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traveller
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Also lol, Traveller, I was screaming that developmental disability to you? Also that is a joke, I am fully aware I type like a deranged person and understand nothing.
You could not have been more obvious, though I disagree that you type "like a deranged person".
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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I probably worded that wrong. I’m not great with words.
Ironically, I think that goes for most of us in this discussion.

While I find it risible to suggest serious people are treating things "like a job", I can tell from your reaction I reacted too strongly. I apologise. I simply wanted to point out that as wonderful as flexibility is, some people are just born rigid and have difficulty navigating the world when they have no certainties.

I had a pretty strong hunch Neko was neurodivergent too. 

Anyway, there's no hard feelings from my side, and I hope there are none on yours either.

I don't think you're the type of person Neko is talking about at all.
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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I'm going to ignore the part of me that knows better for this one, but.

It rubs me the wrong way when you treat the argument as one side seeking "contractual obligations" and "turning roleplay into a job." I'm fully in camp "roleplay is a flex arrangement", and plot accordingly to give plenty of space and opportunity to deviate and explore avenues we hadn't considered at the onset of the thread.

When opportunity calls, we rise to the occasion.

But.

It's important to remember that a not-insignificant number of roleplayers are neurodivergent. A number of those may have difficulty with flexibility that comes natural to others, and another number may hold agreements to a higher standard than most.

It is not okay to act like people who are more serious by nature are treating it "like a job" or asking you to treat it as such. It's fine to disagree on whether or not you should stick to things you agree on, but I don't find it appropriate in this discussion to make unkind insinuations about the more serious among us.
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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Think there's a solid difference between "this must happen because we plotted it" and "when we go in novel directions, let's communicate about it."

For example, I find sex revolting. Actively disgusting. My characters do not necessarily have that written into them (but I leave "sexuality" fields in apps open, because I abhor thinking about it).

I would not enjoy it if someone decides to make our thread sexual* without first seeking my consent, and then afterwards justifying it as "my character decided to do it."


* this includes "my character is sexually attracted to yours" and/or "we can just fade to black"
last edit on Apr 14, 2024 21:44:50 GMT by traveller
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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Meanwhile I pick FCs like Red and write them into a nervous wreck. 8)

90% of the time I pick FCs I don't even know what they're like in the source material, I just like the vibes they're giving me fitting the vibes of the character I want to write tbh
yaa some ppl are v conscious of the source material of their fc, like fearing they may be too alike or yhe oc may end up offensive to the source. I watch a lot lf anime so i end up using fcs i know the source of. But my radar is also open to those i don’t know of as long as it fits the bill or i just like the aesthetics
I'm just...
 
I have no idea who Oscar Pines is nor what RWBY is supposed to be, but he's got brown skin, freckles, black hair, and a vibe that makes me want to write him as a dorky mechanic.


EDIT: Honestly, I think it's fine if the FC and character have some similarities. If you're looking for an older lady with those "I may be old and infirm but if you don't shut the fuck up I am going to whoop your ass into 1932" vibes, you'll probably wind up having to find an older lady who may canonically be just that in the source material.

But it's also fun to intentionally play around with expectations, kind of like casting an actor renown for his romantic roles into the main role for a horror murder film.
last edit on Apr 14, 2024 20:38:42 GMT by traveller
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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idk your rp circles but I’ve personally never heard this.
maybe times have changed (or are slowly are) but mainstream anime fc rep gets bad reputation bc non-para rpers pick them as their first choice. Anime is easily how people learn about rping and they naturally gravitate to using the cool protag who is either very kind and brave or sasuke.
Meanwhile I pick FCs like Red and write them into a nervous wreck. 8)

90% of the time I pick FCs I don't even know what they're like in the source material, I just like the vibes they're giving me fitting the vibes of the character I want to write tbh
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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I know some people have a general “writing muse” thing and can sit down and write posts in order and cycle between written characters at will but that has never been a thing for me.
I don't have a muse, I write whenever I please. If I don't feel inspired, I'll get myself inspired. And sometimes I'll write something I'm not proud of, but I vastly prefer "the post that exists and sucks" over "the perfect post that doesn't actually exist".

As for "get into the specific character", I always have small lists of notes for characters to guide their behaviour. For the last character I wrote, for example, I wrote "nervous around people he doesn't know well", "say the right thing in the wrong way", "everyone's out to get you. EVERYONE", and it works pretty well at ensuring I capture the essence of the character.
last edit on Apr 14, 2024 19:51:05 GMT by traveller
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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Then I feel immense guilt for being so paranoid the moment I see one sign or the flips my brain does LOL.
Don't. Your feelings are valid.

I get that it sucks (for yourself) to start from a position of mistrust and low expectations. But you didn't choose to be this way, and from the sounds of it, you're trying to break out of that cycle.

Don't feel guilty when you've got a bad moment. Once you recognise you're falling back in that pattern, just take a little distance, reorient yourself, do something you enjoy, then come back with a refreshed mind.

