Tell the truth here.

[Renegade]

Am I a good RP writer? I mean, I know I'm not a pro or the best at it by any means. I'm a 19 year old that had to take writing over in high school because I flunked more then my share of classes. Never had any advance teachings on writing. I'm pretty much self thought in my style, other then the influences I got from certain posters.

Alot of times, it seems to me that I'm the one holding back the threads. A good example of this is Fishermans Wharf. That thread was going along nicely. Then shortly after I joined, it slowly began to fall apart and is now on the verge of dying. Maybe if I had stayed out it would have lasted longer?

Another thing, is that I'm more and more finding that many other RPers are putting much more detail into things then I can. My detail on things like rooms and clothes well... they pretty much suck in my eyes. Sometimes I feel like giving up RPing and just hanging around the General Board. It's not that I'm 'burned out' or anything like that. Just that I feel like I'm more of a bother then a help to those boards lately.

So basicly, I'd like the honest opinion of anyone here who's read my posts or RPed with me. Am I any good at working in the RP threads?

P.S. I realise this might sound like a cry for pity, but I honestly want peoples opinion on my writing.

 

[Closet Desire]

I don't know you...

...so my comments are based on this one post.

I've got three degrees in English and your writing is better than most students at university, at least in the technical sense of structure, punctuation, grammar, etc.

You're nineteen and surprised that your descriptions and details seem shallow? You're lucky to have realised this at such a young age. Most teenagers don't realise they don't know everything until much later! (grin)

The skill to notice and describe details comes from experiencing them and only time do this for you. Be observant and let the richness of life take its effect. When you see a woman who is beautiful ask yourself specifically why? Is it the dimples in her pale white cheeks? Do her green eyes flash with mischief? Are her cheekbones chiseled from marble?

You've got the basic skills...let life happen...and life will find a way.

 

[GuyJD]

EITHER YOU GOT IT OR YOU DON'T

I am not trying to be a smartass or anything. (Though I've been known to be-LOL.) The fact is that you don't wake up one day and realize that you have grown the talent to become a writer. It is in your blood and soul. You mentioned that you took a writing course in high school. How well did you do in it? Did you learn anything that allowed you to progress in the literary field? The art of writing is there in you for a lifetime. I remember being in the 3rd grade and winning a school poetry contest over two 6th grade students. And it was my senior year when one of my teachers (English teacher/part time commercial actor) was reading a rough draft and asked me if I had ever considered becoming a writer. Of course, I was a goof off in school and thought that it was silly. Five years later and time wasted on a college major, I realized that I was given a gift that I should share to the rest of the world. Writing erotica may not be using that gift in the right way but it is a start.
Therefore, be it poetry, erotica, or short stories, everything I write always have my heart and soul into it. That is what writing is all about. I haven't read any of your stories yet in order to determine whether or not you're a good writer. But Renegade, if you've put your heart and soul into them, you shouldn't have a problem with them.

[Edited by GuyJD on 01-13-2001 at 05:38 AM]

 

[Mackdaddy_74]

Ren, I feel your pain on the detail issue in the RP threads.
I think you are a very good writer, and if you get the detail part figured out you will become a great writer.

Now, how about my RP posts?

 

[teresafannin]

I think you do fine. I wonder the same thing about myself. I have only participated in a few SRP's, but the only way to improve is to keep going. That's what I plan on doing.

 

[Countess DeWinter]

I've read a lot of your stuff, Ren, and lamented the fact that we've never had the chance to rp together. You do quite well. I enjoy reading what you write. In fact, I have reluctantly passed over threads because I didn't feel I could measure up to YOU.
I was hamstrung in my younger years as a writer by someone who said "Write what you know." I didn't know anything. I was only 17, so that's not surprising. But the idea still lingers. A trick to combat that? RESEARCH!! Even the greatest writers do that because nobody knows everything. With the possible exception of my 12 year old daughter. You're a good writer. Don't stop.

