WRITERS WHO ROLEPLAY
Need to work on your fiction writing skills? Do you ever wonder if you have what it takes to write a novel? Can't seem to develop a character? Never had the joy of being the evil plot bunny? Need practice describing scenes? Well then, pick up your quill, dust off your computer, create a character, and roleplay.
THE JOURNEY OF AN ASPIRING WRITER - All right, I confess.
As an aspiring writer, I have used many methods to improve my skills. I have taken an online fiction-writing course, purchased numerous how-to books, read writing periodicals and inspirational blogs by authors, purchased software to check my grammar, joined forums, and met a few published authors who have become mentors.
I have learned an invaluable lesson on my journey. In order to grow as a writer, one must write consistently to improve and tone skills. It's like learning to play the piano. You need to practice each day. Unless you actually do it, you'll never develop.
This is my confession. I love to roleplay. It is the one medium I have discovered that has immensely sharpened my quill, and I am about to share why.
ROLEPLAY - It's not always about an avatar or gaming software.
About a year ago, I set up my first MySpace page, mainly for advertising my blog. After spending months on the site and making various friends, I stumbled across a phenomenon. Since my focus was on the Phantom of the Opera, I found profiles that bore the character's names. Occasionally these pages were filled with writing and various story lines. Frankly, in my innocence, I didn't know what they were doing. After a little digging around, I discovered they were roleplaying.
A few sites caught my eye, and I was whirled into a story land created by various online authors. One person starts by sending what is called a "starter" to begin the story, and then your partner writes back continuing the story. It's a back and forth collaborate fiction effort. I was fascinated over this new medium.
Many roleplayers pick characters from movies, television, or fictional works. A player builds their own profile, which looks like a storyboard, and they write a bio on the character they are playing. Some roleplayers create their own characters out of their imaginations rather than using current works and find someone to write a new story. There are thousands on MySpace.
Well, the whole thing fascinated me, and I decided to try it out. My entire purpose was to see if I had what it takes to write fiction. Frankly, I was petrified! I chose the character of Christine Daae from the Phantom of the Opera and found a Phantom and others who roleplayed the same story from the original version Leroux penned, as well as Webber's version. Starters came on my page, and it was my turn to post.
It was undoubtedly the most frightful writing experience of my life! As I look back upon my first post, I was exposing my skills, or lack thereof, to another person and opening myself up for critique. It was not an easy task. However, as a result, a year later I can honestly say I have seen my fiction writing skills grow and mature into a readable and enjoyable work. In fact, it has given me much joy and a sense of accomplishment.
THE BENEFITS OF ROLEPLAY - A great way to sharpen your quill.
What does roleplay do for you as an aspiring writer? Here are some benefits I have gleaned from the experience:
1. Builds a Consistent Habit of Writing.
It forced me to write. I was in essence bound to another writer or a group of writers waiting upon me to respond. When your writing partner(s) post, it's your turn. Most serious roleplayers like to keep the story moving along, so you know there's someone at the other end waiting to read your next post. Because I was obligated to another writer, it forced me to sit down and write on a regular basis.
2. Challenges You to Develop Characters.
It taught me to develop characters. Sure, I picked Christine Daae the opera singer, but in all reality, I had to crawl into that woman's brain and body and act her life out from typing her story on the keyboard. It forced me to analyze my character's behaviors, thought processes, reactions, etc. It became an invaluable learning tool in character creation.
3. Forces You to Think and Plot a Story.
It forced me to plot. When you play with another individual or a group of individuals, it's great fun to plot and move the story along. It gets your creative juices flowing. You get to weave, direct, and plan the story and so does your partner. Sometimes your plots get pushed aside because your partner has beaten you to the punch and taken the story in another direction. You have to do some quick thinking and solve problems to move the storyline to the next chapter. It's great satisfaction to be the evil plot bunny occasionally too!
4. You Learn How to Research to Make a Story Realistic.
It made me learn how to research background material. I threw myself into 19th Century France and suddenly I was learning French phrases and words, customs, manner of dress, and behavior in another century. Roleplaying turned me a history freak! I even played Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife, and Joanna of Castile,who married Philippe the Handsome of Hapsburg. I'll admit I didn't have a clue about these individuals, but came across some serious roleplayers who are deep into history and can blow you off the page with details and background.
During my gig as Joanna of Castile, I was researching for hours about her life, family, kingdom, and husband. The experience was invaluable, as well as giving me a deep appreciation of who these women were that I played. Why? Because I had to crawl into their bodies and mind and write their lives. It was wonderful. Besides, who doesn't want to be Queen for a day either?
5. Great Way to Meet Other Writers.
You meet other writers like yourself. There are good writers who roleplay that are mature and wonderful, and there are young writers who are inexperienced and not so good. If you get into the right mix of people, you can meet friends, find mentors, and have individuals critique your work; or, if you prefer, you can remain totally anonymous behind the quill, which many roleplayers prefer to do. You might be playing with a woman who is writing Henry VIII, or a man who is writing a woman's role. It's not unusual, but again, it tunes your character development.
6. You Grow.
My writing historically has been non-fiction. I can pen you an article about life and move you to tears, but don't sit me down to write about the roses sitting in the vase on the table and describe the scene to you. This is where I lack. When I first started, I was pretty bad in this area. Now, I can write a scene and tell you somewhat about the room, the roses, the body language, the facial expressions, and make it come alive. It has helped me grow immensely in these areas, and I've discovered my style, my strengths, and weaknesses.
