How do I go about naming a secret organization? I'm writing a plot for a roleplay and I always struggle with coming up with names for groups.
[ I have no idea how long these asks have been in my inbox since I haven’t logged in in ~2.5 years, but l guess I’ll answer them because I just logged in and why not ]
I am the worst at naming things!!! I would start by looking at lists of names of other secret organizations- I just glanced over this one and saw words like “National”, “Order”, “Society”, “Knights”, “Group”, “Sisterhood”. I kind of like society and order, so I’m thinking it’ll be “Society for the Order of” something. Now I might use something like this to brainstorm words that start with so-, so I can make a cool anagram for my organization. So far, I’m liking the words SONG, SOUL, and SONIC. Now I’ve got to think of words to complete the sentence.
SOCIETY for the ORDER of UNNAMED LEGENDS could be a bunch of anonymous hackers?
SOCIETY for the ORDER of NEFARIOUS GENTLEMEN could be some kind of fight club?
SOCIETY for the ORDER of NINE INDUSTRIAL COURT could be a society at the address 9 Industrial Ct?
Like I said, naming is not my strong suit. Come up with a few options and then just pick one- it’s not a big deal, and no matter what you call it, people will just get used to it.
Hello! I've been roleplaying in illiterate fb krps for who knows when and to be honest, it's getting lame and boring. So now, I want to join an au para rp (in tumblr) and I just don't know how it goes. Can you please enlighten me for the things that I should know as a noob? I'll be waiting for your reply. Thank you!
[ I have no idea how long these asks have been in my inbox since I haven’t logged in in ~2.5 years, but l guess I’ll answer them because I just logged in and why not ]
I’m guessing you’ve already solved this, so I’ll be brief:
Check the various KRP tags to find a roleplay with a concept you like.
When you find one that looks promising, read the plot and rules pages to see if you’re still interested.
Go to the masterlist for the RP and open a few random characters’ blogs to see if they’re posting the kind of content you want to write (multipara, script, gif chats, etc)
If you’re not feeling it, go back to the tags and start over.
If you are, great! Re-read the plot, rules, and any other pages the main page has for you.
Fill out your application following the directory’s specific instructions. When you’re done, re-read the instructions and double-check that your app is correct.
Create your blog. Most RPs require you to have a theme on your page- if you don’t know how to do that, this is a great place to start. Look at themes of other people in the RP you’re joining for inspiration, but don’t directly copy anything. You’ll probably want to make sure you at least have a navigation page, with links to a character bio, any other relevant pages on your blog (like a thread tracking page or a relationships page) and any tags you plan to use.
If you can find it on the blog somewhere, figure out what mode the people at this RP use to communicate OOC (AIM, Twitter, Skype, etc.). If they have an OOC blog, you won’t be able to access it until you’re in the RP.
You will need to know how to trim/cut your posts. You can use this guide, or you can use XKit.
Re-read the rules again, and double check that your blog and app both follow all of them.
Submit your application to the RP and wait to be accepted!
If you are rejected, see if you can find out why and see if you can do anything about it. If the admin says you can do something about it, do that. If they say you can’t, thank them for their time and start over at the beginning of this list.
From here on out, it really depends on the kind of RP you’re in. Going to the appropriate OOC forum (again, depends on what the RP uses) and saying “Hi, I’m brand-new to Tumblr RP and I’m still figuring things out. You guys seem great! Let’s write together!” is perfectly okay, there are almost always people there who will be kind and help you out.
If you decide you don’t like the RP, TELL THE ADMIN and then leave politely. It’s very rude to just stop posting or whatever without telling the admin first that you’ve decided to leave.
I didn't know who to ask so, I was just wondering but is it alright to take pictures of your characters faceclaim from there own social media accounts and use them for rp purposes, like making icons... If the fc is not used yet or lacking in icons.
[ I have no idea how long these asks have been in my inbox since I haven’t logged in in ~2.5 years, but l guess I’ll answer them because I just logged in and why not ]
If the celebrity is actually famous, yes, this is fine, but I’d make sure you’ve got a “this is an rp blog, not an impersonator” warning somewhere on there. For someone who’s famous, their social media accounts are pretty much advertising and they aren’t sharing stuff they don’t want the world to see.
If the FC is famous, but the picture is from a not-famous friend’s blog, you should probably not use it. That’s personal.
