Featured Posts - Blog - Writer's Realm - Roleplay2024-03-29T12:15:01Zhttps://wrealms.com/blog/feed/featuredCustom CSS + Editing your profile tutorialhttps://wrealms.com/blog/custom-css-tutorial2023-10-28T02:26:47.000Z2023-10-28T02:26:47.000ZRaiyahttps://wrealms.com/members/ForgottenProphesy<div><p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;">Welcome to the Custom CSS tutorial for custom profile design! Have a specific question? Hitting <strong>Ctrl+F</strong> will help you search for keywords</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Still can't find what you're looking for? Drop a question in the comments below! Doing this will help other users with similar questions find what they need</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Click <a href="https://wrealms.com/roleplay-groups/themes" target="_blank">HERE</a> to find the Themes Group. That is where you will find pre-made CSS codes that are free to use!</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;"><strong>DISCLAIMERS & NOTES:</strong></span></p>
<p>-- Custom CSS codes <em><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>alter the appearance of the default base theme you have already selected</strong></span></em>. It does not override the base theme and create something completely new. Pre-made CSS codes may look different based on what default theme you have selected</p>
<p>-- All profile appearances and colors are prone to change based on the dimensions and settings of the individual viewer's screen, and layouts may appear different on mobile devices</p>
<p>-- Profile appearances are prone to change slightly with site updates. Admins typically cannot control these site updates, but we will do our best to help you out if profile things get shifted as a result</p>
<p>-- CSS codes are great to add and design features that your Design Studio does not provide. Don’t forget about all of the great options the Design Studio already has, don’t be afraid to experiment and have them work together!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;"><strong>ADDING A PRE-MADE CODE</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Step 1</span></p>
<p>Find the Design Studio option on your profile. It will either be on the header of your page, or under the "Options" button</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Step 2</span><br /> If you are using a pre-made code from the Themes Group for the first time, be sure to set your code to the default base theme the maker of the code used. Codes by Rai use the MUSIC theme base code, for example. You are free to use whatever base theme you want and alter the code to your liking!</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12270057870,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12270057870,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12270057870?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="632" height="146" /></a></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Step 3:</span><br /> -- Go to the CSS section (circled in red) and delete whatever code you had before. Be sure <em>everything</em> in both the “Global CSS” and the “Theme CSS” sections (circled in blue) gets deleted</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12270353287,RESIZE_1200x{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12270353287,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12270353287?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="410" height="324" /></a></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Steps 4-6:</span></p>
<p>-- Paste the new code into the<strong> “Theme CSS”</strong> option. NOT the Global css option. </p>
<p>-- Hit PREVIEW to privately view a preview of your edits</p>
<p>-- Edit away, and don't forget to hit SAVE!</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><br /> <span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:14pt;"><strong>EDITING YOUR PROFILE - see image below</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><em><strong>If you have ANY sort of custom code in your profile, you will need to edit your profile this way. </strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em><strong>These steps are very important, or else the design studio will not show your customized items</strong></em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p>-- Go to your Design Studio, located on your profile under "Options"</p>
<p>-- Go to HISTORY,<em> circled in yellow</em> </p>
<p>-- Click the most recent theme icon, a green check mark will appear. <em>Circled in red</em> </p>
<p>-- You can now either edit your code <em>(circled in blue)</em> or edit all of the other custom sections. Don't forget to save!!</p>
<p>-- Important note: You will need to do this <span style="text-decoration:underline;"><em>every single time</em></span> you want to edit your profile after you save it</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}12270355873,original{{/staticFileLink}}"><img class="align-center" src="{{#staticFileLink}}12270355873,RESIZE_710x{{/staticFileLink}}" alt="12270355873?profile=RESIZE_710x" width="664" /></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">----------</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:14pt;"><strong>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS</strong></span></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">“My code is not working” checklist. </span></strong></p>
<p>Did you:<br /> - Follow the steps listed in the “Editing your Code” segment</p>
<p>- Make sure that all code is deleted from the Global CSS section<br /> - Double check that all brackets, parenthesies, periods, colons and semi-colons are accounted for<br /> - Double check for any typos<br /> - Make sure the specific CSS code is compatible with your base theme. If not, either switch your base theme and start from scratch before pasting your CSS code again, or alter your CSS code to fit the base theme you have.<br /> - Make sure there are no duplicates of a certain code in what you have</p>
<p>If your code is still not working, then perhaps you need an additional line of code to edit a specific part of your profile.<span style="text-decoration:underline;"> Reach out to an admin, we are happy to help!</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration:underline;">What is the Global CSS code option?</span></strong></p>
<p>The information in the Global CSS code section is the "bare bones" of the site code itself. It is just kinda <em>there</em>, honestly. It will not affect anything site-wide if you were to tinker with it. However, any code you put in there will alter any base theme code you select as a default. For example, if you key in a code for a border design into the Global CSS section, then each and every base theme code you click on will pop up with that border design. Things in the Global CSS code section may clash or override any other code you have in the Themes CSS option, or any edits you may try to make. </p>
