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[ghostyrpc]

🧂 this is basically just a place for me to dump my thoughts about the rpc. a place to vent or express concerns or even gush when the mood arises. probably most complaining. if anyone ever sees any of these posts, great- i'm just planning to speak into the void. absolutely no hate allowed.

[ghostyrpc]

nobody on tumblr bothers to engage with mutuals in any capacity anymore, and then some will wonder why all their mutuals deactivate & ghost their blogs. there’s nothing keeping people here anymore… no one is social on this social media app… being well into adulthood, lost causes are not worth spending energy on. we’ve got so many other priorities, jobs, hobbies… of course rp is dead.

[creativepromptsforwriting]

How to show emotions

Part X

How to show pleasure

dilated pupils

mouth half opened

increased heart rate

increased breath rate

increased blood flow

heightened sensitivity

body parts turning warm and flushed

body parts becoming engorged or wet

tension in the entire body

trembling

involuntary contractions

hard to speak, but incapable to be quiet

How to show tenderness

sincere, warm, and open smile

slow and soft movements

leaning in towards what they feel tender about

listening carefully, head held towards them

gentle tone of voice

softening of facial expressions

relaxed eyebrows

soft and relaxed eyes

a hint of a tear appearing

relaxed mouth with a little smile

gently touching or stroking who or what they feel tender about

calm breathing, not too shallow, not too deep

How to show guilt

avoiding eye contact or looking down

tightness in the shoulders, neck, and jaw

being hunched over, slumped shoulders, making themself small

turning their body away from who they feel guilty towards

sweaty palms

trembling hands

heart racing

fidgeting with their entire body

crossing and uncrossing one’s legs

shifting from one foot to the other

pacing around

knot in the stomache, not being able to eat or eating too much to compensate

a feeling of heaviness in their body

How to show curiosity

open, dilated eyes

holding eye contact

raised eyebrows

tilting of the head

leaning towards what they find curious

mouth slightly open

uncrossed arms

actively listening

holding still, so they don't miss anything

More: How to write emotions Masterpost

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[promptcalender]

Types of Screams

PAINED: through gritted teeth, unaware of the sound because of the pain, head falling back, curling around the source of pain in an attempt to shield self

CELEBRATORY: jumping up and down, screeching with surprise then quickly covering mouth and laughing, grabbing hand of loved ones, grinning widely after

HORRIFIED: backing up, wide eyed, shaking, involuntary sound quickly muffled with a hand, followed by teary eyes

ANGRY: guttural, screaming until there is no air left, approaching the source of anger, turning red, eyes brimming with tears of rage

EXCITED: higher pitched, frantic, unable to contain noise, suffocating on the emotions

GRIEF: guttural and wordless, coming from deep in their chest, dropping to knees, doubling over, repeated sounds of agony

[Prompt Calender: April 24th, Scream Day]

[brainstreams]

HOW TO WRITE SMART CHARACTERS (or: how to write witty characters as a non-witty author)

Make them think before they speak

Give them time to plan off-screen

Let them notice small details others ignore

Have them ask the right questions, not just give answers

Let them predict consequences before others do

Give them expertise in one specific area

Have them connect two unrelated ideas

Let other characters seek their advice

Show them changing their strategy when something fails

Have them explain complex ideas simply

Let them win arguments by reframing the problem

Give them moments where they say very little but it matters

EXTRA TIP:

You have a secret weapon. And it's called editing! Real people must respond instantly. But writers get unlimited time to craft the perfect line. So your character doesn't need to be fast. They just need to say the smartest thing eventually.

I hope this helps!

I share writing tips like this because storytelling is something I genuinely love. I’m also a neurodivergent writer trying to build a sustainable writing career while working full-time, which means writing time can be hard to come by.

If you’d like to support more posts like this, you can leave a small tip on my Ko-fi. Every little bit helps me carve out more time to write and work toward finishing my first book.

