Tips on how to RP

[admin]

Hi! Some of you might have joined this site and never roleplayed before. That's okay, we all start somewhere. Unfortunately for me, I had no idea what I was doing at first and it took a while for me to get it. ^^' I've started to understand roleplay a lot more, I think it would be helpful to provide some tips on how to rp for any new members out there. : )

When creating a profile:

• Prevent yourself from creating a Mary Sue character, and remember that we all have flaws. Generally, Mary Sues are so perfect they contain little depth or roleplaying potential. Especially in appearance or achievements, absolute perfection limits a character.
  
• On the flip side, you can also create a character that is so flawed and imperfect, you are unable to play them. They generally have an over-dramatic past that usually includes more than a few traumatic elements, such as murder, abuse, rape, no parents, abusive parents, addictions. In real life, of course these things happen. But not everyone has to have a traumatic, horrible past for them to be deep.
  
• The first time you fill out a character application, you may end up creating yourself. Remember that roleplay isn't a tool to fulfill a fantasy -- it is a tool to improve your writing skills, interact with others, create realistic characters, and have fun.
  

General tips:

• Read other threads on the board, because it helps you learn about different writing styles, and also shows you how characters interact with each other. When reading, be critical of the post. Think about what you could do better to improve it, or what kinds of thing you admire about the post. Apply it to your own writing.
  
• Give your character a recognizable personality, and stick with it. It would be strange for you to be rolepaying one day and your character is optimistic and sunny, and the next day cynical and rude.
  
• Be aware of Godmoding. When you roleplay, only describe your character's actions and responses, never another character's.
  
• Sometimes you might end up roleplaying as yourself, rather than your character. Try to keep your feelings and thoughts separate from the feelings and thoughts of your character. In some scenarios, to keep a character realistic, you might ask yourself, "What would I do in this situation?". Once you have that answer, think about the similarities and differences between you and your character. Think about what they would do differently from what you would do, and respond with their actions; not yours.
  
• Think about the manner in which your character speaks. Do they use terms like "cash" and "boss", or do they have a more eloquent tongue? The words they use can really define a character.
  
• Even through you are not writing in first person, your character still has a voice, and your post will have a tone to it. When creating a tone, think about your character's personality and emotions. What kinds of things would they notice if they were walking down the street? How would they react to them? How do they respond to other people? What kind of weather do they like? And so forth. Think about the narration in your post. Does it suit who your character is?
  
• Reread your posts before you submit them. It's easier to catch spelling or grammatical errors the first time, instead of having to go back and modify your post afterward.
  
• Use aspects of your character's physical appearance when writing. For example:
  "He swept his black hair back."
  "She dropped into the water, her small frame engulfed in the freezing water at once."
  It helps the person replying to your post visualize your character's actions.
  
  

How to make a one liner into a paragraph:

If you're ever stuck with writer's block during a post, try to write about some things that I like to call "filler subjects". Talk about:

• the weather, and how your character feels about it.
  
• what your character is wearing, where it is from, and how they got it.
  
• about a book you have read lately or a TV show you have watched recently. Make it so your character has read/watched it, too. Talk about the book or TV show and have your character reflect on it. What would they think about it?
  
• if you're starting a thread, or replying in one for the first time, try to start your reply by describing your character's morning. Show progression throughout your character's day up until where they are now. Describe them waking up, taking a shower, getting dressed, getting ready, and then going to whatever place they are now in the thread.
  
• give a lot of narration. Write about your character's thoughts and thought processes.
  
• talk about your character's hobbies. Are they an artist? Maybe they carry their sketchbook around with them. Ar they a jock? They might be thinking about the game they played last night. And so on.

I hope this helped! <3 If there's anything else you want to know, or if you have any questions about roleplaying, please ask in here.