<p>Overall, it will save you some mental gymnastics to simply leave that section alone. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;"><strong>"How do I add XYZ detail/feature onto my page or code?"</strong></span></p>
<p>-- You can go to other pre-made codes in the Themes group that have that detail, and simply locate the strip of code for that detail and copy/paste it into your own code. Search the codes for lables or key words using Ctrl+F</p>
<p>-- If you are looking for anything specific, can't find a pre-made code, or do not know where to copy/paste that strip of code, drop a question into the Themes Group or reach out to an admin!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>**More frequent questions will be added as they come </p>
<p>Have any questions about CSS codes? Drop them down below!</p></div>Showing Your Rp Character, Not Tellinghttps://wrealms.com/blog/showing-your-character-not-telling2021-05-23T19:00:49.000Z2021-05-23T19:00:49.000ZKeihttps://wrealms.com/members/Kei<div><p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;">One of the hardest things to learn for me in writing was when to <span style="text-decoration:underline;">show</span> the reader something, and when to <span style="text-decoration:underline;">tell</span> them.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">That probably sounds pretty cryptic in reading it first, and I don't blame you. <br /> This blog will go over the differences between the two and how it can benefit your writing (and stories) to know when to tell, and when to show.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>What is TELLING?</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Telling is nonverbal. </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">Telling is where you give the information to the reader upfront and don't require too much detective work by their character. Telling usually is factual, and doesn't have any visuals or cues that the character needs to pick up on... for lack of a better definition, telling is just <em>telling</em> them. </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">You might <em>tell</em> a character's backstory up front without prompting, or answer a character's question plainly with an answer. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>What is SHOWING?</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Showing is ALL visual. Showing means the character that your reply interacts with has to do some detective work based on what your character is physically doing or saying. Showing isn't always as simple as just giving the answer to the other writer. This leaves space for interpretation (either good or bad depending on how you write it) but can be more rewarding in the long run.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Telling:</strong> The girl was tired.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Showing: </strong>The girl sighed heavily and set her head on the table with her arms crossed. Her eyes drooped on occasion.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Telling: </strong>The ice cream looked delicious.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Showing:</strong> The waffle cone was topped with vanilla ice cream that was colorfully scattered with an assortment of rainbow sprinkles.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Telling: </strong>The people in the photo were close to one another.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Showing:</strong> In the photo, the two were standing side by side. The man on the left looked as if he was in mid laughter, the other wearing a grin.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Telling: </strong>He was happy to see them.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><strong>Showing:</strong> The normal grumpy expression melted off the man's face when they walked into the room.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>When SHOWING is beneficial</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">The point of choosing to show over telling is to provide the reader (and their character) with something to respond to and to be curious about in their next reply.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Showing allows for places where the other character can interact instead of nodding their heads to a fact that is being plainly told. It leaves them with detective work, which can make for a much more rewarding experience both to read and write. Showing can also set the scene and provide details about how people interact.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Showing lets your character be more expressive.</em></span></p>
<p>Showing relies on facial expressions, actions, dialogue, and all those other details that make your character <em>them.</em> This gives the other character information on how your character behaves and acts. Show off those traits and quirks!</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>When TELLING becomes a problem</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Think of the first time you started a new job and chatted with a brand new coworker. In real life, it's generally pretty uncommon to give (or receive) an origin story immediately when you meet someone. The normal encounter generally starts with small talk or an overview of details such as name, occupation, how they ended up choosing that job, and so on. It can take quite a while to feel comfortable with sharing deep information for some. On the other hand, it can be overbearing to be given a large amount of personal information in one sitting.</p>
<p><img class="align-right" src="https://i.imgur.com/Vfoqf5j.gif?profile=RESIZE_400x" alt="Vfoqf5j.gif?profile=RESIZE_400x" width="224" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Telling becomes a problem when it turns into a history lesson or a lecture for the reader. </em></span></p>
<p>It can feel like homework to keep track of too many events or side characters in one sitting. Try and keep 'historical' telling as small chunks that won't overwhelm the reader. Telling too much information at one time can mean capturing less of your reader's attention if they start to feel like the reading is becoming work. On the contrary, if you give this information in smaller intervals, the reader will have a better chance of retaining more details, and more chances to ask questions!</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Trust me: there <em>will</em> be more chances to talk about character backstory. It doesn't have to be done in one go.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Too much telling becomes a problem when they try and respond to your post.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Have you ever been told a long-winded story by a friend, and you end up just listening and nodding at a certain point? This isn't an overly bad thing if you care about what they have to say, and it makes you a great listener. