The Continuous Story Format / Reading Experience

[Dominator / Mortimer]

So, I'm looking for a little bit of feedback here, if you guys are able to spare a few minutes.

Those of you who regularly read my stories may or may not have noticed that I am writing in continuity, whereby some things might be missed on the reader if they have not read through a previous roleplay in the series. I do this by design, as I WANT people to go back and read through the story if there is something that they think to themselves 'that doesn't make sense.' To try and waver this, I try to repeat general plot points in every roleplay so that anybody new who is reading my stuff 

For example, you've probably noticed that I use the following phrases (or similarly worded phrases) in every RP for the past few weeks;

* Dawn's abduction
* Amy's estranged husband
* The Watchmen
* The Bird Man

'Family Guy' does something similar; saying a basic plot point so that anybody tuning in immediately is able to pick up on what plot has already passed on a basic level. I do this for the same reason, as well as allude to them as key plot points in the ongoing story that I am trying to tell.

I guess I am just curious to see whether people read the RPs as they are intended, or if people have their own ways of interpreting what I'm writiing.

For guys like Kyle Shane and Nathan Saniti, who have literally been reading my stuff for YEARS, they are most likely to pick up on little 'cameo' moments that I like to throw in from time to time as well that just alludes to my past characters.

One negative that I seem to have in terms of writing the events chronologically is that sometimes a lot may happen in the space of one day, but referring to times and dates all the time might make the reader wonder 'well, what happened on all the other days?' Some of the events I write about are often depicted as problems that require fast solutions. Given that I write one RP every two weeks make it difficult to make the timescales seem 'realistic.' I don't know if anyone else thinks this or if it is just me.

I also feel that I use far too many 'similar phrases and words' across each RP. Words like 'smile, growl, frown, realise, understand,' to name a few. I've tried wording things differently (different is another word I use too often) but it hard to make something sound so different when you use it so often.

Based on my current situation, I realise you might be thinking to yourselves why I am asking for feedback at all?

The main reason is; I absolutely LOVE writing this gimmick right now. When I get immersed in something, all I want to do is to make it a better experience from both a reader's and writer's point of view. My ambition is to write a proper novel and have it published some day. The more feedback I get now, the better chance I have of honing my craft before making that leap into writing professionally.

Thanks in advance, you guys!

Tait

[Stormm]

I've been writing this way for years. I know it works against me at times, as it does't always fit the PCW mold for scoring and such, but it's how I enjoy writing, as I like to tell a continued story. I also have plans to kind of rework how I do it a bit in the near future with my RPs to not only help the reader, but myself as a writer as well.

Honestly, the biggest thing in this hobby (or writing in general), is to write how you want, and to write what you think people are going to want to read. Not to write what and how people tell you to. If you get enjoyment out of the continued story versus the one-offs, then that's what you stick to.

As evident by your current status, in character, and all that, what you are doing has and continues to work for you, so if you that's how you enjoy writing more, then it's obviously translating well to what people are reading. I've only had a chance to read a few of yours, and while there are things that kind of go over my head a bit, I always play it out in my head as something from previous RPs that I could either go find and read, or just fill in the gaps to the best of my ability and continue reading.

As soon as you start writing something that you don't enjoy, that's when this game stops being fun too. From me, personally, I enjoy the continued story, even if, as a reader, I'm not there for ALL of it. As a writer, it's my preference, and even if people aren't reading everything, I don't mind if they just try to fill in the gaps, but also like to call back to certain things subtly to keep people up to speed, or to peak their interest to go back and read previous RPs they may have missed.

TL;DR... You do you, and keep having fun! (If any of this made any sense at all, that is. I'm pretty hyped up on caffeine right now.)

[Dominator / Mortimer]

Mar 27, 2018 11:27:42 GMT -5 Stormm said:

As evident by your current status, in character, and all that, what you are doing has and continues to work for you, so if you that's how you enjoy writing more, then it's obviously translating well to what people are reading. I've only had a chance to read a few of yours, and while there are things that kind of go over my head a bit, I always play it out in my head as something from previous RPs that I could either go find and read, or just fill in the gaps to the best of my ability and continue reading.