 

[CelestialBody]

 

[Juliangel]

I have only written with you once and only for a short time then but I enjoyed it. I have also enjoyed reading some of hte other things you have written.

 

[R Nitelight]

Renegade

1)You don't try to join every thread.
2)You make an effort at proper spelling, grammar and punctuation.
3)You pay attention to what others have written.
4)You stick with threads and contribute steadily.

In my book, that puts you in the upper echelon of posters.




[Edited by R Nitelight on 01-13-2001 at 09:39 AM]

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I've read things that I'd written at 19, and, my friend, I positively cringe.

In the end it doesn't matter how good a writer you are, but how much better a writer you become.

And "a lot" is two words.

Luck to you.

A writer writes.

 

[Silverlily]

Ok, let me say this, Ren honey, you are the reason I got so involved in RPs in the first place. I have written with you and I have read your writing, so I will presume to call myself qualified.

From the writing with you standpoint, you excel. You are able to follow another player's lead as well as take the lead yourself, and you are not afraid to try something new. Any needed information, you have always communicated quickly and clearly. But best of all, you are fun to write with.

From a reader's point of view, your characters are interesting and diverse. One of my pet peeves are writers who make every characters identical. (Not you, KM, your's are different, just named the same.) You write in a good amount of details and do not leave thoughts or actions half-finished. You may start a lot of threads, but they are all well thought out and creative.

Now having said that, march yourself down to the SRP board and accept your invitation to intriguess's "Invitation" thread.

 

[goddess_euphoria]

~mouth agape in shock~ You know, I had no idea you were 19... if I would have guessed, I whould have said mid-twenties... Honest to god. I've talked to a lot of guys on line (hundreds of thousands it seems) And I've talked to guys your age that in no way could match your level of writing. In other words, I personally really like the way you write.

 

[Guest]

Am I a good RP writer?

Now, how about my RP posts?

Both of ya'll have gotten me wet in the past. Isn't that one of the objectives to the stories and role plays? At any rate, I personally am a stickler for detail and have researched bits and pieces for some of my posts to try to add a realism to them. For being fairly new "writers" still, I think you two have come a long way. With time and, perhaps, practice you'll both be excellent! I just know it!

Hopefully after I get a few weeks more into this new job and stuff I'll be able to return to the RP boards. I still lurk there and try to stay updated on your posts whenever I can.

 

[ManOSafety]

Hey Renegade, it looks like you've gotten great advice from most of the other posts, but I do want to say that I think you do a great job. As has been mentioned, if you don't think you have enough detail, try to add more. You can only improve with practice and experience.

Now if I could only find out if I've ever been able to get Tiggs wet too, hmmmm...

 

[Guest]

Now if I could only find out if I've ever been able to get Tiggs wet too, hmmmm...

http://cwm.ragesofsanity.com/s/net4/128.gif

 

[Celestiale]

A trick to combat that? RESEARCH!! Even the greatest writers do that because nobody knows everything.

Yes yes!! I recently joined a thread set in the 18th century. Well, I know very little about that century seeing as I never actually LIVED it, so I went and did a little research on the fashion of the time and what things were popular, and it gave me some insight!

 

[Phoenix]

OK here is the truth according to J

Ren I know you probably won't believe me because I am your friend but I think you are terrific writer. After all I have said it time and time it was you and Gypsy that got me to branch out on my own ( I was Asya's cowriter for a while). The way I see it is like this. As long as you enjoy what you are doing keep doing it. Every thread we have been in (with Lobo being the exception) I have enjoyed. To be honest I often go to work and when I get home I hop right on my labtop to see responses for my favs and frankly right now you are in my top 3 so what does that say. As a fellow 19 year old, I can honestly say that you that you are putting out posts others would be jealous of. Matter of fact the reason why I love being in the same stories as you is because of the can you top this attifude. Often I come back to lit practically drooling in anticipation for post's like yours and Rose and CB ( when she is around) and etc. Fact of the matter is this I actually did suggest that you win Best Male Poster for Lit not because we are in all the same damn thread but because frankly to quote someone you know " You are that damn good" Now I know how you feel because a while ago I was feeling the same kind of way and every post I analyzed over and over again, but then after talking to Asya she told me "If I am not having fun, just stop doing it" and then it all made sense to me. Keep your head up Latino you, me, Rose, CB, and Pooh are all 19 and the scary part is while some of these geezers ( buwhahhaha) are wearing down we are just getting started.

