To find a roleplay partner, you need three things: a place where writers like you already are, a clear request that says what you want, and the patience to try a few short threads before committing to a long one.
This guide covers all three, with a request template you can copy at the bottom.
Start with what you actually want
Most partner searches fail before they start, because the request says "looking for a partner, any fandom, DM me". Nobody can tell from that whether you'd write well together. Before you post anything, answer these for yourself:
- Fandom or original? Name the fandom, the era of canon, and whether you're open to AUs.
- Who you'll play, and who you want. "I write Sirius, looking for a Remus" is a request. "Looking for someone fun" is not.
- Length and pace. One-liners, a paragraph, or several? A reply a day, or one a week? See Post Lengths in Roleplay and Literate, Semi-Literate and One-Liner Roleplay for the words people use.
- Genre and tone. Slow burn romance, political intrigue, horror, comedy, slice of life.
- Limits. Themes you won't write, and whether you're open to mature content. Our Levels of Consent guide helps you put this into words.
You don't need to share all of it publicly, but you need to know it. The partner who wants a weekly five-paragraph reply and the partner who wants quick back-and-forth in real time will both be unhappy with each other, however good the plot.
Where to look
Look where people write, not just where people advertise. A partner ad tells you what someone hopes to write. Their actual threads tell you what they do write, how often, and whether they finish things.
On RPL, that means:
- Explore and Search. Browse the Authors and Characters tabs, or search for authors marked Open To Plot or Open For New Storylines, and for characters in your fandom with the role or relationship status you need.
- Read before you ask. Open a few of their stories and posts. Do you like how they write? Do their threads have more than two replies?
- Comment first. A friendly comment on a post you enjoyed is a much warmer opening than a cold message. Commenting also follows the thread, so you'll see how they reply to others.
- Post your own starter. Put up an open starter with good tags and categories. People who like it will come to you, and they've already seen your writing.
Writing a request people answer
A good request is short, specific, and shows your writing. Lead with the hook, not with your rules. Put the scenario first, then the practical details, then your limits.
Avoid these, because they make people scroll past:
- A wall of rules before any plot ("no godmodding, no one-liners, no ghosting, must be 21+, must reply daily...").
- "I'll know it when I see it." Give at least one concrete idea.
- Everything in capital letters or heavy formatting that hides the actual request.
- Asking for a partner without any sample of your own writing.
The first message
When you reach out to someone, mention something specific from their profile or writing, say what you'd like to try together in a sentence or two, and leave them an easy way to say no. For example:
Hi! I loved your Lady Ashworth thread, especially the scene at the card table. I write a disgraced naval officer and I think the two of them would clash in all the right ways. Would you be up for a short starter to see if our styles fit? No worries at all if your plate's full.
That message is easy to answer, flatters their writing honestly, and proposes something small.
Test with a short thread
Don't plan a 40-chapter epic with a stranger. Write a one-scene starter first: a meeting, an argument, a job gone wrong. After a few replies each, you'll both know whether the pace, length and tone match. If they don't, part on good terms. How to End a Roleplay or Step Away Politely has wording that keeps it friendly.
If it does work, talk plot. Plotting 101 for Roleplay walks you through planning a storyline together, and How To Write A Compelling RP Starter helps with the opening.
Request template
Copy this, fill in the brackets, and delete any line you don't need.
[Fandom or Original] – [one-line hook]
The idea: [Two or three sentences: who, where, what goes wrong.]
I'll write: [your character, with a link to their profile]
Looking for: [the character or type you want]
Length and pace: [e.g. 2–4 paragraphs, a few replies a week]
Tone: [e.g. slow burn, dark, comedic]
Open to: [AUs, mature themes, OCs, plot changes]
Not for me: [your hard limits]
Sample: [link to a thread you're proud of]
Post it as an OOC post with your fandom in the tags, so people searching for that fandom find it. Then go comment on a few threads while you wait.