As soon as you start writing something that you don't enjoy, that's when this game stops being fun too. From me, personally, I enjoy the continued story, even if, as a reader, I'm not there for ALL of it. As a writer, it's my preference, and even if people aren't reading everything, I don't mind if they just try to fill in the gaps, but also like to call back to certain things subtly to keep people up to speed, or to peak their interest to go back and read previous RPs they may have missed.

This is pretty much exactly what I wanted to know. If readers are filling in the blanks and making their own assumptions, so long as it does not confuse their understanding of what is happening, then that works fine for me.

I appreciate the feedback, my dude! Thank you.

I'll buy you a Red Bull.

[Gerard Angelo]

I enjoy your RPs for the few I've read in my short time here. I get a real novelistic feel from your RPs.

[Joka]

In NEW I tagged with Bobby Backdoor (Before you ask, yes, he was a retired gay pornstar) and we would always brainstorm to come up with a unique new story to tell each week. That was the single hardest and most satisfying efedding experience I've ever had. It is hard as FAWK to come up with new shenanigans for yer character to get into each week. Continuous stories are moderately easy and very rewarding, as you and everyone else get to see a character grow and evolve.

Most of the time... that's how I roll. It tells a better story in the long run to have yer roleplays connected. Also... you were right. I'm new to yer roleplays and the style has caused me to go back and look for the prequels. So yer doin' it right, dude.

*Kicks Dom in the bawls* Keep up the good work.

[Grimm]

Mar 27, 2018 11:27:42 GMT -5 Stormm said:

Honestly, the biggest thing in this hobby (or writing in general), is to write how you want, and to write what you think people are going to want to read. Not to write what and how people tell you to. If you get enjoyment out of the continued story versus the one-offs, then that's what you stick to.

.........

As soon as you start writing something that you don't enjoy, that's when this game stops being fun too.

This.

But I would personally take out the “write what you think people are going to want to read” part, because once you try to tailor your work to what you think the rest of us want to see, you’ll probably end up with some kind of mess. You can’t make everyone happy all of the time so don’t go down that road. Write what you would want to read. At this point in PCW’s existence, it feels to me like a place where most of us are here because we like to tell stories, and if those stories get us some imaginary wins and titles in a make-believe wrestling world, so much the better. If not, oh well.

[Dominator / Mortimer]

Thank you for your input, guys. It means a lot that you'd take the time out to reply to my request and give genuinely helpful feedback.

The main thing for me is that I am enjoying what I write, but at the same time I would like to see everyone enjoy reading it. As Grimm said, I'm not going to please everybody all of the time, but if 9 out of 10 people enjoy it and just 1 out of 10 hate it, then that's a good enough ratio for me.

Joka and Gerard, I'm glad you've read through some of my previous work as well. The rolling story immediately gives you something to work with in the next piece rather than write one-shots all the time, so I'm glad you're both enjoying. Again, thanks for your kind words.

And Joka, my balls haven't been kicked in so long... it's almost like I've missed you around here.

[Joka]

Mar 28, 2018 7:29:11 GMT -5 Dominator / Mortimer said:

Thank you for your input, guys. It means a lot that you'd take the time out to reply to my request and give genuinely helpful feedback.

The main thing for me is that I am enjoying what I write, but at the same time I would like to see everyone enjoy reading it. As Grimm said, I'm not going to please everybody all of the time, but if 9 out of 10 people enjoy it and just 1 out of 10 hate it, then that's a good enough ratio for me.

Joka and Gerard, I'm glad you've read through some of my previous work as well. The rolling story immediately gives you something to work with in the next piece rather than write one-shots all the time, so I'm glad you're both enjoying. Again, thanks for your kind words.

And Joka, my balls haven't been kicked in so long... it's almost like I've missed you around here.

*Kicks you in the bawls again for gettin' all mushy on me*

[Dominator / Mortimer]

Mar 28, 2018 7:36:22 GMT -5 Joka said:

Mar 28, 2018 13:36:22 GMT 1 Tha Joka said:



*Kicks you in the bawls again for gettin' all mushy on me*

Yeah, I kinda saw that one coming...