If you’re talking about someone who isn’t all that famous yet, I’d say it’s probably best to not do that. For them, their social media account might still feel more personal, and using their photos might feel like an invasion of privacy.
advice: how to tell if your character is a mary sue
If every single poor decision your character makes falls under one of these categories, you are probably writing a Sue. Don't worry, I've included tips on how to fix it.
Now I want to start off by saying that none of these qualities are, on their own, indicators of a Sue. For example, it's totally plausible that a well-rounded character would make bad decisions when drunk. However, for your character to be believable, they've got to be able to make bad decisions while sober, too.
1. The character has to be drunk or high in order to make a bad decision.
Bonus points if it's in your bio that character rarely or never drinks or uses.
Why it's a Sue thing:
A really, really common trait in Sues is that they can't make mistakes for themselves- they have to be tricked or forced into it. Flaws are the things that lead us towards making mistakes in the first place. While it's perfectly fine for characters to make mistakes while drunk or high (goodness knows it happens in real life), that can't be the only time they make mistakes- it's lazy characterization.
How to un-Sue it:
If you find yourself leaning too heavily on this trope, get rid of the alcohol/drugs. Are you getting your character drunk to get them into a fight? Ask yourself what it would take to get the same reaction while sober. Are you getting them high so they'll make a confession? If you really think about it, you can probably figure out how to get them to confess while sober. Really delve into your character's mind and figure out what it takes to break them and make them say or do things that they wouldn't normally say or do.
2. The character makes out-of-character mistakes.
For example:
The character isn't normally a snoop, but walks in on something they shouldn't see.
The character isn't normally clumsy but inexplicably falls/breaks something important.
The character is normally responsible but inexplicably forgets/loses something important.
Why it's a Sue thing:
It shows a lack of consistent characterization. What's the point of developing a character if major plot points are going to hinge on them acting out-of-character for no reason?
How to un-Sue it:
Integrate the flaw into their personality. Commit to making your character an invasive snoop or an inattentive klutz (note how I said inattentive! Keep in mind that clumsiness on its own is not a flaw) or carelessly forgetful. Next time something interesting happens, make them go nosing around where they don't belong and plot for realistic consequences to come of it. Make them the kind of person who is so lost in their own little world that they don't pay attention to what's going on around them. Make them a selfish character who only remembers things that are important to themselves.
Figure out a different, more in-character way to get to the mistake. Maybe your character isn't nosy, but maybe they have a competitive streak and can't back down from a challenge, so when someone dares them to look at something off-limits, they can't bring themselves to say no. Maybe your character isn't clumsy, but maybe they are careless and forget that they left the maguffin on top of the car before driving away. Maybe your character isn't irresponsible, but maybe they overestimate their own capabilities and get so bogged down in work they don't have time or energy for that they miss something really big and important. Make these characteristics consistent and make them have real, in-story consequences.
Spend time developing and clarifying the character's motive. Your character's never been nosy before- why is she suddenly nosy now? Give specific, in-story reasons for your characters to do things that wouldn't make sense under normal circumstances. Maybe your character's never snooped before- instead of having them randomly stumble across important information, give them a reason to go looking for that information and then send them after it (i.e. I never stick my nose in other people's business, but I just found out my sibling might be in a secret relationship with their high school teacher- I'm going to snoop in their phone). Let the character feel uncomfortable or out of their element with what they're doing, make them bad at it, make them feel guilty about it. Your character's not clumsy or forgetful- why has that changed all of a sudden? Were they out late the night before? Are they distracted by some other problem in their life? Don't just let stuff happen without reason- make the motive clear so that the story is believable.
4. The character's mistake is the direct result of (or, at least, closely related to) something that's not their fault.
For example:
The character is already painfully shy or has a stutter and messes up in a public speech.
The character has a panic attack related to a phobia or some past trauma and is unable to complete an important task.
The character has no training and therefore loses some kind of fight or match.
The character's physical or mental condition gets in the way of completing a task.
The character's overbearing mother embarrasses them at the worst possible moment.
Why it's a Sue thing:
Don't get me wrong- these kinds of things are part of normal, every day life and should be considerations when working on your character. But these are not flaws. When they are treated as flaws, they're lazy shortcuts toward gaining sympathy for your character without making them have to do anything unlikable.
How to un-Sue it:
Realize that they do not count as a character flaws. While your character may see these things as flaws, and the other characters with whom they interact may see these things as flaws, as a typist you need to remember that these things are not flaws on their own. A good rule of thumb is that for something to be a flaw, it has to be- at least to some degree- in the character's control. A character can't choose to have a stutter/phobia/physical or mental condition/their parents. These kinds of things are certainly important to a character, but they're not flaws, they're circumstances. Which means you've got to think of other actual flaws to give your character.