Ko-fi donations help fund: • more writing advice posts • future storytelling resources • and the time it takes to actually write the book

No pressure at all! Even just sharing the post helps a ton. <3

[ghostyrpc]

honestly, this really irks me and i think it says a lot about the type of person who will say this.

someone posts to the dash sharing their feelings about something. being unfollowed, softblocked, blocked, whatever. OP will either "jokingly" post about seeing their follower count drop & proceed to say they don't actually care (yes, you do, otherwise you wouldn't be posting). or OP will share their feelings about how it has upset them, which is fine. you are allowed to be disappointed when a mutual or writing partner cuts ties.

the problem lies within the people who comment with hostility. well, obviously whoever did the unfollowing/softblocking/blocking is miserable, a loser, an asshole. you look like a freak reacting that way. you look borderline toxic.

i thought people were allowed to curate their space as they see fit? not to mention we aren't speaking of drama, or a falling out. simply parting ways, which everyone is allowed to do. you're going to berate strangers for something so minor?

grow up. trying to console someone with such aggression is extremely childish and weird.

[ghostyrpc]

Re: //understand the author isn’t endorsing these character’s beliefs or behaviors, they’re writing a character in a story that reflects a broader context. // this ask. i feel like some people who write rp don't separate themselves from their characters, and assume others don't either. i do know people who write only one specific type of characters, and the idea that someone can write a drug dealer/some southern hick/cop/etc/etc (idk what else is offending people these days) - they think - omg that person totally endorses everything their character does. It's just a lack of critical thinking. there's nothing bad in variety in the types of characters that one might want to bring to a rp world. like it was said, it's just playing dolls. some of us want our dolls to be unpleasant so we can bring some drama and tension in the writing, doesn't mean we want that in our real lives. just my thoughts

.

[ghostyrpc]

do you just come onto this blog once in awhile to complain? dont you have friends to talk to about this? or a real blog??

your illiteracy and your offense are your prerogative. not my problem.

[ghostyrpc]

i agree 100% with everything you wrote on your last post. i run a group and i find it so annoying when a friend i've had for over a decade at this point whose activity has dropped significantly comes on to apologize for not being around and explains in detail what's going on and then complains about not feeling the rp any more (this conversation occurs once every two months). maybe i'm the shitty friend idk but i also have shit going on in my life and i make it work where and when i can. i actually love having the distraction of rp and other hobbies when life is kicking me down.

this friend and i met in an rp when we were in our early 20s back in the day when rp groups had stricter activity checks (nothing like posting every 3 days geez, more like 1 week was the minimum to be warned before you were unfollowed a few days later). we were in college and had the capacity to get online every single day and pump out dozens of replies. we're in our 30s now and we have full time jobs, rent/mortgage, social lives, family obligations, and other hobbies. i've definitely learned and moved on from needing to over-communicate my availability to getting on when i can and saying once something like "life's been extra busy i'll be back around next week" to let my group know i'm still here and no i'm not sorry about it because we do all know and understand.

she, on the other hand, will drop multiple, detailed updates in a week with an apology for not being around and it sounds like excuses when she gives a laundry list of her daily events that have kept her from doing replies for a month or more. and when no one reacts or responds to it she comes to complain to me that no one would miss her if she left the group. like why is that your thought about leaving??

so yeah i think you hit the nail on the head with everything you said. i'd think she'd be much happier in the hobby if she didn't put so much pressure on herself when no one else is and there is a little bit of ego in it. i don't think zero communication is the solution because ghosting is a real thing, but i believe that dropping the apologies and giving a singular update (or two if needed) that you'll be back soon after an extended absence is a good way to go about it.

i have no notes, honestly. agreed ghosting isn't the answer. no communication is just the opposite extreme of the over-apologizing spectrum. but constantly talking about how sorry you are when nobody cares (that you're busy, not that nobody cares about you) is really annoying.

someone will say i'm mean for this, surely, but if the "nobody would miss me if i left" are constant comments, i would be incredibly annoyed, too. we're grown ups, now. it's like: do you really need someone to hold your hand and soothe your insecurities repetitively?

