PLOTTING 101: FOUNDATIONS IN BUILDING DYNAMICS
the age old question of "how do i plot?" is one that has floated around the rpc for as long as i've been around (and that's a long time). i wrote quite a comprehensive guide for a discord rp, but i thought it would be worth putting out into the community just in case other people find it worth while. it's a guide to provide everyone with some good foundations into plotting, how to get the best out of everyone when it comes to plotting, and give a bit of a steer for those who might be struggling to come up with some ideas.
RESPONDING TO PLOTTING CALLS
this is the first, and most obvious way to try and get some plots with people. if you are responding to a plotting call, nobody is asking you to have a fully fledged plot in mind to pitch to that person. however, it's usually a good idea to have at least a couple of muses in mind (if you have several) as options to pair them off. this could be friendly, it could be rivalry, it could be shipping. please make sure you check that the mun is opening to ships for that muse before you launch into all things romantic though, please! if you are responding to a muse-specific plotting call, it's a good idea to go and read through the muse info if you haven't already. it's polite to have a rough idea as to the muse you're hoping to get plots with, and makes conversation easier. it's for this reason that it's really important that bios are kept up to date and accessible, with ideally as much information as you can muster. dropping a few wanted connections for that muse in their bio can also help drive these conversations.
SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER
when it comes to coming up with ideas, there are a number of different things to consider and i would strongly recommend going to read this list because g at @pocmuzings truly did an amazing job at providing these steer questions!
CONNECTIONS
there's no doubt that people can be interlinked. it's important that where connections might overlap, we keep everyone updated. it's not godmodding to talk to people about potential connections for other muses –– but it is if you decide an outcome without speaking to the mun first. for example, if you're plotting with someone about your muse who has a sibling, you should mention that they speak to the mun of that sibling too! it might be that it expands their connection, forges new plots! similarly, using any wanted connections channel is super important. it's a first port of call for some people when they are looking at picking up a new muse, so any big connections that form part of a plot you want to do, should be dropped in there. please remember though, that with rp you get out what you put into it. please don't expect everyone else to pick up your wanted connections, if you're perhaps not willing to pick any up yourself. it can be quid pro quo, and sometimes the best plots come out that way!
FLEXIBILITY
muses are all special to each of their muns, i have no doubt. however, being rigid in their portrayal, be it canon or oc, can stunt the movement of plots in a group environment. especially if you have one set plot in mind for a character you write, it might close off options for other plots with other muses that could be equally as enjoyable. you might have always written your oc as attending the same med school for as long as you've had them, but if it's not crucial, why not change it to allow for a connection to another muse, to add a link into a back story? we're not saying you need to change everything about all of your muses at all. but it's important to keep in mind that sometimes in order for plots to really pay off, things can be tweaked and amended to prompt drama and ultimately make threads more fun. stepping away from a fixed idea for a muse can also do this, it's so important to be open minded!
"YES, AND!" OR "NO, BUT!"
this is truly the best thing to keep in mind when it comes to plotting. it only truly works when each mun is just as invested in an outcome. if someone presents an idea to you that you like, instead of just saying "okay!" or "sounds good!" try and adopt the "yes, and!" method. this means yes agreeing to their idea, but add something else to it. for example, "that sounds good! perhaps they can also end up on the same surgery and stuck in the same room together!" this is truly how to get plots rolling and eventually coming up with something really exciting! in the same vein, if something is put to you that feels a little out of character for your muse, go with the "no, but!" approach. there are ways to politely say that it doesn't fit with your muse, but using but provides you an option to put forward an alternative. "my muse doesn't drink so that wouldn't work, but they do spend a lot of time at XXX location, would that work instead?" is an example of the "no, but!" method! it keeps the conversation flowing which is crucial when it comes to plotting. not putting forward alternatives, or helping to expand on an idea, puts more pressure on the mun you're plotting with and it's not fair for them to come up with all of the ideas, even more so if you don't have muse information accessible for them to work from. we want everyone to have fun, and not feel like they are carrying the weight of plotting for their muses. thank you!
