Forums » RP Discussion » Where Do You Write Your Post?

When you are writing a roleplay post, do you write in the site's text box, outside program, or pen and paper? I personally use my computer/phone's notes app before copying and pasting in the site's textbox to edit it.

DM a person on here. Always have a second post for OOC.

Nice question, OOC RP discussion or just chat 😉

For my part, it’s either directly out of the blue into the pre-prepared writing box of the thread, or it is in Notes or Pages (yes I’m on those devices with a 🍏, not mentioning the name) and than copy/paste, after having re-read I don’t know how many times and still find typos. I admit even sometimes use a real pencil and real paper to note down ideas, besides Phone or Laptop (not to mention numerous internet pages with research and translations and…)
No, when I write I use any support at reach 😇, except the traditional mechanical typewriter, you know, those with a ‘ding’ when you reach the end of a line.

I have had too many times where I’ve been halfway through a post on the site, get distracted for a few minutes, and the site deletes the entire post. I have long since started using the note app on my phone, or the Word Docs in my computer for posting. I then edit it in the site so it posts the way I want it too.

I used to write my replies directly onto the RPR site "Your reply" window. But...I have a tendency to be long winded and found that when I would go to Send or Post RPR will have timed me out and I had lost the thirty + minutes of writing that there was no way in hell I was going to be able to duplicate.

Now, having grown wiser in my years writing here, I will only write in a Notes app on my phone or a Word doc on my computer. Use spell check and grammer check, re-read then post.

I take it you too, Sweets are a victim of the timing out of the site?

I suppose I use both. I like the 'feel' of the RPR reply box and make heavy use of the review eye function.


I have had that happen. When I do write in the site reply box, I tend to copy the post to Word before posting just in case. Most of the time it isn't an issue, but I sometimes find typos or wrong words that isn't picked up on the site reply box, so I started reviewing all my rp posts on Word.

You are correct! There are way too many times that I got distracted or went to look up something, and my work is gone in a blink of a eye.

I use my phone...but yes I have been victim too of the secret timer . Still sometines rpr saves my progress although sometimes it doesnt!

I now use my phone notes to save progress. Thing which sadly backfires when I have to make a grocery list an im bombarded with all my saved texts!

I usually write it up in the post box (and developed the habit of always copying my post before hitting send just in case, and sometimes periodically do it while still writing, too). Sometimes I'll type it up in a text program though - usually just a really basic one like Sublime Text 2 (which is meant for writing code, but does this wonderful thing of locally remembering everything I'd written out even if my computer shuts down when I hadn't saved or something).

I've on occasion written up part of a reply in the reply box but some distraction comes along and I'm off and my computer goes to sleep. The next day I log back on to my computer, and I have this partial reply staring me in the face. I immediately open a new tab and log in to RPR before touching the tab with the post. Once I'm logged back on, I highlight my post and refresh. 99% of the time it will reload with the written text still there. If I do anything on the open tab without logging back in on another tab, it will vanish.

I use my mobile notes app for writing.

There is also a heavily neglected Cloud/Drive document for multi-access point purposes, but I still tend toward the notes app.

Well well... For anyone curious about how I put together my posts, here’s what I do...

I don’t write directly on my phone (ewww yuck) or directly in the site’s text box (though assuredly many folks do...) instead... :

1. I keep a Microsoft Word document for every character (LOL, sometimes 2 or 3 files depending on how popular they are...) which has my characters Profile and picture links (as well as personal notes as how he is to act...)... as well as the character who my character is involved with.

Note - And those MS Word docs are shortcuts on my desktop or easy and quick access !!!!

2. In that particular Microsoft Word document for the character, I draft my words and paragraphs in MS Word first. It gives me more freedom to plan, edit, and refine before anything ever gets posted.

That’s also where I:
--- develop the ideas for scenes
--- restructure paragraphs so I make sense of what the heck I am doing...LOL.
--- adjust tone and pacing for actions and thoughts
--- check grammar and clarity
--- make sure the character’s voice is consistent

Word is simply easier for longer, detailed replies for my characters, emotional beats, or intricate worldbuilding.