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">The only problem is, that 'listening and nodding' becomes rather hard to write in rp. </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">If a character's response has a full paragraph of 'telling', then that is a full paragraph without any visual cues to write off of while they are talking (especially if that paragraph has no breaks). If the character is telling a story that is full of names, and carries on over a long timeline, then it can be increasingly hard for your reader to narrow down what to respond with or what to ask questions about. The effect is information overload to the reader and in turn, to their character.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Telling becomes a problem when the <strong>reader</strong> is given the information, not the <strong>character.</strong></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">If you tell facts or information without intertwining it somehow visually, you are giving the reader information that their character hasn't even interacted with. That makes the information hard to use. Make sure <em>your character</em> is the one telling, not the writer!</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Example:</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><em><span style="font-size:12pt;">She picked up the photo of the two men. The man on the left was her husband.</span><br /> </em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><strong>...So who knows the identity of the faces in the photo?</strong> Only the <em>reader</em> does. Their character in this case does not. The character has no way of knowing since the information of who the men are was told, not shown. How can we fix it?<br /> <br /> </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>She picked up the photo and smiled at the two faces. As her eyes were drawn to the man on the left as she looked back toward her wedding ring.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Not only is the second example more informative visually, but it can also increase the chances that the other character acts questions. Showing first can lead to telling more about the topic after. </span><span style="text-decoration:line-through;font-size:10pt;">(That's a bit of a lame example I'll admit, but it's all I have right now and hopefully you get the point.)</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Has this been a problem in the past? Start Asking Yourself:</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Did I give the information, or did my character give it?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">What do I want to achieve from telling the information upfront?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">What do I want them to take away from telling them this?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Is there a more visual way to represent the point I'm making?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">How can I give visual or dialogue cues to make <em>them</em> ask about it?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Could I talk with the writer I'm collaborating with so we can make sure there are places in the plot to share this info?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;">(Odds are, they have spoilers they'd love to get across too. Collab and find the right time to share them.)</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">Conclusion (and Disclaimer)</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Every character has a story to them, and every writer is dying to let it be known. Trying not to give spoilers is the death of us all, and that sweet sweet backstory is just too cool not to share...</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><em>But cool it.</em></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Don't give away all your tricks right away. Fight the temptation and let the characters grow and learn about one another over time.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Sometimes telling is an OK way to get information across quickly and effectively, it's even necessary at points.<br /> Get more mileage out of your information by <em>showing</em> first. <br /> Give your reader detective work to do and give their characters something to ask about. <br /> It's more satisfying to answer a curious question than it is to talk about your character first, isn't it?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:24pt;"><strong>Hey!</strong> </span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">You got this far, let me know in the comments what you struggle with in writing and what other topics might be helpful.</span></p></div>Finding Conflict When Plotting Storieshttps://wrealms.com/blog/finding-conflict-when-plotting-stories2022-01-07T03:48:30.000Z2022-01-07T03:48:30.000ZKeihttps://wrealms.com/members/Kei<div><p> </p>
<p>It's likely we have all run into trouble when it comes to plotting with others and trying to find a core conflict that can affect both characters interactively. Sometimes the conflict is obvious between two characters, but when it isn't, it can be a little tricky to start off well after that first introduction occurs in roleplay. Especially when characters are vastly different in background or theme, finding the common ground to stick them together for a long-term story is important.</p>
<p><br /> Below is a list of prompts and ideas that can make the conversation easier, and potentially engage both parties in a thread. I've found that I use these five pretty regularly in some way shape or form to get ideas going.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size:18pt;">1.)</span> What is something your character wouldn't want to happen?</strong></span></p>
<p>I mean the worst things they worry about. Make a list and dig deep into what their future worries are.<br /><br />-What will ultimately get in your character's way and force them to change their normal course? <br />-What would come next after their worry comes true? <br />-How does that action intertwine with the other character?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong><span style="font-size:18pt;">2.)</span>What does your character do normally that could go all wrong?</strong></span></p>
<p>Focus on a task or physical thing that your character does. Make cause and effect their worst enemy.<br /><br />-Have a spell misfire and hit something it shouldn't. <br />-Have the 'mercenary' character miss their kill. What happens because of it?<br />-Play with the <a href="https://www.americanscientist.org/article/understanding-the-butterfly-effect" target="_blank">butterfly effect</a>. <br /><br /><br /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">3.)</span> Make your character lose something important.</span><br /></strong></span></p>