5. The character is "too nice".
Overly loyal, too giving, too kind, too friendly... conversely, if the character is "rude but doesn't mean it", too sarcastic but it's funny so no one cares- things that are traits but not really flaws.
Why it's a Sue thing:
This is like when people go on job interviews and say things like "I'm too dedicated to my job" or "I'm a bit of a perfectionist" when asked to name a flaw. These things can be flaws, but unless you actually understand how to make them flaws, they're little more than humblebrags. Same with rudeness or sarcasm- if it's done in a way that it just comes off as funny, it doesn't count as a flaw- if anything, humor is usually considered a positive trait.
How to un-Sue it:
Think through the specific ways these flaws are actually problematic for your character. If they're the only flaws your character has, they're going to have to have an impact. Your character is too nice? Maybe they don't know how to say no or they're afraid to say anything for fear of hurting someone's feelings. Maybe they constantly stick their nose in other people's conflicts where they don't belong and try to solve problems they have no part in. Overly loyal? Maybe they're possessive or controlling. Maybe they have stalkerish tendencies. Too friendly? Maybe they have terrible judgement in people and tend to put trust in people they shouldn't. Rude or sarcastic, but with good intentions? Maybe they're too proud to admit when they're wrong and will tell the other person they're being too sensitive if they get offended. Maybe they just plain cross the line too often.
I want to end by reiterating that none of these things are automatic Sue indicators. But, if you're consistently pulling from these tricks to come up with "flaws" for your character, maybe you need to head back to the drawing board for a bit.
Stuck plotting? Try asking the person you're plotting with this question:
Is there anything my character should definitely not say/do around yours?
This won't always help, but it'll at least get you started in the right direction. Conflict breeds plot, right?
For example, let's say the other person's character hates loud noises, so your character shouldn't make loud noises near them.
On a very basic level, this question can at least narrow down your potential plots- no loud noises? Okay, so no clubs, no fireworks shows, no action movies, no concerts, etc. Or, if your character is antagonistic, it might mean that they'll intentionally force the other character into situations that involve loud noises- maybe they sneak up behind them and clap right next to their ear or they honk their horn really loudly at the person in the parking lot.
Maybe your nice character doesn't know about this aversion to loud noises and innocently exposes the other character to them- for example, by throwing them a surprise party where everyone jumps out and yells SURPRISE and blows party honkers. Maybe your nice character is aware of the loud noises issue and gifts the other character with a crate of those little foam earplugs. Maybe your characters get stuck in a situation where they're unwillingly exposed to loud noises (like they're stuck somewhere during a loud thunderstorm or someone starts setting off fireworks near their house)- does their character freak out? Try to swallow their fear? Does your character try to help them? Or do they tell them to just buck up and deal with it? Do they ignore it? How does the other person's character feel about this reaction?
You don't have to use your character's biggest pet peeve or some huge plot point. Maybe your character just hates a certain song and cringes when she hears it, or she hates people who take eight items in the seven-items-or-less line at the grocery store. Even a small bit of contention gives you a starting point.
So I recently received a link to this post from a typist who I consider a friend. Lately, this person has been saying a lot of things like "you're one of my best friends" and "you're like my second family", and I get the impression that they want me to answer in kind, and that's why I'm writing this post today.
It's wonderful if you love your para partners/directory. It's great if you think of them as your friends or a second family. But be careful in how you express that love.
Look, I'm the biggest mushball of feelings and affection you'll ever meet. I love my para partners, some of them have become great friends. But if you start telling me over and over again "you're one of my best friends" or "you're like my family (or second family)", I'm going to start getting uncomfortable, and will probably start to back off of our OOC friendship.
I'm just a roleplayer. I'm here to have a good time. And while I'm usually more than happy to listen to your OOC problems or goof off on skype with you, I'm not here to meet your emotional needs. I'm here to take part in a hobby I happen to enjoy. It's one thing to love me and want to be my friend (chances are the feelings are mutual), but it's a whole other thing when it starts to verge on neediness. I can't be your parent or sibling or child or whatever it is you want me to be- I can be your friend from roleplay. That's it.
Have any of you have been through this same issue with clingy typists? How did you handle it and how did it turn out?
