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Axiom

Considered as truth without evidence.

Table of Contents

• Basic overview: 
  • Written communication
  • Formats of writing
• Speculations:
  • Standards of roleplay writing
  • Styles of roleplay writing

Basic Overview

Written Communication

There are multiple methods of communication that extend beyond literature. The only form of communication that will be mentioned is written communication.

As a broad concept of communication, there is not always a "sender" and "receiver." I'll address an explanation about this philosophy in a later guide.

All languages have an organized system, meaning grammar and words. If this explanation, so far, has been confusing or awkward to read, that is because I am using poor usage of communication, so far, as an example. You might find everything simple to understand, but it might feel irritating to trudge on though.

The most important aspect of communication is readability. If a professional tone has to be abandoned outside of environments where professionalism is enforced, then it may be best to keep your messages short and simple.

If people are misinterpreting or failing to understand your intended meanings, do not automatically assume that it's your fault. English, in particular, is fickle with grammar rules that may appear random and contradictory.

This is a good example: The Chaos - Gerard Nolst Trenité

Dearest creature in creation
Studying English pronunciation,
   I will teach you in my verse
   Sounds like corpse, corps, horse and worse.

I will keep you, Susy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy;
   Tear in eye, your dress you'll tear;
   Queer, fair seer, hear my prayer.

I will address the advice on the application of conventional and non-conventional writing styles in a later guide.

Formats of Writing

Have you ever heard of MLA, APA, and other fun forms of citational writing?

If not, you can torture yourself here: Citation Examples for APA, Chicago, and MLA Style Guides | Grammarly

While citations primarily refer to the organization of how to cite your sources in writing, they have guided the process of writing since the 1890s. With the typewriter first invented in 1868, it took a bit over a couple decades for the academics to develop its first standard of modern journalism. I won't get into deeper details about the Renaissance and other eras of literary arts/communication. Just know that if you want to blame anyone for why you have to write essays in school with super specific rules, you won't know who to blame unless you look into this stuff

All citational writings fall under some form of academic writing or journalism. Outside of these, we have formats such as:

Each of these formats fall under one of three categories:

• Professional
• Casual
• Academic

While there are commonalities between the three categories, the main difference is intent.

Professional writing typically follows a strict system with clear expectations relevant to a specialized field. Business emails and analytics are examples. Academic strictly adheres to scholarly standards. Research reports and narrative essays are examples.

The only relevant information for you as roleplay writers is the "intention." Each concept listed are just background information as to why certain consistencies occur with roleplay writing. I will address the advice on author's purpose in a later guide. If you spent time reading everything so far, I'm (not) sorry. There is no official standard of roleplay writing.

Speculations

Standards of Roleplay Writing

To reiterate the previous sentence: There is no official standard of roleplay writing. That is why this section is labeled as "Speculations." Rather than an axiom which is an accepted truth with no evidence, this section will unapologetically rely on hypothetical details and circumstantial references.

As with any form and intent of writing, there are clear goals to having someone understand your message. Contrary to the belief that a noun and verb are required to form a sentence, this is not always the case with non-objective writing styles. 

Here is a list of concepts to consider when writing:

Your overall responses might be inconsistent with which concepts are being followed/intended. That's natural. Not every single sentence needs to be meticulously detailed with words you had to look up. Some sentences can have a single word. Right?

Often times, people rely on mirroring other people's writing style. This is dangerous and might be a significant reason why people feel burnt out easily, leading to ghosting or continual delays. Nothing is wrong with taking inspiration or referencing compositional techniques you read from your partner's response. Nothing is wrong with trying to mirror someone's style. Roleplay is roleplay, there is no standard. However, there is a likelihood of being an engaging and motivational writer.

Why you cannot mirror the standards of conventional writing formats as a roleplayer.

Here's an excerpt from "The Hobbit" by JRR Tolkien.

          “Fili or Kili,” he thought by the tip of a blue hood sticking out at the
 top. “Most likely Fili,” he thought by the tip of a long nose poking out of
 the winding threads. He managed by leaning over to cut most of the strong
 sticky threads that bound him round, and then, sure enough, with a kick
 and a struggle most of Fili emerged. I am afraid Bilbo actually laughed at
 the sight of him jerking his stiff arms and legs as he danced on the spider
string under his armpits, just like one of those funny toys bobbing on a
 wire.