PS: We need a JayDen vs Renegade thread just so we can really go to war. Loser has to retire one of these damn characters. lol

 

[Closet Desire]

There you have it...

...a fan club of sorts. Alas...I hardly knew ye!

I have to say that I've been incredibly impressed by what I've seen here by 19 year olds. It's a shame I wasn't even half as aware when I was 19 (I'm 42 now). We've even published the erotic work of some 19 year olds here so you're in good company!

The "write what you know" adage is both a beni and curse. I think the trick is how much do you really need to know? The truth is, in my opinion, not a whole lot. Compared to most people I've had a lot of experiences in my life, but most of them were relatively shallow (looks better on paper than in fact). They have been invaluable as a writer. I wanted to know about farmers and what their lives were like for an article I was writing for Caterpillar. I went to a small farming town and hung out at the local cafe for breakfast and just watched them, listened to them, ate eggs and bacon, and absorbed what was going on. I don't know zip about farming, but when I finally went to do the interviews I had a sense that helped fill in the gaps.

You might try this as well...keeping a journal. F. Scott Fitzgerald kept notes about people he met, things he saw, and then used them, often years later in his writing. They are fascinating...something like..."fat lady in a black dress squeezing out of a taxi". He seemed to capture a lot of images that way.

I just returned from Palma where I visited a monastery. This visit inspired me to turn it into the setting for an incredible erotic experience. I use a digital camera when I visit these places to capture the details and remind whe what I saw (I even took a photo of a dark green window shutter in the sun). I flip through them on my computer to spark my memory as I write. I also take photos of people, particularly women (okay...a weakness of mine). Nothing fancy, just a head shot when I meet someone interesting. It's easy to remember the things that are striking, but the lesser details are important too. Okay...you like her eyes, but what shade is her skin? freckles? hair? up, down, straight, curly? makeup? The photo makes it easy and they are usually flattered.

I love writing and have never thought of it as work. Even the research is fun. So, dig in. Don't be afraid to blunder sometimes. Take chances and let what's inside show in your writing. Really good writing is like running down the street naked...not caring who sees you!

Now...revel in what these lovely people have said about you and get busy writing!

 

[Ravenloft]

Have I made any of you fine foxy ladies wet before?

 

[Guest]

Babe, need you ask????

 

[Ravenloft]

Yes, yes I do. I am wondering if I have or not...

 

[Renegade]

PS: We need a JayDen vs Renegade thread just so we can really go to war. Loser has to retire one of these damn characters. lol

You do know, that my guy could just teleport you over to Japan? lol That would be interesting though.

Tiggs, the fact that I'm able to get anyone aroused other then myself is still scary to me. You frighten me girl.

Kitten Eyes, I'm officialy in that thread now. Looking forword to writing with you again.

Countess DeWinter, you're one of the people that I've felt I would hold down if we RPed together. Trust me, you could MORE then measure up to me in an SRP thread.

Mackdaddy_74, buddy, you are realy good at what you do. Especialy at organizing RP threads with people through mail and IMs. But I'm playing Callisto during any lesbian scenes! lol

Thanks to everyone that responded. DCL makes a good point. Even if I'm not happy with my writing right now, I can only improve more with time. Sure, a lot(two words )of times I'll not be happy with my posts, but that's because things won't always work out the way I'd like. I'm my own worst critic, so I'm down on myself about little mistakes. But, in a way, that will help me to want to improve more in the future. Which is what I hope and plan to do.