<p>A thread based on finding something out means you can take your character <em>anywhere.</em> The situation is already abnormal enough to be put in a unique setting, and your character's searching could be interrupted at any time by another character. Finish it off by making sure the other character will have enough motivation to stick around.<br /><br />-Do they want to help the cause?<br />-Are they also searching for the item?<br />-Do they have their own secret motive?<br />-Do they get stuck helping?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size:14pt;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">4.)</span> Create an NPC. Make them opposites and give them a reason to dislike one another.</span><br /></strong></span></p>
<p>Put your misunderstood villains here, and there is a multitude of ways to do it. The main point here is that a story doesn't always have to be 1 on 1 alone. NPC's, especially re-occurring ones, can help you build out the world you're writing in and diversify what can happen.<br /><br />-Think of who they could be chasing.<br />-Who is chasing after them?<br />-Who are they trying to avoid?<br />-What motivation do they have against this person?<br />-Are they trying to take something or vice versa?<br />-Are they family?</p>
<p>Give this NPC their own goals and reasons while you're at it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size:18pt;">5.)</span> <span style="font-size:14pt;">What does your character rely heavily on?</span><br /></strong></span></p>
<p>Take it away from them, or have the other character fill the void. Make the character you are writing with be their new solution to it. This leans into finding a symbiotic relationship with the other character (Just... don't lean too heavy so the other writer is doing the work). </p>
<p>-How would the two serve each other for the better if they stick together? <br />-Does it affect the other character in a good way or bad?<br />-How might that help them on their journey?</p>
<p>This also leans on the side of writing ships and relationships, but you might not be successful with just this conflict alone. That brings me to my final (and fairly obvious) note. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Now go combine them with each other.</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Add an NPC that steals something from you. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Use a mishap as a reason the other character loses something. Now you owe it to them to help find it.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Let your character get lost and they're searching with who they were traveling with before.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">I'm telling you what you already know, though. Few conflicts are just a single pinch point where one thing goes wrong. Layer them and add varying levels of conflict for the best results. Complexity is key to keeping one another engaged and keeping the questions coming for what will come next. </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">Most novels have several minor conflicts that happen before the endgame, roleplay is no different. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Happy writing and I hope it makes sense. If anyone has something to add feel free to toss it in the comments.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:8pt;">(Here's my disclaimer that I'm not an expert and just a person) ----> x</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p></div>Writing A Successful Roleplay Starter + Checklisthttps://wrealms.com/blog/writing-a-successful-starter-checklist2021-05-24T01:34:35.000Z2021-05-24T01:34:35.000ZKeihttps://wrealms.com/members/Kei<div><p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Writing a starter can be pretty tricky at times. <br /> New characters, a new scenario, and absolutely nothing to start with, gets to be more of a challenge than expected. There's something challenging about a fresh start, and it takes some finesse to get the right starter to stick. Everyone's goal in starting a thread is to have good momentum right from the start and to ensure their hard work and writing don't get overlooked.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><br /> This blog is meant to help prioritize what elements are needed in a starter to help your plotline get off on the right foot.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">1. Write up your goals. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">I'm talking before you even <em>think</em> of finding a writing partner.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Start by digging deep and really considering what types of experiences you want your character to have. Do you want to see them grow, or learn a certain skill? Do you want them to become more independent or learn to trust people more? Think about where you would like to see your character go, and what types of storylines might help make it happen. Once you have this list (either written or in mind), use them to help in the planning phase and to show that you have confidence in what you're trying to accomplish.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">If you are having trouble with this, then it doesn't hurt to go back to the drawing board to see if there is anything more you can do to flesh out for your character. It's no secret that the more you know about who your character is and what they want, the easier it will be to make a game plan for where you want your stories to go.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">2. Start plotting. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">If the imposter syndrome or social awkwardness creeps up when plotting with another writer, just know that they share the same goal as you: They want the story to work, and they want it to be fun as hell. For that reason, communication can go a long way to make sure your story starts on the right foot. While spontaneous stories can be successful on occasion, it makes sense and saves time to make sure both parties know what they want. </p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Good questions to ask are:</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">How do you want your character to grow from this thread?<br /> Do you have goals in mind for this thread?<br /> What locations work for you, or how could we elaborate to make a setting work?<br /> Who's starting? Me? Oh, ah... Yeah. Okay, I can do that...</p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">3. The setting Matters.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">If you've made it this far, you've found a thread and are responsible for starting. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Creating a scene that will be comfortable for both writers to work in is essential. In the past, the some of the simplest mistakes I've made with starters (and replies alike) was making the other party do more work than necessary. The reply after your starter should come relatively easy to the other writer since you've provided the scenario and a great interaction. <em>Then why is it so hard to achieve?<br /> <br /> </em><strong> Let me give a single example for right now.</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Think back to the last time you bumped into someone on the street.