by Di Readers are turned off by players with pretentious, phony character voices and mannerisms. Explanation? Too often inexperienced and experienced Roleplayers both feel that they must sound or look especially scholarly, scientific, or sophisticated for them to be convincing or effective. The contrary is often true. When your character or you yourself seem to assume a voice not of your own, of keeping to your character, you don't sound believable -OR- interesting. You sound fake, phony. You or your character is pretending to be something s/he is not. Most often, other players what you have to say, and the best way to communicate is to do it naturally. After all- I'm sure we've all seen at least one aloof, high-footed, elf who knows about genetics and speaks with the oh-so-common carefully articulated voice and large words. Ask yourself- was that interesting to you to play -OR- to listen to? If so- good for you, if not... well, read on. Some seem also to believe that to write a good story or session it is nessecary to use a host of unfamiliar, unpronounceable, polysyllabic words gleaned from their handy thesaurus. Again, the opposite is often true. Most writers can agree of this point, after all, Mark Twain once said "Never use a twenty-five cent word when a ten-cent word will do." In other words, avoir pretention in your sessions just as you do in real, everyday conversations. Simple, direct words you or your character would use often and naturally work. It makes you seem more sincere or reasonable at times. Would you walk up to your friends on the street and use huge words or scientific terms with perfectly articulated, slow-said words? Keep in mind that all of this can be ignored if your character WOULD use that type of speech! This is suggestion, not bash. One other thing while I'm at it. Readers want to see what you see, feel what you feel in character. Meaning? Writing that is vague (Such as *Walks accross the room to sit on a stool*) keeps your fellow players from fully sharing the information or experience your character is trying to communicate. Whay DID Joe Bob see as he walked accross the room, did he notice people? Was there an empty drink at the bar, did he have to elbow his way through the room? Clear, precise language full of concrete details and specific explanations allow your fellow players know you understand your subject and that you want them- the people whom you want to interact with- to understand it too. Even a potentially dull topic such as tuning a car can become engaging if the right details are used in the right places! Terror as blue sparks leap under your nose when the wrong wire is touched, the sight and struggle as your screwdriver slips from your greasy hands into the oil pan, the sudden shooting pain as the wrench slips and nails your knuckles, turning them to raw hamburger. Get your fellow players interested and involved on a moe personal level, and they may listen to what your character has to say later on. Details also persuade you fellow player that you're a authority on a particular subject; after all, no reader likes to waste time on someone whose vague, tentative prose stylr announces "I sort-of know what I'm doing/talking about here." How many one-liner, vague posts have YOU skipped over today, after all? Again- this applies if YOU like it. I'm not saying do it or die, I'm only trying to suggest things to people out there. There's a lot more I wanted to write- but, I'm not going to waste ALL your time on the Board with this! |
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