How To Write A Compelling RP Starter

The starter of an RP can arguably be the most important part. With this brief guide, hopefully you will feel confident writing them to share with others and they will provide a solid foundation for your RP to progress well.


QUESTIONS TO ASK OF YOUR STARTER


Is it literate?
Check spelling, grammar, structure, logic, stylistic points, readability, word repetition, etc. [have a look at this checklist] This is your intro to the RP. It can't be sloppy. This might be the first time someone new is seeing your work after agreeing to RP with you. Or the first time a new friend sees you in their feed. First impressions count. There are tons of tools online and built into almost every app anymore for spelling and grammar assistance. When in doubt, have a friend proofread for you; they oftentimes catch things programs won't.


Does it set up the premise of the RP?
The premise is the foundation of your story. Without a clear premise, spinning out a coherent plot is going to be difficult, if not impossible. A story premise can usually be stated in one sentence, but you're going to want to expand on that in your starter without losing sight of the core concept.

For instance, the premise of Harry Potter could be stated as: "A boy attending a boarding school full of wizards and witches battles an evil wizard trying to take over the world". Every story has ONE premise. Only one. This premise is the underlying idea of your story - the foundation that supports your entire plot.

If you can establish what your premise is at the beginning of your project, everybody will have an easier time writing the story. That's because the fundamental concept you create in advance will drive the actions of your characters. This usually is the first step in plotting with your co-authors, so by the time the starter happens, you should be pretty familiar with it and have it clarified in your head.

Once you establish your premise, then the plot is what proves it. The discipline of expressing your driving idea will prevent you from wandering too far from your original concept and keep your plot on a steady path from the beginning through the middle to the end. It will also help you craft a story that works, keep your RP partners interested, and hook readers in for the ride.



Does it introduce your character adequately?
You don't need to give your entire backstory in the starter, but you do need to establish why your character is there. Some background and internal musing can be included to round out that characterization, but be sure to have your character firmly anchored in the present moment in which the story is taking place. If your plot is set in the modern era, but your character muses about their life in the 1800s all during the starter, readers are going to have trouble following and your co-authors are going to have nothing to latch onto to bring their characters into the story.



Does it give the other writers something to work off of?
In pool, I've heard it called "a bad leave" - it's where you screw your opponent by leaving the cue ball in a location that makes it difficult for them to make a shot on their turn. Remember that your co-authors are not your competitors in this. The starter is a platform for them to enter the story with you. You have to give them some way to get their hooks into the story and bring their characters in without it seeming forced or merely tacked on.




THINGS TO AVOID

Do not godmode or introduce the other characters.
That's their job on their turn. Brief mentions are fine.

Don't ramble.
Readers need to be hooked in the first paragraph and drawn along through your starter in a clear progression of thought and events. Doing a whole shitload of backstory at this point will lose them. You'll have other chances to tell your character's story along the way: don't blow your whole wad here.

Don't be vague.
By the end of your starter, readers should know where they are, what's happening, and how your character is involved. There should be a clear opening for other characters to join.

But don't be too detailed, either.
Don't box the other characters in so they can only react one way to what you've written. They may have a different take on the scene than you're expecting and consider your angle out-of-character for their portrayal. You need to allow adequate choice while still providing a solid backdrop for the coming action. It's sometimes a balancing act.

Don't ruin the ending!
This is not a summary, it's a starter.



IN SUMMARY

Hopefully these pointers will help you proof your starters and give you ideas on how to improve them. We all as writers have areas we want to work on and practice improves us all.

As always, these articles are merely suggestions and recommendations based on our experience. People are free to do as they please with their writing. These aren't rules and the author has provided this in an attempt to be helpful to other writers. If the information doesn't suit you, simply disregard.



Questions? Comments? My inbox is open to all or you can leave a comment below. Constructive criticism and thoughtful debate welcome. Thanks for reading!