</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;">What happened after? In the real world, odds are there were apologies and both parties continued on with their day as normal people would. No matter how many vampires or witches you throw into a story, those real-world scenarios don't change all that much. Bumping or crash landing on the street is a limited and brief event most people want to get behind them. While spontaneous, it forces the responding character to make something out of an event that is too short to be an event at all. Leaving a starter at this point puts work on the other writer's plate that will make them have to think double hard about what the starter was meant to achieve. </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Okay Kei, how about this.<br /> What if I make them bump into you on the street and they were <strong>running.<br /> </strong>With <strong>blood </strong>on their hands!</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">While... it might feel slightly more dynamic to write that starter, the core problem is still there. No matter what speed or circumstances, if you base your starter off an event that doesn't hold very much interaction in our real life, it's going to twist their arm, and put the other writer in a hard spot of elaborating. They might have a character that would immediately think to turn the other way, but in order to stay engaged, they'll have to trail your character to keep the newly plotted thread alive. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><em><span style="text-decoration:line-through;">You know what they say about assuming.</span></em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">That's when the thread drops.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="text-decoration:line-through;font-size:10pt;">...Kei, what're you getting at?</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">3. Your goal is to pull their character in. </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">If you can't make a connection with the other writer's character in the first few replies, it's going to be very hard to build that up later on. </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Your goal is to also <strong><em>hold </em></strong>that character and tether them to yours for as long as the plot needs to ensure the story can go on. No matter how beautiful your description of the scenery is, or how interesting your character looks, if you don't give the other writer something active to respond to, then the description is all for nothing. We're all awkward little introverts when the setting feels uncomfortable, and our characters aren't spared from that either.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Consider some Questions below. <br /> </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><br /> </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Do the characters have common ground or a common enemy to build on? <br /> Are they both in their situation begrudgingly and have to work together?<br /> Did one of the characters actively seek out the other? For what?<br /> </span><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Is there something high-stakes keeping the characters together for the plot?<br /> If their meeting was an inconvenience, what will <em>ensure</em> they can't just go separate ways?<br /> Is your character searching for something or vice versa?</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">How might these scenarios start?</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Your character grabs them by the shoulder and says "Hurry follow me, we don't have much time."<br /> A pre-scheduled meeting. Create the background for why the two would be meeting. Business? Bribery? <br /> Put them in mortal danger, constructively. If your character is on the run, maybe the other can get roped into the trouble.<br /> Provide long-term character trouble that the other might want to help with - Without making a damsel in distress scenario.<br /> <br /> </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Think of every Marvel or DC movie for examples, or your favorite TV show that feels closest to your character's theme. How do they introduce new characters or frame the scene when movies and episodes start?</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">4. Keep that thread going. Add a little complexity.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">This is for the stage where you have properly connected the characters in some way. Beyond that initial conflict or greeting, you're going to need something to strengthen the thread for the long term. Below is a method I've caught myself doing in threads whether I realized or not.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Consider layering two conflicts.</em></span> </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">A <strong>base conflict</strong> that is long-term can exist along with <strong>immediate conflict(s)</strong> that causes trouble. This keeps the characters busy whether they resolve their immediate conflict or not.<br /> <br /> </span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><em>Consider adding a 3rd party.</em></span><br /> <br /> Giving the characters a mutual friend or enemy can add variety and another layer to interact with other than character vs. character. It could be a villain that appears or the sudden realization that they both know someone and never knew.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;"><strong>Example(For both):</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Kei and Kougar met on accident in an abandoned theatre building he owns. They fought <em>immediately </em>(Kei lost)<em>.<br /> </em>Kougar decides she wants the theatre. Kei won't give it to her. <br /> Their <span style="text-decoration:underline;">base</span> conflict is the fight over the building. This conflict is more long-term.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">A werewolf appears and a fight breaks out where they have to team up. It's there for revenge because Kei killed a pack member long ago.<br /> Both of them are now on the run and trying to deal with the wolf pack on their tails.<br /> This is an <span style="text-decoration:underline;">immediate</span> conflict because it's distracting from the base conflict and making it harder to achieve.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:18pt;">5. Check the grammar & clarity.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">When you're shifting around text to make things how you want it, it's relatively easy to leave a jumbled mess of thoughts. Read back through and make sure your sentences make sense and are ended properly. How much grammar matters to a writer will depend on their tolerance with typos and so on. Not everyone's first language is English after all! Sometimes the storytelling can outweigh simple typos, but a doublecheck is always a good idea.