The Basics of Good RPG PBeM Writing

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The Basics of Good RPG PBeM Writing
Tweet Topic Started: Jan 1 2017, 04:46 PM (77 Views)
New Rogernomics	Jan 1 2017, 04:46 PM Post #1
Ghost of Kitties Past Posts: 2,732 Group: Citizen Member #174 Joined: Jul 2, 2015 Alignment Lawful Good Political Views Independent Nation in Lazarus Rogernomics Discord NewRogernomics	The Basics of Good RPG PBeM Writing Written by Rebecca Tifft-Donovan There are two common misconceptions about quality writing; the first is that quality writing can be achieved simply by using good writing techniques and the second is that quality writing can simply be achieved by having an interesting plot. In fact, quality writing can only be achieved when a balance is formed between the two. This basic writing course was made in an attempt to assist new PBeM writers, and perhaps encourage more people to start games of their own. Before we venture into the depths of proper grammar and punctuation, I have one suggestion to make. Game Masters (GM's) should always write their turns out in a word processor then transfer the text into their email program for delivery to players. This practice not only assists in keeping spelling errors to a minimum, but can also allow the GM to easily correct common grammar problems. Some word processors like Word 97, for example, have built in routines that check your grammar. To access them (in Word 97) simply click on 'Tools' then 'Options.' Click on the 'Spelling & Grammar' tab. Make sure that there are checks next to 'Check grammar as you type' or 'Check grammar with spelling.' Either way, grammatical errors will appear as a wavy green line either as you are typing or when you spell check your document. You will also have to set the writing style; I suggest 'Formal.' Additionally, you can choose to 'Show readability statistics,' which allows you to see how the computer rates your document. At the end of your spell check the computer will tell you how many words you've used as well as what grade level would be most appropriate for your document based on the length of your words and sentences. You should probably be shooting for a grade level between 5 and 10. It also gives a readability percentage (the Flesch Reading Ease), try to keep that above 75%. Passive voice sentences should be limited though sometimes they work far better than active voice depending on the situation. Keep your passive voice as low as possible, certainly no more than 20%. Basic Tips to Good Writing 1. Be Consistent If you use a certain type of speech or slang or certain types of symbols to represent a break in the story, be sure to keep using it throughout the writing. Nothing will confuse a player more than changing dialects or slang terms. 2. Build Continuity Reread the last turn you sent before writing the next turn. Keep in mind that you said the dragon was to the left, not the right. If the innkeeper's name was Harold two turns ago, it should still be Harold when the PC's return. Unless, of course, Harold died suddenly and his twin brother Arnold took over the family inn. However, if that is the case, make sure you have the heartbroken Arnold inform the players of his brother's untimely death. 3. Know Your World(s) Well This is a subcategory of being consistent. If you have stated that elves are seven feet tall with snow-white hair and purple eyes, do not allow a player to have a four-foot elf with bright red hair and blue eyes without a good background explanation. Remember that exceptions to the rules you have set for your world are rare. If you accept an exceptional elf into your party, do not have them run into three or four more elves that bend the rules. Likewise do not have the Elite Battle Guard of the Kernoshian Empire arrive in blue power armor one day and red the next unless it is a special holiday that calls for the wearing of red by imperial order. 4. Write Believably If you want the High Senator of Ackrendar to be from a Celtic-inspired world and speak in an Irish brogue, use the proper grammar, style, and dialect rules. To aid you in your quest of proper dialects, we have developed a few guides for you: Knightly Speech and Scottish/Irish Brogue. 5. Proofread Once you finish writing the turn, reread it. Then reread the previous turn and the one you just finished together. They should flow together smoothly. Additionally, proofreading your work will allow you to catch errors the spelling and grammar checker may have missed. 6. Plan Your Plot in Advance Have a master plan well laid out in advance. PC's tend to do strange things that test even the best-laid plans (of mice and men), but having a well developed plot will help pull you out of the tough spots. It will also help ensure that your villains remain consistent to their character. 