Post by citizenmike on Feb 23, 2009 3:22:49 GMT -5
Citizenmike's RP School: Character and Dialogue
I've been RP'ing for about four years now and if you look at that, in the world of text-based online roleplaying, its a pretty long time, as a majority of players stick around for several months to a year and half, at the most. During my time, along with Trist, we grew into some of the most dedicated and original writers. I've learned a lot about what goes into a good roleplay and at the same time, I've also learned what goes into writing pieces, wheter thier stories, poems, or articles. The time spent working on roleplays and storylines week after week will serve you wonders later on.
The tips I'm going to share is from years of experience, so I hope you all take the time to read these and study your rp's and your characters when you're done.
One of the most important things I've discovered are characters. It doesn't really matter who or what your character is really, given the right direction, every character has potential.
During my time in pro wrestling e-fed's (internet roleplaying wrestling groups), I established myself as a character named Wayne McGurk. Many saw Wayne as this chain-smoking bad ass biker who liked to kick peoples butts. However, when you'd read the RP's, you'd find that Wayne wasn't really that guy. He was really the farthest thing from that image. I established myself with a character who was a loving husband and father, who fought, solely, to protect and provide for his family- that was it. Wayne is very different from most of the characters you find in e-feds. He was probably the most normal character and I think one of the reasons why people could connect was because Wayne was real.
Now, when it comes to people as characters, there are usually two different forces at work there; there's the person as the summarized embodiment of what his character is and then there's who the character is as a person. And these two forces are at constant conflict with each other and in most cases, it ends with that character completely ingrained in that summarized embodiment for the rest of his/her tenure as an active roleplayer.
Example, you have a character who is a bloodthirsty killer. And since that's who his character is, you'll mostly finding yourself roleplays that depict that character killing. And that's about it. There's nothing else there. That character is nothing more that a summarized embodiment.
If you want to make it, you have to dig deeper. That character must have a strong personality, with reason and consequence for his/her actions.
As I've said, it doesn't matter who and what your character is, your character can be great. The first step to do that is to let us know, as readers, exactly who your character is. We want to know what his/her needs are and what he/she wants out of life. We want to feel everything your character feels; we want to laugh with them, cry with them. Whatever happens, we want to be right there with him. We want to be there for everything.
Flesh your characters.
How do you flesh out your characters? Easy, think about them. Figure them out:
-Who is your character?
-What led your character to Animus?
-What does your character feel about Animus and the circumstances that led them here?
-What is your characters philosophy in life?
-What is your characters goal?
-Whats your characters situation in life?
-What does your character believe in?
You don't have to write these things down and figure them out now. Most of these things will come to you as you write your RP's more and more. As time goes on, the more and more you figure out and learn your character.
Just remember, and this goes especially for newer players, no matter what your characters gimmick is, there has to be a high level of realism there. Things can't be perfect and extraordinary. They can't always get what they want. They can't be powerful and overconfident. Be those things when you, as players, become that. And let me tell you, you don't have to show it to make it clear.
Characters come through in dialog. Dialogue is often so under looked among new writers. Dialogue is the best way for characters to interact with other characters. The personality of your character comes through in the way he/she talks and interacts with others. Relationships can be well established through dialog alone. It isn't just your character you get to know, its the people around them.
When I wrote my first rp's here, I had a hard time figuring Johnny out. I figured out his character and who he was, when I wrote him through Veronica's eyes and allowed their dialog to flow out of me. Thier dialog in my first two rp's have pretty much set the tone for their relationship.
Just a couple things to remember:
-Does your character have an accent or dialect?
-And if so, does your character use slang or any form of jargon? How do they put their words together?
Dialogue does not have to be formal. They just have to be real. Put your dialogue together they way you put sentences together when you talk. Remember, we all have different ways of saying things and that should reflect on your character.
Consider the flow and rhythm of a real conversation. Try to reflect that give-and-take in your writing. Characters can have unfinished sentences, be interrupted, and can argue--just like real conversations.
Again, you don't have to worry about these things now. More often than not, these things come through when you're sitting down and writing your RP's.
Despite what they may be, always treat your characters like real people. Think about them, study them, learn from them. Do you connect with that character? Are they the kind of people you would want to be? Would you look up to that character? Would you hang out with that character?