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">If you are a person that writes fast or has grammar problems on occasion, I <em>highly</em> recommend the free version of Grammarly to make this step take no time at all. Grammarly can be turned off when it's not needed and flicked on when you're done writing. It's a no brainer really for me.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">If you want an alternate way to check your work for what seems funny, <a href="https://www.naturalreaders.com/online/" target="_blank">Natural Readers</a> is a site that reads text aloud back to you. This is an admin's dirty little trick for reading through blog contest entries.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;">There isn't a magic formula, sadly. Characters all vary and writers do too, so it's up to the pair to communicate and figure out what route they want to go. It's up the individual writers to make sure they're giving each other enough to respond to. I do have a list of questions destined to give you <span style="text-decoration:line-through;">a panic attack</span> assistance in what your reply might need.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:24pt;"> The Starting Writer's Checklist.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Do I have a goal in mind for this thread?</span></li>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Did we think of a plot collaboratively?</span></li>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Do I have a clear idea of what will happen?<br /> <br /> </span></li>
<li>Is this setting friendly to both characters?</li>
<li>Have I caused any limitations for the other writer with this setting?</li>
<li>Do I have a clear idea of the time of day, temperature, etc.?</li>
<li>Do I know what my character's agenda was before the two meet?</li>
<li>Does my starter give them enough to respond to?</li>
<li>Does this make sense?</li>
<li>Is the description level good? (Sometimes it's okay to choose simple over elaborate/confusing)</li>
<li>Am I creating work for the person who will reply to me?</li>
<li>If someone sent this to me, could I answer to it easily?</li>
<li>If someone sent this to me, would I want to answer this?</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:24pt;">Ending notes (and disclaimer as always)</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">Whew! That's three today. I hope this mess makes sense.<br /> <span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Starters are hard to write and sometimes even hard to make stick.<br /> For the serious writer looking to hold a thread long-term or the writers that struggle to hold threads long-term, this is for you. </span></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:13.3333px;">Recognize that this blog might hold bias, and feel free to let me know in the comments where your perception might differ on the topic. Let's start a conversation. I'll never claim to be an expert, but I thought a little mindfulness on how to tackle starters could benefit the site as a whole.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p></div>How To Increase Writing Length in Rphttps://wrealms.com/blog/how-to-increase-writing-length2021-05-23T17:26:51.000Z2021-05-23T17:26:51.000ZKeihttps://wrealms.com/members/Kei<div><p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Have you ever hit a wall on a reply where you're just not sure what to say, what else to write about?</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">Maybe the other person's reply doesn't feel as interactive this time around, or your plot is at a point where the events are just a little less exciting. No matter what the reason is, now and again it can be hard to find the words and hard to match the length of the other person's reply. Being able to write a similar length to who you are collaborating with is beneficial to make sure neither of you runs out of things to talk about. Sometimes, those minor details can make all the difference in setting the scene or capturing the mood of the current point in a plot.</p>
<p style="text-align:left;">I've compiled a list of factors to think about when you sit down to write a reply, or for any story-based thing, you might be writing whether it's novella, scripts, or whatever else you can set your mind to. Use this list side-by-side to your reply to help and generate ideas on what details might be helpful. If you go down this list when you hit a roadblock, it can help you build on your reply and grow as a writer!</p>
<p style="text-align:right;"><span style="font-size:8pt;"><strong>**There's a TL;DR list at the end if you're skimming.</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:24pt;">Let's Talk About The Senses.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">At any moment, you (and your character) are taking in different sensations from <strong>touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight</strong>, and in for supernatural characters, <strong>sixth</strong> senses that might be applicable. These details aren't readily thought about unless you write them! Consider this-<br /> </span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>What is your character touching that could be relevant?</strong></span><br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">Are any textures your character is touching notable to the story? (I.e. the cup they are holding. The surface of a book they have.)<br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> <br /> </strong><em>The blanket was taken in her hands with care. The fabric was silken and soft which made her feel at ease just in holding it.<br /> <br /> His fingers slid along the railing of the staircase. The pine surface had been worn smooth from the tavern's traffic over many years.</em></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Is sight important?</strong> </span>Could you talk about how close or far the item your character is observing might be? Where is their focus?<br /> <br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> </strong><br /> <em>In the fog, the sign waiting up ahead was just far enough that he had to squint to read it.<br /> <br /> Her eyes followed the clock as the second hand made slow progress around it. How long had it been?</em></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Is smell important?</strong></span> What about the environment might be noteworthy scent-wise, and how can it set a tone?<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:8pt;"><strong>Examples:<br /> </strong></span><span style="font-size:8pt;"><strong><br /> </strong><span style="font-size:10pt;"><em>They opened the cafe doors to the warm scent of coffee ground and cinnamon pastries waiting behind the counter glass.<br /> <br /> As they approached the abandoned village, the smell of soot and ash burned his nostrils and caused his nose to wrinkle.<br /> </em></span></span></li>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>What sounds are nearby, </strong></span>whether it's someone they are listening to or maybe a sound in the distance? <br /> Can you use background noises to better set the scene of where they are?