Writing For Your Partner's Character...

[TommyTuber]

I enjoy creative writing. I believe that I write well. I have tried Roleplaying on this forum twice in the past and always met with frustration. The threads always began swimmingly with my partner complimenting my characterization and my plotting. However, as each scenario developed, I would increasingly receive comments that I was writing for my partner's character.

I realize that this is annoying, perhaps even invasive; but I find it difficult to avoid the pitfall. I would like to elicit serious responses from some of you experienced role players. How do you avoid the error? How do you extend your posts beyond three line action, reaction submissions; such that your story becomes a poor imitation of a chat room.

The sexual repartee excites me and the joy of having another writer read and react to the posts is enthralling. I do hope some of you take this post seriously and offer valid suggestions.

I am certain that I am not alone in confronting this issue..

 

[Firmhanded_Daddy]

This is a problem for some people. If you are having to "pad" your posts for length by dictating the entire scene I would recommend that you try reading what you wrote out loud. It should be readily apparent that you are assuming control of the other characters and forcing them in unrealistic terms.

Focus on your character. The thoughts and feelings that would be produced by your partners actions. Plug in to what you are writing and let that created personas thoughts, feelings, and intent come alive. Interact with the environment, but let your partner do the same.

I hope that helps.

 

[TheAntiRebel]

How do you extend your posts beyond three line action, reaction submissions; such that your story becomes a poor imitation of a chat room.

Have you tried writing, you know, what the character is thinking? Nobody wants a play-by-play analysis of a sex act. Tell us what your characters are thinking and feeling.

 

[Scuttle Buttin']

Have you tried reading other threads to see how other people are doing it?

 

[TommyTuber]

Thank you all for your input. I will take the suggestions to heart and attempt to apply them to my next role. Scuttle Buttin's simple suggestion was an eye opener for me. I had assumed that my past writing experience would allow me to sail through roleplay.

I have not read enough "good" roleplaying threads, with an eye towards technique: a silly, perhaps arrogant mistake. Could some of you please suggest the names of members who write well and have mastered the roleplaying style.

I am heavily influenced by Wayne Booth's "The Rhetoric of Fiction," and the University of Chicago's writing style. Show, show, show and never tell: one is meant to write like a camera and avoid entering your character's head. I might have to rethink that approach and write in a more classic style shifting my point of view towards a more internal, "single character" omniscient perspective.

I look forward to reading some of literotica's best roleplayers.

 

[AmbrosiaCaress]

Thank you all for your input. I will take the suggestions to heart and attempt to apply them to my next role. Scuttle Buttin's simple suggestion was an eye opener for me. I had assumed that my past writing experience would allow me to sail through roleplay.

I have not read enough "good" roleplaying threads, with an eye towards technique: a silly, perhaps arrogant mistake. Could some of you please suggest the names of members who write well and have mastered the roleplaying style.

I am heavily influenced by Wayne Booth's "The Rhetoric of Fiction," and the University of Chicago's writing style. Show, show, show and never tell: one is meant to write like a camera and avoid entering your character's head. I might have to rethink that approach and write in a more classic style shifting my point of view towards a more internal, "single character" omniscient perspective.

I look forward to reading some of literotica's best roleplayers.

I sent you a PM...

BUT, to be honest, the Great Writers on Lit (some of which I suggested to you in the PM)... do NOT just "show, show, show, and never tell" when they write.... I speak for myself of course, but I DO get into my character's head, both as a Writer and when I then post what I am writing. You want well developed characters... characters with backstory and history... characters who want, feel, think, react.... characters with opinions and feelings... that makes a story so much more interesting... Writing like a camera, just does not work! With a camera, in a movie, one can see expressions, actions, and often derive what is in a character's head from those expressions, you can not see that in writing. Expressions must be articulated and demonstrated when writing. And again, I prefer characters with depth and history, with feelings and a soul....

 

[TommyTuber]

Thanks for the list and the advide AmbrosiaCaress. I'll definitely have a look at your writing...

 

[Veroe]

Thread and writer Appreciation Thread

Here's a thread I created that may help you in finding some excellent threads and writers in which to study their techniques.

As for writing for your partner's character...that's considered a no no, but every once in a while I allow it. Its a matter of trust. In almost all the cases it's a scene me and my cowriter has discussed thoroughly ahead of time and its always with cowriters I trust giving my character to, and always with my permission before hand. That's how you can do it, or how controlling your partner's character should be handled.

The beauty of this SRP business is that it's symbiotic when it works well. You will always be only in control of half the scene. So to do it well you have to give up any notion of control over the scene. Just let it be what it will be and trust your cowriter to carry whatever you miss and have your back.

As the others suggested its important to allow your cowriter freedom to contribute to the scene. Even in a BDSM thread its important. I recommend leading (like in dancing) up to a point-that's the technique I like to use.

Say if in the scene you're playing the dominant character and he tells your cowriter's character to strip off her clothing for him. You have to assume your cowriter will comply to that order to progress the scene past that. However then proceed to show her the chains your character will use to chain her to the bed...comment on how strong they are...comment on whether he'll be gentle or fierce with her...then leave it off there. That way your cowriter can comply to stripping off her clothes, but if she wants her character to be hesitant or defiant you've given her a great opportunity to respond that way to your character.

Also I recommend reminding yourself that longer posts don't necessarily mean better writers.

The library is full of terrible writers that wrote a lot of words just because they liked the sound of their pen scribbling away on paper. The really good ones say what needs to be said and stops there.

If that means in your case a single paragraph only in this post...so be it. You've said what needed to be said...so stop there.

 

[TommyTuber]

Thanks Veroe. I have been researching and reading and your advice is helpful. I am determined to become good a roleplaying. I will now go and visit your threat and will certainly read some of your material.

I have no difficulty in producing clean copy and getting stories published on the internet but I am beginning to appreciate that roleplaying, like any other genre of writing, brings its own set of rules and techniques.

Thanks again

 

[Otto26]

It can sometimes be difficult to not write for the other participants in the story. Sometimes, in order to avoid writing a short post, or in order to advance the plot in the proper direction you need to write for the other person(s). It can be the least bad solution in some situations. When you do this, the actions that you write must be logically consistent with the character. You should also couch your writing in terms of the perception of the character that you are writing for. Complex dialog almost never works in these cases. Motive and the true meaning of what the other character is doing must be left to the writer that controls that character. This allows the other writer to define and/or refine the action you've written. Your character may think the male is being masterful and commanding while the writer of that character may characterize the actions of his character as being bumbling, and simply lucky. (Hey, it could happen.)

As with any relationship, communication is the key. If you think you might be crossing the line, talk to your writing partner. If they say you are, talk to them and determine what bothered them. Figure out a different way to do it next time.

 

[TommyTuber]

Thank you otto for that sound advice. I believe that your comment on communication will be a big help.