7. Vary Your Sentence Structure It is quickly and exceedingly dull to read even a short narrative wherein all the sentences seem to be stamped out by cookie cutters. In order to keep interest, it is advisable to alter the structure of your sentences. Boring: The bandit troop moved quickly through the forest. They set up an ambush several miles outside of town. They waited quietly for the Mennocin caravan to arrive. The troop attacked the caravan. More interesting: The bandit troop moved quickly through the forest. Several miles outside of town they set up an ambush. As the caravan slowly approached, the bandits crouched quietly in the bushes. With a fierce war cry they leapt from the bushes and descended on the caravan. Common Errors 1. Dialogue Spoken words should always be encased in double quotation marks (" and "). Further, only one person should be speaking in any given paragraph. Switching to a second speaker indicates you should switch to a new paragraph. Commas should separate spoken words within a sentence. Further, commas should always be confined within the quotation marks. Groa looked up from her writing desk, "What do you want?" Her tone was cold, indicating her displeasure at being interrupted. "I take it you have something of great import to tell me." "Yes," Ruick replied, "we have just received word that the House of Mennocin is planning to export a large shipment of weapons north to Verboda at dawn." "Good." Groa smiled, "Tell the men to prepare to ride." 2. Tense This goes along with being consistent. Past tense is most often used in writing; the reader reads as if the events have already taken place. Present tense is less commonly used and, in my humble opinion, more cumbersome to read. However, either tense is equally correct. The main problem with tense is that people tend to switch tenses from turn to turn, or sometimes even in the middle of a turn. (I know I have done it once or twice.) This error most often comes from GM's pasting character responses, which are often in present tense, into turns, which are often written in past tense. Wrong: Ruick nods and leaves the tent. Outside the men were scattered about the small encampment; they were playing cards, sharpening their weapons, or sleeping. "All right, men," Ruick shouts, "We've got work to do, let's saddle up!" Right: Ruick nodded and exited the tent. Outside the men were scattered about the small encampment; they were playing cards, sharpening their weapons, or sleeping. "All right, men," Ruick shouted, "We've got work to do, let's saddle up!" 3. Who/Whom In modern speech, the word whom is almost unheard of. However, in RPG writing, especially fantasy, the use of the word is most appropriate provided it is used correctly. Who is correct when used as the subject of a sentence, the subject being the thing doing the action of the sentence. Groa stepped out of her tent and addressed the assembled men. "Who brought the news of Mennocin's shipment from town?" Whom is correct when used as the object of the sentence, the object being the thing receiving the action of the sentence. Groa stepped out of her tent and addressed the assembled men. "Whom do I have to thank for the news of Mennocin's shipment?" In the first example, someone brought the news of the shipment. That someone was the subject; they did the action. Conversely, in the second example, Groa would like to thank someone for bringing the news. Groa is the subject (I in the example) and the person she has to thank is the object since that person is receiving the action. 4. Subject/Verb Agreement It is important to make sure that your subject and your verb agree with one another. This does not mean they must be on speaking terms; instead, this means that they should both be singular or plural in nature. While this sounds simple, this type of error is actually very common. Keeping your writing in past tense does help to deal with this problem as many past tense verbs do not alter between singular and plural. Wrong: The troop of bandits are menacing in appearance. Both Groa and Ruick is pleased with the troop's readiness. Either Groa or Ruick were going to lead the troop in the attack. Right: The troop of bandits is menacing in appearance. Both Groa and Ruick are pleased with the troop's readiness. Either Groa or Ruick was going to lead the troop in the attack. In the first example, the troop, not bandits, is the subject. Troop, while indicating multiple members, is a singular noun and requires a singular verb. This is the most common form of this error. The second example shows a noun linked by the word and. Though each individual noun is singular, the linked noun is plural and requires a plural verb. Finally, when nouns are linked by the word or, the verb should agree with the noun closest to the verb as shown in the third example. 