          Somehow or other Fili was got on to the branch, and then he did his
 best to help the hobbit, although he was feeling very sick and ill from
 spider-poison, and from hanging most of the night and the next day wound
 round and round with only his nose to breathe through. It took him ages
 to get the beastly stuff out of his eyes and eyebrows, and as for his beard,
 he had to cut most of it off. Well, between them they started to haul up
 first one dwarf and then another and slash them free. None of them were
 better off than Fili, and some of them were worse. Some had hardly been
 able to breathe at all (long noses are sometimes useful you see), and some
 had been more poisoned.

!!!Question Time!!!

I claimed that the standards of conventional writing formats cannot be used to mirror a roleplay response effectively. That includes not being able to write like excerpt in The Hobbit.

In the comments below, why do you think I say that? And what is your personal opinion on referencing any form of literature? 

I will create a blog or guide that answers this question from my perspective. I will also try to give feedback to everyone's response without giving away the direct answer(s) beforehand.

Styles of Roleplay Writing (And Ethics)

If you've been across various roleplay sites or other platforms, you've probably come across various terms. Casual, semi-literate, literate, novella, elite literate, super duper legendarily powerfully lots of literate, etc. All of it is ridiculous and fundamentally flawed.

To explain the intent of roleplay styles that people may be aware of, here's the list of content that might (as in sometimes, or rarely) be enforced:

• Character/Word/Line/Sentence/Paragraph Count
• Relative Complexity (text that looks like it's written by a struggling child, text that looks like it's written by an accomplished author, etc)
• Relevance
• Correctness/Readability

Most of the time, it's usually just word count. Which usually isn't actually counted by anyone. Which means that there's really nothing enforced, if at all. It's all ridiculous, no matter how advanced or impressive a system may seem.

A great roleplay response can be as little as 20 words, or beyond 2000 words.

The first thing to consider is what you want out of a roleplay. Then consider what it is your partner wants. Do not neglect either. Do not try to compromise if that will just urge you to ghost them. Be direct, confront your partner with your concerns, establish boundaries early on.

Etiquette as a roleplayer can directly impact what kind of writing style you might be consistent or comfortable with. A hasty person with double standards against their roleplay partner(s) will typically write lackluster responses while ignoring most or all of their partner's reply. A patient, but shy person will typically hold back or feel reluctant to maintain their preferred/optimal quality if their partner starts writing in disagreeable/ineffective ways.

With that said, there are really only two types of length-based roleplay messages:

• Simple
• Multi-Paragraph. 

A paragraph can consist of a single sentence, or even a single word. Effective usage of one-word or one-sentence paragraphs can vary. A paragraph can have over a dozen sentences.

Outside of academic writing and anything else that enforces additional standards, the only parameter that defines a paragraph is that one paragraph focuses on a singular topic. Transition to another topic usually requires a transition to a new paragraph. 

That's why in school, you most likely may have heard of "A, B, C" or "X, Y, Z" format for a 5-paragraph essay. Intro, paragraph one is topic one, then two and three, and finally a conclusion paragraph.

To me, a simple roleplay message focuses on a single theme.

Rather than calling it complex, the multi-paragraph style addresses multiple themes by using more than one paragraph. Someone can stuff multiple topics in a single cluster of sentences, but that's ultimately multiple paragraphs with neglected separations.

Rather than calling a person a casual or advanced roleplayer, I'd prefer to address the intended nature of the roleplay message. Someone can have terrible spelling and poor grammar, but they may still be intending to reach a higher level of complexity with writing. No one is obligated to reach any mastery of writing as a roleplayer. 

If you personally do not like someone's responses, confront them and work something out without having to compromise beyond either person's comfort level. You are also not obligated to commit to a roleplay with them, but do not ghost them or be derogatory toward them.

Or don't. No obligation to be the bigger person, but you do form a reputation. You can hide behind alternate accounts or jump from platform to platform, but these may be a sign that there is a fundamental issue with how you may be handling or neglecting situations.

Any other list relating to roleplay styles can be inferred by referencing the charts throughout this guide. Dynamic development with active voicing, expository remarks fitted with poetic scenery, etc.

I do not and will not claim that the labels of Simple and Multi-Paragraph should be enforced. I believe that none of the labels should be used at all. Without communication, any label can lead toward extreme misconceptions.

With communication, any label becomes redundant and pointless. Either way, labels do not compensate for the case-by-case quirks.

Roleplayers who consistently write with single sentences per response could be more engaging than someone who drops a wall of complicated paragraphs that are likely to cause confusion if there is no communication outside of the roleplay.

!!!Bonus Question!!!

In this guide, how many times did I claim that I will make another guide relating to any specified topic?