3. In my verbiage, next I edit & polish...

--- streamline my dialogue (inserting what my co-writer had said and done) so I can write back answering questions or responding to conversations or actions...
--- Oh yes, then double check and adjust sensory details
--- next I TRY and ensure the points of view stay straight & focused (yes, and sometimes, I push limits and have to apologize to my co-writers...
--- I look for ways to smooth transitions between ideas
--- I also use this opportunity to add the coding for my font, bold, italics, color for added effect.


Basically, Word is where my “real writing” happens. I revise until the post reads the way I want it to sound... and hopefully my co-writer can understand...


4. Transferring the Post to the Site

After I’m happy with the draft, I copy it into the site’s posting box., then use the PREVIEW eye to make sure I have not screwed up my coding.

And to all those who write with me, it is MUCH MUCH APPRECIATED !!!!!

Wow Playerfiles, I love your organized method! I'd like to be, but am usually haphazard.

I love getting to look around at what everyone else is doing.

I've recently started organizing my entire life with OneNote and it's actually been so helpful with roleplaying, too. I have a page for each writer I talk with, usually just copy/paste (which OneNote sources for me just by pasting, so it's easy to click back to profiles, character pages, and LF posts) important parts I want to remember like prompts or limits or frequency needs or schedules, and I'll keep a section of the page with my side of thoughts building off of what they've shared or we've plotted.

Then I do a page for the character/scenario once we're going and I'll copy whatever profile is relevant, and line my character's up next to them to be able to easily compare demographics, etc. I especially like that for comparing heights, haha! If there's any photo references, I'll include them on the page and then I have a section near the best photo reference where I copy/paste a new reply from my writing partner and then I write my response under it where I can easily reference key descriptions or details.

Thank you... Is it extra work? Yes... of course... but to keep my mind working and effective, its a mental strategy, turned to "working the fingers" .

LOL, like writing a song, you write the words, and then the music, or write the music and then the song to fit... either way, the result is the same...

ROFLMAO... that is if you are on the toilet when an idea strikes your fancy... Can you say "Wife's eyeliner on toilet paper" if necessary.

He’s just amazing, and he can provide you anything you want concerning RP, and yes, it IS very much appreciated….

But seeing that some just make specific sheets for specific plays, makes me bother about my ever returning tangled brushes.
I should consider VenusNPC’s fact sheets with Playerfiles organisation… but then again…. Total thoughtless improvisation makes fun too 😄

I notice that younger folks prefer to use their phones for things like this. I think it's pretty neat, just from a millennial perspective. I was the same way, compared to many of my seniors, when it came to using a keyboard. You may be able to guess what I'm using right now, haha. That said, if I'm replying to someone else's post, I'll typically keep things on the website, unless I expect it to be a very, very long post. If it is an opening post I'm writing, or if there is some reason why I can expect it to be long, then I'll go ahead and use a word document before copy-pasting to the website.

The only really annoying thing about using a word document is that there are many neat tricks you can do with it that won't translate to the site, just because the two places have different rules. I find myself correcting these differences manually with the on-site alternatives, when possible, but you don't necessarily have to do that if you're just using the site. I don't think there's necessarily a right or a wrong way, though. Whatever folks are most comfortable with.

Haven't done much recently, but I always used Notepad. Yes, the Windows 95 Notepad. When I was at work or traveling, it'd be on Google Docs through my phone.
I've been using LibreOffice nowadays, though I still regularly use Notepad simply because how fast it is.

Like many people here seem to, I do a lot of writing in the notes app on my phone. I might type out my whole reply in the onsite textbox if I'm anticipating that I'll be able to start and finish it all in one go... Or I might start it in the textbox, realize I need a break, and copy/paste it into the notes app to finish later. Actually, I'd guess that's probably the most common thing for me to do... Less commonly I'll start out knowing I won't finish it right away, so I begin in the notes app...
I do everything on my phone, but fortunately my good pal bluetooth keyboard makes this no big deal ^.^

Trying to get accustomed to Libre and a new OS. 🫣