5. Pronoun Agreement In addition to your subjects and verbs agreeing with one another, your pronouns should also agree with your subjects. Wrong: The bandits each mounted their horses and prepared their weapons. "If someone spots Ricktor Mennocin, they are to bring him to me. I want him alive." Riders burst into the encampment. Clearing his throat he said, "The caravan has left the city." Right: The bandits mounted their horses and prepared their weapons. "If someone spots Ricktor Mennocin, he or she is to bring him to me. I want him alive." Riders burst into the encampment. The lead rider cleared his throat before he said, "The caravan has left the city." Care must be taken when using words such as: everybody, anybody, anyone, each, neither, nobody, and someone. These words indicate the need for a singular pronoun: he, she, or it. The first example shows how to correct the problem by eliminating the word each; bandits requires a plural pronoun so use of the word their is acceptable. The second example shows the correct form using a singular pronoun. Though he or she is used, either pronoun could have been used independently, depending, of course, on the make up of the group. The third example shows a singular pronoun referring to the plural subject of the previous sentence. The corrected form redefines the subject of the second sentence making the singular pronoun correct. 6. Contractions While often used in everyday speech, contractions are inappropriate for writing and should not be used outside of dialogue. Wrong: Tonight she'd finally begin her revenge on the House of Mennocin. "If this shipment is as large as you claim, Gregor, I'd say it was worth the wait." Right: Tonight she would finally begin her revenge on the House of Mennocin. "If this shipment is as large as you claim, Gregor, I'd say it was worth the wait." 7. Apostrophes Though usually helpful punctuation can be easily misused in a variety of ways. Wrong: The horse snorted, clearing the scent of blood from it's nose. Lucas's arm hung limply at his side Groa circled to the wagon's back. Right: The horse snorted, clearing the scent of blood from its nose. Lucas' arm hung limply at his side. Groa circled to the back of the wagon. It's is the contraction of it is. Its is the possessive form of it. Nouns ending in s should not have the standard 's added for possessiveness, instead only the apostrophe should be added. Inanimate objects should not be given the human quality of possessiveness as shown in the third example. 8. Commas I have noticed that comma errors fall into one of two categories: over-usage or under-usage. Errors of either form can easily lead to writing that is difficult to understand at best. Try to keep these guidelines in mind when using commas. Commas should separate any phrase that is unnecessary to the sentence. The following example could simply read: Sample: The bandits attacked the caravan in a fury. Should Read: The bandits, riled to a murderous rage by Groa's moving speech, attacked the caravan in a fury. Dependent clauses should also be separated from the main independent clause of the sentence by a comma. For her part, Groa fought with a determination unmatched by any of the bandits. Commas should separate phrases beginning with which, but not those beginning with that. Phrases beginning with that often limit the preceding noun while phrases beginning with which often give more information. The bandits slaughtered the caravan guards that did not immediately surrender. The caravan, which was loaded with supplies of weapons, was stripped clean. Do not use a comma to join two sentences together. Instead, restructure the sentence, form two sentences or use a semicolon. Wrong: The bandits returned to the encampment, they celebrated their victory. Right: The bandits returned to the encampment to celebrate their victory. The bandits returned to the encampment. They celebrated their victory. The bandits returned to the encampment; they celebrated their victory. When listing items, commas should be used between each item. The use of a final comma before the and at the end of a list is a question of style, just remember to be consistent. Either of the two examples below would be correct, but should not be used together. When tallied, the raid had cost the bandits one horse, twenty arrows, and the services of two men while they recovered from wounds. Groa considered the raid a success, however. The bandits recovered three cases of steel swords, fifteen quivers of arrows, three prisoners and two casks of ale. 9. Commonly Confused Words Be sure to use the proper word for the meaning you intend. Some words to watch out for are: affect, effect, there, their, and they're. By combining proper use of grammar and punctuation with an intriguing story, you have the beginnings of great narrative. Weather used in a pbem or in straight fiction, I hope that these basics have helped. Good Writing. For those interested, this article contains 2505 words and 10% passive sentences. It has a readability of 69.8% and a grade level of 6.6. Sourced from defunct RPG site.



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