<br /> <br /> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <br /> <em>The old floorboards squeaked and whined under the person's weight when they walked in.<br /> <br /> Although the room was quiet, she could hear the low hum of the pipes that ran above her on the ceiling. <br /> Every now and then she thought she could hear a whisper.</em></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Does your character have a 'Sixth Sense'?</strong> </span>This might be instinct or hyper senses that are subconscious to them. The classic "I can sense another supernatural in the room" case fits here, along with any intuition your character might have. Find physical ways of showing these senses.<br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Note:</strong></span> A supernatural with really high senses might be able to comment on more sense-based details.<br /> <br /> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <br /> <em>When the door opened, he felt a tingle on his skin he couldn't quite place. His hand moved to rub his arm where goosebumps had risen.<br /> <br /> Although the woman's words seemed confident, her stomach held on to a sense of dread about the plan.<br /> <br /> The vampire turned the street corner, tuning out the conversations of pedestrians and the humming of the electrical lines.</em></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:24pt;">Let's Talk About Adding Some Self Awareness.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">By this, I mean any thoughts your character has about <em>themselves</em> at the moment. <br /> It could be a sudden realization of tiredness, how they are handling pain. <br /> It could be recapping how your character feels about an event that just passed. <br /> This can be emotion-based or how their <em>own</em> body physically changes. <br /> It can also be how your character perceives other characters in the moment.<br /> <br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Note:</strong> </span>This type of thing is easy to write because it's personal to your character, but avoid talking about this for the majority of your reply! It becomes hard for the other person to find ways to respond. Keep it at... let's say 30%.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>How's their physical health?</strong></span><br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">This pain, relief, tension, any physical traits.<br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> <br /> </strong><em>She felt an ache in her hand when she let go of the handle, not realizing how tightly she had held on.<br /> <br /> Upon waking up, he felt a throbbing pain greet him at the back of his head. The ringing in his ears was barely tolerated as he groaned and<br /> stood up slowly.<br /> <br /> They let out a deep sigh of relief at the news, and all the tension in their shoulders melted away.<br /> <br /> </em></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>How do they feel emotionally?</strong></span><em><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> </strong><br /> An overwhelming sense of joy welled up in her chest. They had made it! They survived! She resisted the urge to run over and hug the other.<br /> <br /> As the woman walked off, his brow furrowed. What the hell was with her, anyway? He didn't understand it one bit.<br /> <br /> He took a seat on the ground with a sigh. He didn't take his eyes off the stranger that he still didn't trust in the slightest.</em></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:24pt;">Let's Talk About Facial Expression.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">This is huge, I could write a whole blog on this, and... I think I generally overdo it myself. The key to describing facial expressions is to have variety. "His eyes narrowed" loses its effect when it's over-used but a slight difference in wording can make it interesting.<br /> There are 42 muscles in your face that control expression, so let's use em!</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>EYES</strong></span><br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">All things eyes, including how your eyebrows or nose might change along with it.<br /> <br /> Eyes can widen or narrow / Tears can brim in them / One can roll their eyes / An angry person might glare<br /> A skeptical person may squint /So would a person in a sandstorm<br /> <strong>In turn,<br /> </strong>Eyebrows raise in surprise / Eyebrows come closer together in anger / They relax when a person stops glaring.</span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;"><em>Eyes and how eyebrows move are connected. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.</em><br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> <br /> </strong><em>At the comment, his eyes narrowed at the man. His brow knitted together in confusion and he huffed.<br /> <br /> Blue eyes shot daggers across the room at the man before she took her leave from the museum. <br /> <br /> Their eyes widened in shock instantly. Their face went slack as the doctor spoke, causing her eyebrows to raise in disbelief.<br /> <br /> </em></li>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>MOUTH</strong></span><em><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br /> </span></em><span style="font-size:10pt;">There's more to just smiling and frowning.<br /> <br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">A smile is standard. <br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">A grin might be a little happier.<br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">A toothy grin is wider than that. <br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">A frown is standard. <br /> A scowl is dangerous. <br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">A smirk is cocky or teasing.<br /> Your lips can purse to be serious, or when thinking.<br /> A mouth that is a 'thin line' is stoic or reserved.<br /> Biting one's lip can be teasing, thinking, or mean you're hiding something.<br /> The corners of your mouth can move only, like when you read that one meme and it makes you laugh inside for a second.<br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span></strong><strong><br /> </strong><em><strong><br /> </strong>The lines on the vampire's face deepened when he heard the news, and a frown spread across his face.<br /> <br /> The wolf watched with a grimace on its muzzle as the silver bullet struck its packmate, who let out a howl.<br /> <br /> A grin spread across her face while she tried not to laugh. Her mouth formed a thin line to try and keep it back, pursing her lips.<br /> <br /> <br /> </em><span style="font-size:10pt;">How do wrinkles show on the face under certain emotions? What order do the facial expressions change in? What I have above is a brief list. A google or two on the topic can lengthen it.</span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:24pt;">Let's Talk About Posture.