Healing isn't something that happens at the snap of a finger. It takes time. So give yourself that time, and don't feel guilty if you sometimes take a step back.
last edit on Apr 14, 2024 19:48:11 GMT by traveller
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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I think what Neko means is that at the end of the day, you are responsible for everything your character does in roleplay.

It's definitely been a problem at times where people tell me that "the character didn't cooperate", or "their muse left" so they aren't able to write the post they want. That tends to come across as shoving off responsibility, like saying you couldn't possibly prevent your character from steering in a different direction than you agreed on with your writing partner.

But you can. You may not be "actively" making decisions, but you're making decisions nonetheless. Everything we do is a decision we make. Foisting off responsibility for your choices to some imaginary force can be irksome for those of us who want to communicate.
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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idk how people who force their characters to follow the plot do it. mine throw a fit and do what they want.
Since this is roleplay, it's almost impossible to make sure a detailed plot can be followed entirely. That's why I instead identify an end-point, and don't really fuss too much about the journey itself; so long as it's an enjoyable one, it all works.

While writing each post, I keep an eye on my end-point and try to ensure I keep moving towards that. If my writing partner doesn't play ball and moves in a different direction, it's fine to let go and accompany them to their end-point instead.

Ideally, we can tread the same road and both get some character development and progress in, so whenever we thread, I try to figure out what my partner wants to get out of the thread.

Since often, roleplayers are pretty laissez-faire and want to follow where the winds blow, it's often plenty to gently steer in the direction you want, rather than going along with whatever happens and hoping neither of you walk into a dead-end.


"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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"Wouldn't you like a taste of the power, wouldn't you like to use more than words~♪"

This song is so crazy catchy. Kinda dig someone's going the effort to make the Odyssey accessible to today's generations by making it a series of songs. Well, it does vary from Homer's original on certain points (Poseidon wrecking Odysseus's fleet instead of the man-eating giants, f'rinstance), but man, I'm so glad to experience it again.
last edit on Apr 12, 2024 20:52:10 GMT by traveller
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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What's your process like?
I generally have ideas of what I want to happen and how to go about putting it into words. Sometimes the idea is better in my head than it is when I finally have written.  Naming the thread is a whole other story.
Ah, yeah, sounds like you're doing just fine coming up with the good starters, it just doesn't feel like they're as good as you thought when written down, huh? I think you can cut yourself some slack: ideas cavorting in the mind often seem better than those committed to paper, but only one of those two is tangible. We're often our own biggest critics.

For naming threads, I often see people use song lyrics, but I think quotes (either from the opener or otherwise) could work, or just a brief one-line synopsis of the thread, e.g. "Annette's Worst Day", "Coming Out to the In-Laws", "Breaking My Boyfriend's Heart by Confessing I Am In Love With His Sister", "My Happily Ever After".

last edit on Apr 11, 2024 20:22:37 GMT by traveller
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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Why do I always have trouble coming up with a good starter?
What's your process like?
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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Anyway, I like writing and I was a bit surprised I hardly ever see talk about writing in the animanga roleplay community. Just seemd so hand-in-glove that a hobby rooted in writing would discuss writing more, so I am mostly just surprised this is not the case and wanted to understand why that is.

I’m satisfied with the answers “it’s too subjective” and “cos I just want to chill and not think too hard about it.”
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."
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The point was that writing may be subjective, but there's people employed whose approach to editing is based on more than "this is just my opinion." So I think dismissing talking about writing based on "it's all subjective" is a bit short-sighted.

Maybe I'm just entirely wrong for questioning the status quo. I accept I'm probably the weird one here.

hate to say this, but i've worked with multiple editors for publications with millions of readers and every single one of them had their unique editing style, and their notes were oftentimes contradictory. they were all highly respected in their field. so really it shouldn't be surprising if rp is also highly subjective. that's what i love about it, and what keeps me coming back for more posts!
Yes, I’m aware. But again, I’m not arguing writing (and roleplaying) aren’t subjective. I’m saying you can give feedback on writing that is rooted in more than “oh, I just like it this way.” I don’t want to pull the “I’m a professional editor at a publishing company” card, but it’s not like I’m saying this as some hobbyist enthusiast. My colleagues and I do give feedback to writers based on what the writer wants to achieve with their prose, and what techniques one could use to achieve that. And I assume so do you. It’s not just, “well, imo…”

It remains subjective, but I believe firmly there’s a difference between “I use long sentences because I like them” and “I used a long sentence here to build up the same sense of overstimulation the main character is experiencing from the constant barrage of sounds and flashes of light and voices and the clanging and banging of pots and pans and mice skittering over the floor as aunt Marie’s cackles with delight while a train’s lights flash in the rearview mirror.”

If someone asks, “Hey, how can I convey this character is being overstimulated?”, is the answer “Eh, that’s a matter of opinion”? Sure, there’s not one universal answer to that question, but knowing what you can do can help people develop the style that works for them.
last edit on Apr 6, 2024 0:01:45 GMT by traveller
"Once upon a time I was a baker and everybody was impressed. But I didn’t need approval because I already knew I was the best. Everything I made was a masterpiece - it all taste like heaven! But then unfortunately I turned seven."