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Forums » RP Discussion » Tips on writing better RP posts please

Can anyone give me some tips for when I'm sending a reply to a rp I always feel I diddnt add enough to what I said not sure if I'm just paranoid but help would be appreciated
Sanne Moderator

I'm not sure how much we can help you in that area! My #1 suggestion is: talk to your RP partner and ask them if what you're writing is good enough for them, or if they'd like you to improve on something. As they've been playing with you for a bit they'll know your style a bit better. :)
Kim Site Admin

We actually had a community discussion with more than 30 members in attendance giving their opinions on this very topic. I compiled it into a help article that can be found here: http://www.rprepository.com/help/writing-for-rp

You may find the section "And the kitchen sink?" to be particularly re-assuring.

Let no one fool you: Post length is 100% a personal preference and short posts DO NOT automatically equal bad posts, much as long posts do not automatically equal good posts. It is just as possible that a long post is filler that someone has to wade through to get to the info that is actually something they can respond to, as it is that it is a work of art. Many people use requiring long posts as a simple way of ensuring that their partner is putting as much effort and thought into the RP as they are, so they can feel like they are equally matched, but this is an imperfect measure. After all, long posts may be MUCH harder for one person than it is for another. They may also be much more interesting to one person than they are to another.

It's about finding partners who like the same styles that you like. I don't suggest finding people at the same skill level as you and then never challenging yourself, just that you need to figure out what you think is better writing and better RP, and how you most enjoy yourself. There are going to be people out there that are on board with that same idea. Whatever style you like, you can always improve at that style (or learn other styles) personally. So maybe you decide you aren't into super long passages. Perhaps you are more interested in increasing your descriptive accuracy, emotional tone, spelling, or something else right now.

If you meet someone who personally really really likes long posts and makes you feel bad for not being able (or willing?) to live up to that expectation, maybe you just aren't the right partners. That is okay. No one is at fault. Maybe you will be better partners in future when one or both of you has learned the skills and appreciation of another style.

In the meanwhile, try to make sure that you are always moving the story forward, even if only by a tiny bit, with every post, and make sure you are giving your partner something to respond to. This is the easiest way to make someone feel like you care about the RP and about them, at any length. :) On that topic, you may also find this community discussion article on making sure your partners are having a good time useful: http://www.rprepository.com/help/responsibility-of-RPers

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