hshqresource.

resource blog for haisocietyhq.

[duorpt]

Under the cut you’ll find a guide/tips for writing good thread replies! There’s honestly nothing worse than having a partner who gives you nothing to respond to. It disrupts the flow of a good back and forth between writing partners, and it can make any thread seem like a pointless chore. Hopefully this little guide will give you some pointers on how to write replies that gives your partner lots of work with and keeps threads from getting too repetitive or boring.

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[screnwriter-old-deactivated2021]

a great piece of writing advice i’ve heard, if not one of the greatest, is that you should always write what your characters would say, not what you want them to say.

this might sound confusing to some people, given that you’re the writer, and you provide your characters with a voice (they wouldn’t exist without you) but writing what your characters would say/do, as opposed to what you want them to say/do, really just comes down to what you want to happen in your story, and what realistically would happen.

as in, you might want one of your characters to be open about their feelings, and to trust the person standing in front of them. but your character has trust issues, and they don’t easily open up to people. forcing this character to do so anyway, will only lead to inauthentic storytelling, and characters that continuously contradicts themselves.

let your characters guide you through their lives, and let the story unfold itself. you won’t always have control over what happens.

characters will face the consequences of their actions, one thing will lead to another, and the story will turn in a direction so far from the one you initially meant for it to go in. let that happen. don’t force a story in there if it doesn’t go with the current narrative.

[fayoftheforest]

The great thing about this is once you start treating your characters as real, complex people and not as plot devices to get from A to B, writing in general becomes a whole lot easier. You're not stuck on the "What should happen in this scene?" aspect, because you know these characters well. You know their goals, their fears, their misbeliefs. You create the premise and they react to it, and then they react to that reaction, and so forth. You get to a point where you almost don't have to think when you write dialogue, because you can practically hear them talking in your mind. And that's a brilliant feeling :)

[princessdiary]

𝙍𝙀𝙈𝙄𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍. when crafting a reply, for the love of god please use the “yes, and” or “no, but” rule. here’s a short clip of tina fey explaining the concept. this keeps a thread alive, encourages plot growth and helps to keep your partner interested. for example,

he sat down at the table. “do you want coffee?” “no,” she replied, “but i’d love a steamed apple juice.”

this works because now, the first character has a few options for their reply. he can make a cruel or lighthearted assumption about the second character; he can ask why (an open-ended question is always a great go-to btw) she wants steamed apple juice; etc. clearly, the “no, but” has stimulated the conversation much more than a simple “no” would have.

this rule also applies to plotting. i find it’s actually more difficult to employ ooc, because it really does require a lot of thought at first — rapid-fire replies won’t cut it. eventually, though, when you and your partner become more acquainted with your characters & their dynamic, it’ll come a lot easier. for example,

person one: ok so what if they went on an ice cream date person two: omg cute! yes! i bet it was at, like, ten o’clock at night. eve just totally showed up at dominique’s apt out of nowhere person one: AH LOVE THAT. dom’s 100% in her footsie pajamas already. she’s literally dressed like a penguin and opens the door and full-on DIES.

notice how both people are fully-engaged with their characters & their preferences, habits, instincts, expressions, etc. person two could have easily replied “omg cute!” and left it at that, but then person one is left with absolutely zero content to work with. this will bring plotting to a complete or stuttering halt. no exceptions.

but what if you’re plotting, and you disagree with something your partner says? i refer you back to the “no, but” rule.

person one: ok so what if they went on an ice cream date person two: honestly eve is SO lactose-intolerant so that wouldn’t work ugh. BUT she’s such a green juice girl?? maybe they went for, like, a hot yoga session and then hit up a juice bar? person one: that’s perfect!!! idt dom has ever tried green juice so the concept of eve daring her to try it..  so cute.

both instances work. both encourage character and relationship development. it’s a very simple, very easy adaptation to make, and you’ll find that — regardless of whether you’re in a group or a 1x1 setting — you get far more in-depth, detailed, partner-committed plots.

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[hshqresource]

plotting tips... by hshq members !

READ INTROS a quick skim will give you good insight on the chara/s you can interact with. there’s a reason why writers include certain things in their intros — it’s important ! an understanding of these chara/s will help you find ways in which your chara/s will connect or conflict. reading tasks will also help but there are heaps and not everyone has time.

