I’ll start off with some general tips and work up to more nuanced writing and development advice later down the line. For now, I think its important to introduce things with etiquette and out-of-character things. Keep in mind most of these aren’t of my own design; they’re just what I’ve picked up over the years.
- Communicate with your peers
You won’t get anything done alone. Roleplay is a community experience first and foremost, so you need to be considerate of those you play with. Regular checkups on other people are a good way for everyone to determine what they enjoy about the story and to focus on developing those areas more. Similarly, if you have any issues with the way someone is writing or acting, it’s better you take the time to speak with them and address the issue rather than stewing over it and letting things get work.
It’s also important to give good feedback if others are trying to get your opinion on something. Answering “I don’t know” or “I’ll think about it” generally doesn’t help anybody, so at least take some time to try and give an answer. If you honestly can’t, let the other person know and ensure you give the issue at hand some thought - have them remind you if need be. If things progress later on in a way that you don’t approve of, you should remember you had an opportunity to give input but disregarded it.
- Plans aren’t everything
In life, no plan survives contact with the enemy - whether that enemy is a soldier on a battlefield or a midterm exam. Even if you talk with the other people in your roleplay about how everyone can enjoy it, its inevitable things won’t proceed as optimally as they could on paper. Be prepared to make concessions and compromises among the participants, and especially keep in mind that nobody is a mind-reader. You may have a carefully planned story arc for a particular character, and have anticipated five different ways you can adapt other peoples actions to get that perfect story. But there aren’t only five ways for roleplay to happen. If you outline your intentions in broad strokes and avoid getting bogged down in the details, you’ll be able to use unexpected circumstances to still develop a compelling story.
- Waiting never works
Despite what you may think, waiting for the next person to post in a thread won’t help you consider your next move. If you want the plot to come to your characters, you’re probably better off playing a video game. In text-based communal roleplay, its important to let the characters influence the story - or at least how the reader perceives the story. You should constantly be thinking about the nuances of your characters and how the overarching storyline can influence these characters to do things. After posting your latest contribution to the roleplay, try developing what your characters might say and do next, that way you can adapt their personalities to whatever situation they find themselves in. Constantly putting off story development simply because one player hasn’t made their scheduled post is all but asking for the roleplay to stagnate and die.
Of course, sometimes it can be inevitable that you can’t progress without outside input. Whatever the reason, try and reach out to the others in your group to find out how you can move on without the piece of information or story you’re missing. If it’s just you and one other, try and encourage them to pick up their activity. Coaching them or planning their next post together might help the process along faster. If they’ve genuinely lost interest, try reaching out to other members of the community to pick up the slack. A stalled trade deal with one country might become a profitable enterprise with another.
Don’t be afraid to get involved yourself if no-one has addressed you directly. Signing up for a thread and not contributing won’t paint you in a good light for the other participants. If players are willing to carve their own place among the narrative on their own initiative, they’re more likely to be asked to participate in other stories that someone who simply tags along and never contributes except when asked.
- Responsibility is everything
It’s a fact of life that we lose interest in things from time to time, and prioritize other activities. However, if you have committed to a story or position, it’s important that you acknowledge that commitment. Leaving the entire creative direction of a roleplay to one person should only happen if they are hosting a long-term event or other such controlled environment. One player should not be in charge because the rest aren’t interested.
This apply not only to conduct, but to the content of your roleplay itself. The concept of Chekhov’s Gun applies here: if your character does something, you must be prepared to describe what they are doing, in detail. Other players may think and write in ways you don’t anticipate or intend them to; they may very well envision your dark and bookshelf-filled office to be light, modern, and full of windows because you didn’t describe it other than ‘an office.’ Allowing other players to get an idea of your intentions for your characters and the world they live in will allow everyone to build a more cohesive and understandable story.