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">This is how your character moves. Generally, it's easy to imagine big-picture movements like walking across a room, but you can also dive into the subtle movements that people make. Humans are fidgety, so are most supernaturals. Vampires or ghosts might have their own ways they fidget too if you get creative with it.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Where is your character in the room?</strong></span><br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">Start off with general placement, give people an idea of where they are.<br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> <br /> </strong><em>As the two walked in, an older woman was sat behind the hotel counter with a book in her hand. The cover looked akin to a romance novel.<br /> <br /> The man was waiting for them by the stables. His back was leaned against the fence that showed a slight lean when he put weight on it.<br /> <br /> They sat themselves down on the floor as they caught their breath. Their head turned when the door opened.</em></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Let's add movement.</strong></span><em><span style="font-size:10pt;"><br /> </span></em><span style="font-size:10pt;">We'll start with fidgeting. Are they sitting as still as a statue? What little movements give characters life?<br /> </span><em><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> <br /> </strong></em>Touching/fixing their hair<br /> What rate are they breathing?<br /> Do they have an item they might be fidgeting with?<br /> Do their fingers tap on a surface?<br /> Does their leg bounce subconsciously when they sit in a chair?<br /> Do they bite the inside of their lip when they think?<br /> Do they run their finger over the hem of their jeans or some other item?<br /> Do they adjust their clothing, like unzipping a jacket or fixing a shirt?<br /> <br /> If you haven't noticed the trend, how a person might fidget goes right along with what their quirks might be. <br /> Depending on the mood or how nervous they are, the amount of fidgeting may change. <br /> There's plenty of lists online for this one if you need ideas of odd character quirks or gestures. </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Point A to point B.</strong></span><br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">How your character walks, gestures, or approaches. Everyone has a different walk, and we walk differently depending on our mood. <br /> The same goes for body posture. Walking forward to hit someone in the face has a different feel than walking out of a funeral. <br /> A lazy person will have different timing than a person that is scared.<br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> <br /> </strong><em>He sighed when called on and stood up slowly out of his seat. He rolled forward on his heels and made his way over to her. "Whaaat?"<br /> <br /> Her hands balled into fists as she charged toward the woman with a murderous look in her eyes.<br /> <br /> Hurried footsteps carried them down the stairs, skipping steps on the way. A fearful glance went over their shoulder at the shadow following.</em></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:24pt;">Read (and Write) the Room.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">The space your character is in has things to interact with if you look hard enough.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align:left;"><span style="font-size:10pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>What is your character touching that could be relevant?</strong></span><br /> </span><span style="font-size:10pt;">Are any textures your character is touching notable to the story? (I.e. the cup they are holding. The surface of a book they have.)<br /> </span><br /> <strong><span style="font-size:8pt;">Examples:</span><br /> <br /> </strong><em>The blanket was taken in her hands with care. The fabric was silken and soft which made her feel at ease just in holding it.<br /> <br /> His fingers slid along the railing of the staircase. The pine surface had been worn smooth from the tavern's traffic over many years.<br /> <br /> </em><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>What's that you say? The room is... literally</strong> <strong>empty?</strong><br /> <span style="font-size:10pt;">No, it isn't. <em>I believe in you.</em> Channel your inner Stephen King and find detail in all spaces.<br /> <br /> <em>When he woke up in the room the air felt damp and stale. The four walls greeted him in a 10x10 meter square where the ceiling showed no difference to the walls. The floor was a cold concrete, the other planes of the box painted white. A light shone overhead that was industrial in nature. The seam where a door presumably could open was seen on the wall beside him but showed no signs of opening from the interior. The only sounds in the maddening silence of the box were the light above and its low electrical hum as the current passed through. It gave a flicker on occasion. The floor was cold, but the clamminess of his skin from waking up negated it while he sat up in the space.</em></span><br /> </span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:24pt;"><em>TL;DR</em></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Are you stuck on a reply? Remember to write about details like:</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>The senses</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Touch, taste, smell, hearing, sight, sixth senses</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Self Awareness</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Your character's status physically and emotionally</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Facial Expressions</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Your character's eyes, mouth, eyebrows, and more. </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Posture</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Where is your character in the room and how are they moving about?</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>The Room Itself</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Describe the materials and objects. Describe what your character finds interesting.</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:24pt;">The End (and a Disclaimer)</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">If you got this far, I'm proud of you. You must want to work on your writing and hopefully found this useful. <em>Please</em> let me know how I can improve this or if you see any typos. Drop some good feedback in the comment box. Do you want more like this? Do you have topics you struggle with? Let's hear it.</span></p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:10pt;">I claim zero expertise on the topic of literature or the correct ways of writing a story because I'm growing myself and trying to remember these things as well. Every now and then a consistent writer will feel their work is stale, and as a good friend told me once, "<em>if you feel your work is going stale, it means change is around the corner.</em>"</span></p></div>