SKIM THE DASH this is a hobby — not everyone will have heaps of time to read everything but when plotting with certain chara/s, it’s extremely helpful to be loosely aware of their web of connections, so you can find a way to weave yourself in ! knowing their exes, friends, enemies, allies, neighboring countries, etc. will help you navigate where your chara/s can fit.

MESSAGE PEOPLE if you have an idea, voice it ! if there are certain plots that will help your character grow, consider which chara/s could potentially fit the role and shoot your shot ! no one will judge — 98% of the time, they’ll jump on board and be just as excited. ask questions ! people like talking about their chara/s and plotting will go more smoothly if there’s conversation.  ask people if they have any wcs and start some dialogue but DON’T make the other mun do all the work. consider how your chara/s can develop through these connections. focus on quality over quantity — don’t expect a connection with every single chara in the rp ! it’ll feel forced and you’ll feel burnt out quite quickly.

OPEN STARTERS the easiest way to establish connections that haven’t been pre-discussed. write one ! reply to some ! when replying to open starters, have some sort of goal/direction for the thread so you’re not replying just for the sake of it. there’s a difference between reacting and responding. make sure you’re adding to the thread — with closed starters too ! don’t just have your character agree and let your writing partner carry the thread. this doesn’t apply to all threads but try to give at least three things they can respond to ( an action or dialogue ). 

FIGHT ! FIGHT ! FIGHT ! the easiest way to create drama is to plot fights — arguments or physical fights. it opens up a door to a bunch of other conversations and connections. conflict is the most fun to write and most interesting to read.

[hshqresource]

if anyone has any plotting tips, comment below & we will make a masterpost !

or send us an inbox if u don’t want to do it publicly !!

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[wicbkc]

PSA: okay guys since we all struggle to write Bragança and Yurivič and idk what else correctly… i figured i’d let u guys know that i installed the spell bee chrome extension and it’s an autocorrect extension and u can just add ur own words !!!! so i also made it so that when i type en_dash or em_dash, i get a – or an — !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[abbydoesrph-archive]

hi abby ! what are your top 3 writing tips for rp ?

Hello! I’m so honored to be asked this. Let me start off by saying I’m not very good at taking even my own advice so these aren’t things that I necessarily do well but things I know I need to work on and I hope it helps others. 

1. Just in general, know your own voice when writing. When writing, it’s important to know your voice and who you are as a writer. I find it helpful to look at the things I do a lot and the words I repeat. I used words like ‘rather’ and ‘quite’ all the time. I don’t know why. I also use qualifiers a lot, ‘maybe, sort of, etc’. When I see myself doing this a lot I will take a step back and rewrite to take some of them out.

2. On the RP side, know your character’s voice. Every character has a different style and speech patterns. I usually don’t switch between characters when I’m doing replies. I do replies for one character and then another because I find it too difficult to switch between them. I also have playlists for all my characters and will often listen to that playlist while I’m writing so I can get their vibe. 

You can’t do this all the time, I get that. Sometimes you’re just trying to get out a couple of replies and you’re not going to sit down and scroll through Pinterest for ten minutes before writing replies. But I would suggest it every once in a while. Relearn your muse, write a self-para even if you never publish it, remember why you love them and let them talk to you, you might learn something new about your baby. 

3. Don’t stare at that blank space under your partner’s reply forever and panic because you don’t know what to say. It’s okay. Take a breath. I like to hand write my replies sometimes and then type them up later. I find handwriting very useful when I’m blocked. Just get something down and save it to come back to in a few hours. Send a message to your admins saying you’re having trouble with your muse and you’ll be back in a few days. It’s okay. You’re not disappointing anyone. Everyone just wants you to have fun and forcing yourself is not fun. 

And lastly, have fun and be kind to yourself and others. Don’t be afraid to talk to someone if a reply doesn’t feel right or you’re not comfortable with where something is going. RP is a team effort.  

[plumerps]

hi plume ! what are your top 3 writing tips for rp ?

Hello little anon and thank you for thinking I am fit to give you advice. 

First one is cliché but it’s to not compare yourself to others or try to copy their styles. It’s only going to bring you negativity. Everyone has their own process, speed, style and yours is as valid and as good as your partners. 

Second one, is to make sure you give your partner something to write with and elaborate on. Having just a yes or no or a long paragraph with inner monologue and no dialogue, makes it difficult for the other person to write their reply and it makes them carry the weight of the interaction by themselves. I know I feel frustrated when I have to work hard and the other person seem like they don’t put any effort to keep the interaction going. 

