Posting Guidelines

[The Dark One]

Threads:

We ask that when you create, finish, or the status changes for a thread, that you use our drop down selection of labels for it.

Labels can be applied / removed by a couple of methods:

• The first is by going to the Thread List and ticking the checkbox of each thread to affect, clicking the Actions dropdown and mousing over Labels that can be added or removed.
• The other method is while you're viewing the thread. Click the Actions dropdown and mouse over Labels to see the labels that can be added or removed.

Label options:
Open Thread
Closed Thread
Thread On Hold
Historical Thread
Dates (If there is not an option for the date you need, please ping staff and we will add it!)



Formatting:

We ask that you don't stylize or overly color the font without reason. Some people (myself included) may find it difficult to read. It is completely understandable however, to increase the font size if you need to. If your post is overly stylized, staff may edit it back to our default settings. We will not change your writing, only the formatting, to ensure that everyone will be able to comfortably read it.

All posts should be in third person and within posts, we like to do all "inner thought" (that is, anything your character is thinking to themselves, rather than saying out loud) in italics. This is a post by post site, significantly different from a chat RP (that anyone here may or may not have done in the past). What that means is you write a proverbial piece of a story (a post) from your character's point of view. You are not allowed to see anyone else's point of view or use things that they have thought internally as if they had been said aloud, so this helps to clarify what's going on when other members are reading through your post.

Still on the subject of dialog, all "out loud" speaking should be separated from the bodies of text describing action and thought. When quoting another character in a previous post we usually either put the quoted dialog in bold or use the quote tool in the post toolbar.


Example:

Rowan walked into the room and took a seat next to the window. The snow falls so much earlier here in the Borderlands. She shivered slightly through the blue silk of her gown, as if feeling the cold intimately. As Lord Rian walked into the room, she stood to greet him,



"Good morning to you, Lord Rian. It is an honor to be in your household."



The Shienaran bowed his head graciously to her. "My Queen, we offer you the warmest of welcomes on this chilly day. Please accept this offering."



Rowan eyed him suspiciously as he took a seat and began pulling out the stones, one by one, each bigger than the last. This was far too much for a welcome gift.

We realize this format is a bit askew from the general use of dialog in novels and the like, but again, it really helps to clarify in posts what is going on.



Grammar: 

As with any writing, do what you can to spell and grammar check. Naturally you'll not catch everything, every time, but do the best you can. Give it a read through before hitting that reply button or better yet, run it through a spell checker (most internet browsers do this automatically, or go ahead and run it through a check in Word or Google Docs). A word processor also doubles as a safety net in case stuff goes down and you lose your work. If you are posting with your phone and you cannot utilize other programs, please take the time to check the box in your profile that will allow the site to save drafts for you. Go to: Profile - Settings - Enable Drafts.

Other recommended grammar checkers: Grammarly and the Hemingway App.



Post Length: 

wuh-oh! The dreaded word count! LOL! No, I'm kidding, we'll not be so harsh as all that, but it is important to remember that posts do need to be of a decent length for the RP to continue. My own personal goal when writing a post is simply to make sure it is longer than the space my avatar takes on the left side. Generally I think that two or three paragraphs, three to four sentences each, is a solid post, anything above that is extra icing on the cake! Oh, and no using chat speak on the IC boards. R U serious? Y would U write like this? Its 4 Messengers! Also ThIs Is NoT aCcEpTaBlE, LiKe AnYwHeRe...


Substance - Each post should have two parts:


1. The characters reactions (emotionally, physically), thoughts (mentally) and responses (verbally) -- This sounds like a lot, but it is really quite simple, if you are stuck, sometimes it helps to put yourself in a similar situation and imagine what you would do. (If you are starting a thread, try to tie in whatever brought you to that new beginning point).



2. The second part is a bit more difficult to do at times. This is where you advance the storyline (plot) through your own character's actions and words. You should always make sure the character(s) posting after you have enough to build off of for their own post(s).

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Now that I've likely scared the bejeezus out of everyone with our ridiculously high expectations, relax. These are guidelines, not actual rules. We will not be tyrants in enforcing these by any means. We like to just think of this as a challenge, even for ourselves, to push the boundaries and become better RPers one post at a time! Ha!