Storytelling is a strength, a strength you can develop when you start writing... So go, start writing and have fun!
I've been RP'ing for about four years now and if you look at that, in the world of text-based online roleplaying, its a pretty long time, as a majority of players stick around for several months to a year and half, at the most. During my time, along with Trist, we grew into some of the most dedicated and original writers. I've learned a lot about what goes into a good roleplay and at the same time, I've also learned what goes into writing pieces, wheter thier stories, poems, or articles. The time spent working on roleplays and storylines week after week will serve you wonders later on.
The tips I'm going to share is from years of experience, so I hope you all take the time to read these and study your rp's and your characters when you're done.
One of the most important things I've discovered are characters. It doesn't really matter who or what your character is really, given the right direction, every character has potential.
During my time in pro wrestling e-fed's (internet roleplaying wrestling groups), I established myself as a character named Wayne McGurk. Many saw Wayne as this chain-smoking bad ass biker who liked to kick peoples butts. However, when you'd read the RP's, you'd find that Wayne wasn't really that guy. He was really the farthest thing from that image. I established myself with a character who was a loving husband and father, who fought, solely, to protect and provide for his family- that was it. Wayne is very different from most of the characters you find in e-feds. He was probably the most normal character and I think one of the reasons why people could connect was because Wayne was real.
Now, when it comes to people as characters, there are usually two different forces at work there; there's the person as the summarized embodiment of what his character is and then there's who the character is as a person. And these two forces are at constant conflict with each other and in most cases, it ends with that character completely ingrained in that summarized embodiment for the rest of his/her tenure as an active roleplayer.
Example, you have a character who is a bloodthirsty killer. And since that's who his character is, you'll mostly finding yourself roleplays that depict that character killing. And that's about it. There's nothing else there. That character is nothing more that a summarized embodiment.
If you want to make it, you have to dig deeper. That character must have a strong personality, with reason and consequence for his/her actions.
As I've said, it doesn't matter who and what your character is, your character can be great. The first step to do that is to let us know, as readers, exactly who your character is. We want to know what his/her needs are and what he/she wants out of life. We want to feel everything your character feels; we want to laugh with them, cry with them. Whatever happens, we want to be right there with him. We want to be there for everything.
Flesh your characters.
How do you flesh out your characters? Easy, think about them. Figure them out:
-Who is your character?
-What led your character to Animus?
-What does your character feel about Animus and the circumstances that led them here?
-What is your characters philosophy in life?
-What is your characters goal?
-Whats your characters situation in life?
-What does your character believe in?
You don't have to write these things down and figure them out now. Most of these things will come to you as you write your RP's more and more. As time goes on, the more and more you figure out and learn your character.
Just remember, and this goes especially for newer players, no matter what your characters gimmick is, there has to be a high level of realism there. Things can't be perfect and extraordinary. They can't always get what they want. They can't be powerful and overconfident. Be those things when you, as players, become that. And let me tell you, you don't have to show it to make it clear.
Characters come through in dialog. Dialogue is often so under looked among new writers. Dialogue is the best way for characters to interact with other characters. The personality of your character comes through in the way he/she talks and interacts with others. Relationships can be well established through dialog alone. It isn't just your character you get to know, its the people around them.
When I wrote my first rp's here, I had a hard time figuring Johnny out. I figured out his character and who he was, when I wrote him through Veronica's eyes and allowed their dialog to flow out of me. Thier dialog in my first two rp's have pretty much set the tone for their relationship.
Just a couple things to remember:
-Does your character have an accent or dialect?
-And if so, does your character use slang or any form of jargon? How do they put their words together?
Dialogue does not have to be formal. They just have to be real. Put your dialogue together they way you put sentences together when you talk. Remember, we all have different ways of saying things and that should reflect on your character.
Consider the flow and rhythm of a real conversation. Try to reflect that give-and-take in your writing. Characters can have unfinished sentences, be interrupted, and can argue--just like real conversations.
Again, you don't have to worry about these things now. More often than not, these things come through when you're sitting down and writing your RP's.
Despite what they may be, always treat your characters like real people. Think about them, study them, learn from them. Do you connect with that character? Are they the kind of people you would want to be? Would you look up to that character? Would you hang out with that character?
Storytelling is a strength, a strength you can develop when you start writing... So go, start writing and have fun!