Third one is to use a thesaurus for synonyms or a dictionary. I am not a native English speaker so I rely on those two tools a lot. I like to use synonyms because I think it is refreshing to read a reply with a vocabulary that is diverse. It’s different to write “ She smiled.” than “ She grinned.”  or “ She beamed.” 

This made me think of a fourth tip, you can have as a bonus. I like to turn a verb into a small sentence. I think it elevates your writing. Instead of “ She smiled. ” you can write : “ The comment made her smile.” or  “ She gave her friend a smile.” or “ She beamed at the answer she was given.”

I hope this can help you. But like I said, everyone has their own style. What works for me and makes me happy with my writing, might not be the same for you. 

[prvdas]

hi ashley ! what are your top 3 writing tips for rp ?

hello !! i’m v flattered you asked this, and to be honest i wish i had some solid guidance to give, but i honestly wing it every time. but ... here’s what i sort of keep in mind while doing replies and such: 

consider who you’re writing with ( this includes their muse ! ) !! idk if this is obvious or not, but especially in rp you should be considering the other player and aspects of their muse. what sort of energy does the other give off, how would they react, etc. it honestly helps me to get excited about writing when i know more info that i can weave into the reply, and it shows ur partner u care !! a win win.

this isn’t exactly a writing tip, but i would say flesh out your muse as much as you can. in my experience, if you don’t have a good grasp on your character, it just makes it difficult to write ( and TBH for others to write with you ). i know in the group i’m in, we have optional tasks we can do that really help with building your muse, and it’s rlly one of the best ways to improve ur writing bc it’s like ... u just have a better understanding of them, you know ?

lastly, have fun. writing should be fun !! it should never ever be something ur stressing over especially in rp. write things you enjoy, things that make you happy ! if ur not feeling it, take a step back and come back. god i sound cheesy but. yeah. have fun. 

[mvlmo]

hi elisa ! what are your top 3 writing tips for rp ?

let’s see !

try to have a goal for each thread ! even when you post an open starter. when you’re writing the starter try to make sure there are different paths the threads can take. the goal can be as simple as exchanging names or letting the other character learn something about your character. honestly a good goal can be to help the other writer develop their character ??? if you’ve read the dash and know that the character is having trouble in paradise or something, you can try to get them to talk about it or start speaking in analogies. it’s great and the other person will appreciate it and you get to learn more about their character !

try to surprise the person you’re rping with. especially if you’re replying to an open. if it’s a simple coffee shop run-in, try not to write the same thing at least 3 people have already written. try to change the direction of the thread. when you’re surprising you’re more fun to write with. it makes you a wanted rp partner.

my pet peeves are following sentence: “she was really [trait]”, or anything similar. imo it’s a cheap shortcut in characterization. you can’t say your character is charming, smart, mannered, whatever. you have to show it. you have to make your replies speak for themselves. because you can say your character is a million things but no one is going to take you seriously if you don’t prove it. and if you’ve proven it, you don’t need to say it. obviously this doesn’t apply to intros / bios, but to replies. let’s say you’re writing out a debate and your character is losing it because, let’s face it, the other person’s character is just better at debating / has better points. if you go and say “this was uncommon because she was smart. she never lost because her opponents were usually so much less intelligent than she was.” while those two things may be right... it just... it just doesn’t work, i’m sorry. i think it’s why it’s better to also write through your character in these situations. add inner monologue ! “she was supposed to be smart! why was this happening ? she never ever lost! how humiliating.” and voila, you’re not desperately trying to convince the reader of something that... just seems untrue.

[crimsoneyedfairy-deactivated201]