HOW DOES IT WORK? I just doing get it!
So you might be asking how this all works. Well, it's pretty basic. You choose a character to play, and then find another character to play with or a group of individuals in what's called a roleplay group where many play on the same page and write the story. There are thousands of individual roleplayers on MySpace and hundreds of roleplay groups. Here are the basic rules of roleplay:
1. Most agree that when you post your part of the story, you player does not want you to think, speak, or move their character. You can only write from your character's perspective, and the person you play with writes from theirs.
2. Most players agree that you cannot kill their character, or disable them physically in any way. However, if you want your character to have an accident, and end up in a wheelchair, that's your call.
3. Most players prefer to remain anonymous. You have the right not to reveal your identity, where you live, or talk to anyone about your personal life. If you're playing with someone you know, that's fine. It's fun, but you still have to be safe. Be wise on how you handle that portion.
4. Write well. Serious roleplayers want quality work. No typos, good grammar, etc. Most post rules for you to sign regarding what they will accept or not accept when they roleplay with you. Some inexperience roleplayers only post a few sentences or paragraph. Others write what is termed multi-paragraph or novella posts. I tend to stay with the multi-paragraph and novella crowd.
THE LINGO - Huh? what did you say?
Every hobby has lingo, and so does roleplay. Here's a few:
1. OOC - Means "out of character." Sometimes you want to speak as yourself and not from your character to another player. If you do, people will write OOC to differentiate between the two.
2. IC - Means "in character." Obvious, it's the opposite of the above. You're speaking from your character.
3. RL - Means "real life." We all have one and don't forget about it!
4. OOC Drama - "Out of character drama." Is everyone mature that roleplays? I have learned education, occupation, and age have nothing to do with maturity and kindness on MySpace. People can get strange, jealous, controlling, and down right mean. It's true, there's always a bad apple somewhere, but there also some great pears (pairs) around too! Just remember, you have control over whom you play with, and use the Block function on whatever site you choose, if needed.
Other terms:
1. Posts - It's that part of the story you write for your partner to read.
2. Blacklist - I hate to say it, but some groups "blacklist" undesirable players due to too much out of character drama. It's sort of a warning system to beware of certain individuals. Some believe in the practice, some do not.
3. It's NOT Real - A good term to remember is, "It's not real people, it's only roleplay." Sometimes you can take things a bit too seriously. You are not really the Queen of England, so stop acting like one. The player on the other end really doesn't love you, they love your character so don't get emotionally involved. It's not really the mean mother-in-law at the other end, who despises you for marrying her son, it's just another player, so don't take it personally. Keeping the lines between play and reality are important. Keep a level head. "IT'S NOT REAL PEOPLE, IT'S ONLY ROLEPLAY."
WANT TO GIVE IT A TRY? Don't be a chicken.
So you want to try it out, do you? Well, there are plenty of places to write in the roleplay world. There are groups on Facebook, Yahoo, MySpace, and even websites dedicated to certain themes. If you are a serious writer, be selective where you choose to write.
My preference is MySpace, only because you can create such wonderful character profiles for illustration and storyboards. To avoid an immature group, be selective in your search. You can find mature and serious writers. Hey, I'm one of them!
I have started my own roleplay group, so if you want to pick up a quill and try it out, feel free to contact me. What's the storyline? 19th Century Paris, France, and the aristocratic family of de Chagny's, as described in Gaston Leroux's work, which is public domain. We have Comtess, Comte, Vicomte, and a Duke. We have roles for women and men.
So, if you ever wondered what it's like to crawl into a gorgeous dress and play a woman who is a bit on the snooty side due to her class and the privileges she enjoys, come on over! Maybe you want to be the overbearing Diva whose class is looked down upon in society. Perhaps you'd prefer to look extremely handsome in your top coat and hat, and play the shady Duke who is up to no good. There are plots galore just waiting to be made.
If you have any questions, or would like to try your hand at it, feel free to contact me.
I HAVE A DREAM - I hope it's not a nightmare!
Recently, I have been pretty busy. I have other accounts on Facebook, Helium, Live Journal, Squidoo, Hub Pages, and various other places. I know there are critics who do not like roleplay, but for aspiring writers I really think it's a great medium to sharpen a quill, and that is why I've left this article in many writing circles I have joined.
I would personally love to see many groups of aspiring writers working together on collaborative stories, befriending one another in a professional manner, encouraging each other, and allowing others to give feedback, if one so chooses to receive. I guess I believe, "If you build it, they will come." How do I see it working?
1. You should be allowed to develop your character as you see fit. That is part of the growth process.
2. You should be able to plot as you desire to create needed conflict or move the group along, so it causes your partner(s) to react and work at weaving the story. No one person should be head of the show or make it their fiction work, otherwise it becomes boring and not a collaborative effort of many.
3. If you wish, receive feedback, OR be allowed to write in privacy and work quietly on your skills.
4. You should remember it's a place of growth and not comparison. NEVER compare your skills to another. Each writer is unique in style and prose, and so are you!
5. Never tear another writer down or cruelly criticize. It's a sure killer of joy and can dampen their drive, if not altogether kill it, to ever try and write fiction. No one wants to be discouraged. We're in this together to be encouraged.
6. You should have a safe place to roleplay and grow.
Happy writing and merry plotting to all!