How to roleplay online: writing your first post
Your first post does not need to be long or clever. It needs to bring your character on stage.
Before you write
- Read the last few posts. Find out where the ship is and what the crew is doing right now.
- Ask your CO where to start. Most COs will suggest a scene that fits your character into the current mission.
- Check the group’s format. Groups have their own habits for subject lines, tags and signatures.
Writing it
- Set the scene. Say where your character is and what they can see.
- Give them something to do. Arriving, reporting for duty or meeting one other character is plenty.
- Leave a door open. End on something another writer can answer.
Sending it
- Read it once out loud. It catches most typos.
- Send it to the crew. Then watch for replies, and answer the ones that involve your character.
Common first-post mistakes
- Writing for other people's characters. Describe what your character does and sees. Leave the other characters' words and choices to their writers, or work them out together in a joint post.
- Solving the whole mission. A first post that cracks the mystery leaves nobody else anything to do. Add a clue or a complication instead.
- Waiting for the perfect post. The crew would rather have a short scene today than a long one next month.
Tag: a short note at the top of a post saying where and when the scene takes place.