Professor RP · @ProfessorRP
7th May 2014 from TwitLonger
#Lesson Writing an SL
What will be covered: Creating a storyline for multiple accounts, your responsibilities as creator, and your responsibilities as a participant.
-Creating an SL-
Writing a storyline for role-play is not like writing a story. There are other people involved, and things do not always go as expected.
That being said, my formula is fairly simple:
1) Start with a major event, one the leaves questions unanswered. This can be anything from a major battle to an emotional revelation. The questions will lead to...
2)The next major event, which will provide information but not answer all the questions, or provide new ones that need answering.
3)Repeat steps one and two to your hearts content, until...
4)Conclusion: think of it as a boss battle. This is the last major event, the big one, the final revelation. It will answer all the questions for that particular SL and, perhaps, start a new SL.
The point is the events. These are what half to happen. Now, don't be too stringent on them as this is written for other people as well; and, as we all know, not only do characters not always act as expected, but people have lives to tend to. Let it flow; the events may happen in a way you do not expect, or in locations you did not expect. Adapt the story to the events, as well as events to story: but remember, these events are more than just occurrences, they are breadcrumbs leading your characters to adventure.
-Responsibilities as a Creator-
As a creator, you are responsible for making the SL entertaining. It is your job to choose what information those involved get, what rewards, and keeping things balanced. You will likely control the NPCs as well as environment, which means you choose a lot of how the event will go. Make it challenging, but not too challenging.
You are also responsible for making sure everyone is on the same page, and planning out schedules to make sure everyone has time or, trust me, the SL will never end.
You also choose the players involved. Choose people you like playing with, for RP's sake!
-Responsibilities as a participant-
As writers, you need to let the person in charge of the SL know when you can play. You also need to let him know when things are wrong for the character so that he can alter the SL slightly. If an SL happens, and you get involved in another SL in the middle of it: For god's sake, the events of the SL effect each other! It really helps with immersion. Let them bother your lives, and don't ignore events because they make your character's life inconvenient. That is, after all, life.
Talk to the person in charge of the SL. He may choose to give you information as a writer. If he does, work with him and get your character where he needs to be so everyone has at least an idea what to expect.
-Final Thought-
The key is adaptability. The creator adapts the SL to the participants; the participants adapt to the SL. Everyone has fun!