[ghostyrpc]

(just my two cents) i think a lot of us have been in this community for a long time and got used to the old standard activity rules. you used to get kicked out of a group after being inactive for like three days iirc. but also ghosting is so common both in rp and irl so i think apologizing for not being around on indie or whatever is a way of being like, "hey, i'm still here! just taking a break!"

in the 10 years i've been here, i think i was part of... maybe 3 rpgs. so, i guess i just missed that clingy attitude. but as adults, that's not healthy, and should definitely be unlearned.

personally, i don't care to unfollow someone unless they've been gone for, like, 5+ months.

[ghostyrpc]

if you were part of a club, like tennis or chess or something, you'd apologize for not being able to attend and be present if you couldn't be. why is people apologizing to their writing partners for not being able to get online and write with them weird???

i just think this is a false equivalence. hobbies you actually, physically go to are not the same as opening an app or website.

[ghostyrpc]

i have seen an influx of people apologizing for lack of activity lately, and...

i'm sorry. it gets to a point where it is quite absurd.

i'm going to be blunt, and just dump the thoughts that have been collecting recently. you are an adult. most of us are in our 30s now, or getting very close. why, exactly, are you profusely apologizing for not constantly posting on an account where, essentially, you play pretend with dolls?

on the one hand, it mirrors the traits of a push over or people pleaser. these are not positive traits. the former is obvious, the latter not so much. in the real world, people pleasing would be met with a lot more annoyance than on here. unfortunately, many of the people here who aren't frothing at the mouth to start witch hunts... are the people pleasers. look: any normal adult will understand. if someone doesn't, get rid of them. furthermore... i'm afraid no one cares. not in the sense that people don't notice when you're gone, and couldn't care less when you aren't on the dash... but in the sense that they don't care that other things are more important right now. because... duh? people who enjoy your presence will okay with you being gone for a few days or weeks.

on the other hand, it comes off as an inflated ego. on the flip side of what i just described, it can give the impression that you think people are waiting with baited breath until you return. it can give the impression that you see followers as fans. i don't know how else to explain the ridiculousness of it. why would normal, every day people, be upset that another normal, every day person can't be here?

this is tumblr rp. we are not influencers. this is not a job, there are no penalties for being "late." i find it especially annoying when people start with "i know i don't have to apologize--"

then don't.

you and you alone put pressure on yourself to be constantly active, and then can't fathom why being on the dash and trying to write makes you anxious and miserable. we have to admit that, sometimes, we facilitate our own happiness.

[ghostyrpc]

i do 100% agree with what you said about why the community is dying, with people basically being in their own little corner and refusing to facilitate a community. i wanted to add that there is a part of why tumblr is dying that i rarely see mentioned on tumblr but has been mentioned on every alternative rp platform outside of it. and i’m not exaggerating when i say i have seen this everywhere.

tumblr’s censorship and witch hunts has forced mass amounts of people to leave. this isn’t something people are comfortable talking about because it devolves into whataboutism and people hurling accusations about other’s character for what they write. and i think everyone on tumblr is very concerned with seeming unproblematic, an ally, a good person— which are all wonderful things to strive for! but the bar for being a “good ally” on tumblr is higher than it is on any other rp site for reasons that are not helpful.

i am black and queer, so many of the attacks waged on people for what they write is in defense of my identity or people like me. aka, marginalized people that are victims to the systems in our real world. but so many of these attacks ring hollow and performative. we are writing. people should be able to write darker themes, concepts, and topics as long as they handle it with grace without being doxxed or harassed endlessly. i have never been offended by someone writing a cop.