Writing Advice: by Chuck Palahniuk In six seconds, you’ll hate me. But in six months, you’ll be a better writer. From this point forward—at least for the next half year—you may not use “thought” verbs. These include: Thinks, Knows, Understands, Realizes, Believes, Wants, Remembers, Imagines, Desires, and a hundred others you love to use. The list should also include: Loves and Hates. And it should include: Is and Has, but we’ll get to those later. Until some time around Christmas, you can’t write: Kenny wondered if Monica didn’t like him going out at night…” Instead, you’ll have to Un-pack that to something like: “The mornings after Kenny had stayed out, beyond the last bus, until he’d had to bum a ride or pay for a cab and got home to find Monica faking sleep, faking because she never slept that quiet, those mornings, she’d only put her own cup of coffee in the microwave. Never his.” Instead of characters knowing anything, you must now present the details that allow the reader to know them. Instead of a character wanting something, you must now describe the thing so that the reader wants it. Instead of saying: “Adam knew Gwen liked him.” You’ll have to say: “Between classes, Gwen had always leaned on his locker when he’d go to open it. She’s roll her eyes and shove off with one foot, leaving a black-heel mark on the painted metal, but she also left the smell of her perfume. The combination lock would still be warm from her butt. And the next break, Gwen would be leaned there, again.” In short, no more short-cuts. Only specific sensory detail: action, smell, taste, sound, and feeling. Typically, writers use these “thought” verbs at the beginning of a paragraph (In this form, you can call them “Thesis Statements” and I’ll rail against those, later). In a way, they state the intention of the paragraph. And what follows, illustrates them. For example: “Brenda knew she’d never make the deadline. was backed up from the bridge, past the first eight or nine exits. Her cell phone battery was dead. At home, the dogs would need to go out, or there would be a mess to clean up. Plus, she’d promised to water the plants for her neighbor…” Do you see how the opening “thesis statement” steals the thunder of what follows? Don’t do it. If nothing else, cut the opening sentence and place it after all the others. Better yet, transplant it and change it to: Brenda would never make the deadline. Thinking is abstract. Knowing and believing are intangible. Your story will always be stronger if you just show the physical actions and details of your characters and allow your reader to do the thinking and knowing. And loving and hating. Don’t tell your reader: “Lisa hated Tom.” Instead, make your case like a lawyer in court, detail by detail. Present each piece of evidence. For example: “During roll call, in the breath after the teacher said Tom’s name, in that moment before he could answer, right then, Lisa would whisper-shout ‘Butt Wipe,’ just as Tom was saying, ‘Here’.” One of the most-common mistakes that beginning writers make is leaving their characters alone. Writing, you may be alone. Reading, your audience may be alone. But your character should spend very, very little time alone. Because a solitary character starts thinking or worrying or wondering. For example: Waiting for the bus, Mark started to worry about how long the trip would take…” A better break-down might be: “The schedule said the bus would come by at noon, but Mark’s watch said it was already 11:57. You could see all the way down the road, as far as the Mall, and not see a bus. No doubt, the driver was parked at the turn-around, the far end of the line, taking a nap. The driver was kicked back, asleep, and Mark was going to be late. Or worse, the driver was drinking, and he’d pull up drunk and charge Mark seventy-five cents for death in a fiery traffic accident…” A character alone must lapse into fantasy or memory, but even then you can’t use “thought” verbs or any of their abstract relatives. Oh, and you can just forget about using the verbs forget and remember. No more transitions such as: “Wanda remembered how Nelson used to brush her hair.” Instead: “Back in their sophomore year, Nelson used to brush her hair with smooth, long strokes of his hand.” Again, Un-pack. Don’t take short-cuts. Better yet, get your character with another character, fast. Get them together and get the action started. Let their actions and words show their thoughts. You—stay out of their heads. And while you’re avoiding “thought” verbs, be very wary about using the bland verbs “is” and “have.” For example: “Ann’s eyes are blue.” “Ann has blue eyes.” Versus: “Ann coughed and waved one hand past her face, clearing the cigarette smoke from her eyes, blue eyes, before she smiled…” Instead of bland “is” and “has” statements, try burying your details of what a character has or is, in actions or gestures. At its most basic, this is showing your story instead of telling it. And forever after, once you’ve learned to Un-pack your characters, you’ll hate the lazy writer who settles for: “Jim sat beside the telephone, wondering why Amanda didn’t call.”

(via 1000wordseveryday)

[hshqresource]

if you’re ever looking for a specific word that you just can’t remember, this site is super helpful ! just type in a phrase or word to describe it and the site will usually be able to save your life.

[hshqresource]

if you click here, you’ll be redirected to a prompt generator — super useful for writing starters ! thank u lina. 

[phoebetalks-blog]

under the cut you’ll find #26 plot bunnies and connections that could be used when plotting with someone. all of these came from my own head and are split into three categories: friends/rivals, romantic relationships, and family/other.  please like/reblog if useful.

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