Character Development Thread--Discussion

Retroactive Clarification: This is not a thread for discussing actual Character Development for your characters. This is a discussion thread for the Character Development Thread.

Hello, due to the large amount of OOC-blabbering about the current Character Development Thread, Carnival, we have decided to make a discussion thread for it. Discuss the current thread here.

Current Thread: Whatever is on the first page.

Current Guidelines:

Here is the OOC-chatter you can post in the main thread:

• You are dropping out of the thread or leaving for more than a few hours.
• You need an elaboration about what's going on.
• You are confused by any inconsistancies that were made (like if two characters in different locations are talking).
• You are going to execute a major plot point.

Anything else (like explaining an aspect of your character) goes here.

Two things we need to decide on is whatever to make a new thread for each new Character Thread, and whatever to use this thread when deciding on the next Character Thread.

edited 27th Feb '12 3:50:35 PM by chihuahua0

I think this should be the main discussion thread for all character threads, it'll be a good place to keep all the details about future threads and goings-on in the current one.

I think it makes a lot more sense to have a max post-limit per day than a minimum-amount-per-post.

The reason is threefold — 1) some people write insanely fast and could still make a ton of posts and overflow the thread. sure it would slow them down some, but not enough, considering how much longer it would take to read them. 2) it would allow people to write posts of whatever length, though it would encourage people to beef them up considering the limit and 3) it would encourage people to get off the RP thread for a while and actually, you know, write whatever the character is a part of.

The third is especially important. I have seen this happen during Na No Wri Mo. It's ugly.

We could maybe keep track of it by people numbering their posts per day. If you suspect someone of cheating, you can always look at the timestamps.

PLEASE IMPLEMENT THIS. My fear of ninjas is overtaking my writing.

I think that number 3 is rather stupid. I don't participate in the threads, because they terrify me, but when I'm critiquing something, it's not like I'd be using that time to write. If I want to write, I'd go be writing. Whether a thread is present or not is irrelevent, because something is gonna fill the void.

The problem with that is that we have to plot out things more to make sure to not go over the limit. Also, things will slow down, a lot. We will also scare off the newbies. So...no post-per-day limit.

But I don't mind the paragraph requirement. Actually, I'll support it.

Right, but...my first couple of posts were longer and description-focused, and I don't think that anybody read them. So if there was a paragraph length requirement, how would we know if people read it or not?

Why not make two different character development threads?

One with post limit, one with paragraph limit.

I don't believe we ought to limit the number of posts a day, even though I know you want people to consider their actions. Because I feel you would kill the people's drive to continue; it's like allowance for the arcade, after which you've exhausted everything, you can only watch helplessly when your character's could have intervened.

I've read them. I really liked it.

From my suggestion of bolstering up significant action in posts, if everyone writes something significant (it takes some time to do), then it would encourage people to read more, think more, before posting. Writers need to read too. It would also solve the issues of "It's happening too fast!", time zone differences, ninjaing..

edited 25th Apr '11 6:37:58 PM by QQQQQ

Hey yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I'd feel much better about commiting to one if we had that in place.

@Post 8: No. A split would just weaken both threads. A RP version would be interesting, but I'm not sure if it can suceed. Besides, the Character Development Thread as a regular following.

Let's put a paragraph requirement on. So, to start, let's have two paragraphs, with at least three sentences each. We can then see how it goes.

Now, what should happen next?

Please. We need to get it under control. I have a hard time writing description in a relaxed setting, let alone with the constant looming threat of a ninja undoing all the work I tried to put into a post.

EDIT: And, look. Ninja'd.

edited 25th Apr '11 6:50:33 PM by CrystalGlacia

Well, the two paragraphs don't have to be made up of straight description. There are a lot of other things you can do.

I suggest we try at least 2-3 full paragraphs, at least five sentences per paragraph. What I originally suggested. It exercises creativity when you push your imagination and patience. And, Glacia, you need not worry about Ninjas in your closet when others are busy writing. If you do happen to be ninja'd, I think you can say so in your post, and for us to pay attention to any edits you make afterwards.

Oh yes.

edited 25th Apr '11 6:50:59 PM by QQQQQ

So, at least ten sentences.

Oh, and I have something important to say. On Thursday and Friday, I will be going on a school trip. During this time (6:30 AM on Thursday to 6:30 PM the following day) I will have limited or no access, depending if I sneak my laptop on trip and/or I find my D Si.

During that timeframe, I need someone to sort of lead the thread, like what I been doing. Crystal is my number-one choice, since she had lead a thread before. It will only be 36 hours anyways, but I suggest to slow things down.

I'll try my best.

However, I have to leave on Friday evening 4 PM EST for another band competition. I won't be back until late.

I am so completely lost that I was planning on dropping anyway.

You guys have fun fighting ghosts and stuff.

Okay, so let me see if I can make the next post.

I keep using the words "looked" and "turned". Is there a way to reduce the times I use these words while describing my character moving?

Just write as is, however it is coming to you, and then when you go back and edit it, see if you can condense the writing in anyway so you don't have to say "Mary looked" or "Mary turned" in every other sentence.

Hmm...just for reference:

Looked:

admire, attend, behold, beware, consider, contemplate, eye, feast one's eyes, flash, focus, gape, gawk, gaze, get a load of, glance, glower, goggle, heed, inspect, mark, mind, note, notice, observe, ogle, peep, peer, pore over, read, regard, rubberneck, scan, scout, scrutinize, see, spot, spy, stare, study, survey, take a gander, take in the sights, tend, view, watch

Hmm...hopefully I can use some of those words.

Now, on to posting that ten-sentence post!

Also, is the way I divide paragraphs up okay? They tend to be short, because every time you make a new point, you are suppose to start a new paragraph, and...

Is this the kind of stuff we should be posting, or did I go a little overboard?

I think that it's a good length. There is a little typo (I think) at the end there. You have "Mary asked?" Did you mean to put a period there?

No, I think you got it.

Now, let's see what I can come up with...

It's much easier to pour more into a post if your character is not interacting with a bunch more characters. But then it defeats the purpose of the thread, which is character interaction.

This looks good. Remember you can also have you character go into extended dialogue, or extended thought + action if it needs be. As long as you can grab everyone's focus to your post.

edited 25th Apr '11 7:20:08 PM by QQQQQ

Agree. The longest posts I have so far are the ones which I'm not interacting with other characters. Namely, the opening post and the "Manifestation and Paranoia" post.

Oh, and another long post was when Mary was speaking to the vistors in her living room.

@Post 22: Fixed. I make mistakes like those a lot.

Now, on to my shower.

edited 25th Apr '11 7:22:16 PM by chihuahua0