i have never been offended by someone writing an old southern hick or someone with internalized homophobia they need to process. in real fiction i wouldn’t blink an eye at these types of characters because i understand the author isn’t endorsing these character’s beliefs or behaviors, they’re writing a character in a story that reflects a broader context. yet, all of these things are seen as the worst possible thing you could do in the tumblr rp community. people that write these things are relentlessly harassed or made to seem like they are pro-bigotry for having the audacity to right morally complex themes. i’ve seen the extreme censorship extend even to “mildly problematic” characters like cheaters or addicts.

i am not saying we should accept all sorts of degeneracy on this platform or ignore actual harm from those that fetishize these topics but… my god, people. literally the #1 reason i’ve read from others as to why they left tumblr was because of the purity culture.

i agree. tumblr purity culture has an inhumanly high standard. it's akin to young(er) gen z on tiktok harassing people who make very normal, human mistakes and refuse to allow growth. tumblr rp is an incredibly performative place, not because these people actually care about progressiveness & inclusivity, but they just want to look & feel like they're better than you. it's extremely pathetic. not to mention, they hold strangers to these impossibly high and unforgiving standards, but keep their red hat relatives around. 🫢 it's a power trip. and there's a specific type of person that gets sucked into it. tumblr rp is full of them.

i don't recall if i said it in my post, but this knowledge paired with the fact that this type of person has no loyalty and will flock to whatever makes them look good, people can't trust that their "friends" here will be supportive should they fail to meet the standard of perfection. it's a recipe for disaster.

[ghostyrpc]

this is related to an old post of yours but just wanted to say RE: amber heard personally i have her banned not because of anything to do with johnny depp but because of her own weird actions over the years, which have been plentiful to say the least.

i see, i wasn't aware she had a significantly problematic past.

however, i do worry that plenty of people are also unaware and simply try to "both sides" the johnny depp situation.

[ghostyrpc]

the rpc is not a worse place because we have all aged and responsibilities + free time have changed. the rpc is worse because people don’t make any effort to foster community when they are here.

people do not like or comment on their mutuals’ posts. people do not respond to open starters anymore. people do not send prompts when they are reblogged or at random just to let a mutual know they were thought of. promos are useless these days because it’s only friends reblogging friends, and strangers so rarely go out of their way to check out a new blog.

there is no effort. there is no engagement. there is no care. you cannot follow people only to then ignore their existence and be shocked that the rpc sucks now. people are being pushed away.

because they are adults now with bigger responsibilities. and when they see that their efforts are for naught here, they leave. they give up. because with the finite free time they have now, this is not worth it. people have made tumblr rp something not worth trying on.

everyone is guilty of this. because everyone vents and complains about it, yet it only gets worse.

[ghostyrpc]

a pill that may be difficult to swallow is: with an oc, to get traction, you need to sell the character. yes, there are factors as to why someone will not indulge an oc that aren’t valid (i have posted about it before), but there is also responsibility on the writer.

a novel’s worth of information isn’t necessary, but one vague sentence to describe isn’t helpful either. could just be me, but no, i don’t want to have to go out of my way to ask you about the oc(s) on your blog just to possibly have no interest in them. then i will have followed for nothing and now need to awkwardly wait for a good time to softblock. you’re supposed to make the sale! you should have the characteristics and at least some light backstory & background info available for people to read. if you have the info stored elsewhere, that’s great, but what is stopping you from… posting it? it takes a couple minutes.

too often, people lash out or get upset at the prospect of no one interacting with their originals while they themselves make little to no effort to attract interactions in the first place. this is a collaborative hobby. it goes both ways.

[ghostyrpc]

putting in your rules that you won’t engage with problematic media, topics, or faceclaims is extremely performative. everything is problematic. you are problematic. perfection does not exist. you are quite literally never going to come across a piece of media or an actor that isn’t problematic in some way. and anyway, everyone knows it’s purity culture and trying to be seen as the most progressive person to ever live while not actually being practiced. yet no one wants to be the one to point it out. i wish people would just let it go already.