter involves one or two (or more) scene changes before you even reach the part where your partner’s muse comes into play; than odds are that you need to step back and focus on what really matters. Ask yourself what the purpose of this interaction is, what is it your muse wants from mine specifically. Are they an obstacle? A goal? Scene direction and focus is very important in both starters and replies.
3) ALWAYS CUT 10% BEFORE FINISHING
This is actually something echoed in many writing classes and by authors, filmmakers, and various other content producers for years ! What this does is force you to focus on what actually is important to your scene, and help you remove anything that might be nice writing but doesn’t contribute anything.
4) Establish, thoughts, action
A starter should always be equal parts establishing information, what your muse wants, and an action to react to. It doesn’t need to be in that order, and there might be times where you need to outweigh one over the other due to the unusual nature of the scene; but 90% of the time, regardless if it’s a short para, proper para, or novella, you should always keep these three balanced.
Establish what is vital information for your partner to know right off the bat, you can always flesh things out in replies later both in character speech and in narration. Giving the reader a glimpse into their head is not only good writing, but it can communicate the direction the scene may be going further down the road. This can allow for more coherent plotting and a chance to plot a new direction if you aren’t up for that.
Give your partner some idea of what’s going on in your muses’ head. How they feel about the situation, what they want. This doesn’t need to be expository, you can convey this easily by describing the others. If they are speaking pleasantly or angrily, if they view the location as a nice or bad place. Things like that help make a scene feel more organic.
Lastly, of course there are actions. This covers: speech, physical actions or anything in your reply that’s observable to the other muse to respond to. Your partner’s character needs something to respond to
5) Remember you do not have to establish everything
While it’s important to give your partner something to work with, do not get carried away or think the sole responsibility of fleshing it out rests on you. Let your partner’s reply add more to the world, add in details and give it colour. It’s way to easy to accidentally god mod in starters by setting the scene as if you are expecting a certain response. Leave some of it to them. Its your shared scene, you both are responsible for giving it life.
6) Watch out for accidental god modding
When we think of godmodding, we often imagine someone writing out our character’s actions or feelings or outright telling us what to do. The thing is, it’s easy to do it accidentally in more subversive ways.
If you write a starter that’s clearly angled for a certain type of response or end goal, plotted or not. It can make your partner feel trapped, like their just going through the motions of your fantasy, and not your shared one.
If you haven’t plotted, ask questions like “is it okay if I say this?” if referring to their muse or past events that would involve them both. If you have plotted, than try to stick firmly to what was already discussed. Don’t embellish beyond that. You can allow things to grow naturally in the scene and continue to discuss things ooc with your partner as the thread continues.
Adding things that aren’t strictly locked to your own muse is another way of godmodding without realizing it. You are eliminating your partner’s ability to decide and choose things for themselves.
6) Communicate
Regardless if you plotted or not, it’s okay to admit it if you are stuck. Sometimes some scenes are fun to plot but don’t lend themselves to writing as a thread as easily. Sometimes you need to talk a little more to get creative juices flowing. Do not be afraid to reach out.
7) Accept that not all starters will be knockouts.
Sometimes a starter just won’t take. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad writer. It doesn’t mean their rude for not answering. Sometimes things in that set up just don’t click. Occasionally, you can fix this by taking a new approach, but sometimes you’ve gotta cut your losses and try again. It’s going to happen, and accepting that this isn’t a reflection on you can be the biggest challenge yet.
8) BE FLEXIBLE
Roleplaying is a mix of writer’s craft and drama/improv; the writer’s craft part is obvious but there are key stage rules that apply as well due to the back and forth nature of RP. Sometimes you’ll set a scene, and your partner might see a starter and take it in a direction you weren’t thinking of when you wrote it. That’s okay ( as long as it’s within both of your comfort zones).
The rule of improv is “Yes, and...”, meaning that if you expected your partner to say X but the end up saying Y, don’t go turn around in or out of character to say no it’s x.
This isn’t so much about writing starters as it is accepting that once you’ve written it, you have to let it go. It’s someone else’s to be creative with. It might not go the way you want it to, but that’s not a bad things inherently.
9) ACCEPT FEEDBACK AND GROW.
Let your craft develop by opening yourself up to notes and suggestions. You’ll become bored with writing if unchallenged and your partners will become bored of the same thing constantly. This doesn’t mean rebrand yourself a million times, but let yourself grow. There are many guides, books and activities that can help you do this !
