I just don't know what to do... Can you help?

[Ursula Wolfe]

Lately I've been having a rough go of trying to think up something to do for most (if not all) of my girls. Apparently they are stagnant... Actually, pretty sure they are. I just don't know what to do that doesn't involve me drastically changing a plan I already had in mind or changes who they are on a base level because I like their personalities and a major shift I just can not do. My mind doesn't work like that. And I don't want to do something that's been done to death. So any ideas because I'm tapped out. I even try those stupid plot generator things and come up with nil. I just can't write the things they come up with, either because it needs them to do something they would never do or path rules keep me from doing it.

Also I really hate doing things that would involve me doing pvp on the grid. I'm one of those that if I could perminately mark myself a pve person I would. I pretty much loath PvP unless its for something like protecting family. No one can change me on that stance. PvP in my experience is always the big guys picking on the little guys because "it's fun!" To me it's a form of bullying especially when it's 20+ people of 30+ in level against people that are far far lower and unable to protect themselves. Because of this most of the time the fighting I do is against NPCs on the grid.

That doesn't mean I'm not open to RPing fighting, and doing the dice roll thing and such. That I'm all for. But if my char didn't touch you on the grid yours shouldn't touch mine... Especially if I didn't agree to it. Hell, Ursa pretty much got her *** kicked by CC in their RP but because it didn't go to the grid I don't have Ursa stabbing at her just because she's there. Though I know I have I right to in some way. CC didn't take it to the grid and I won't either without her consent.

Anyways... The point of this rant is the plain and simple fact that I'm a crappy writer, I suck at plots, and I really, REALLY, need help. REALLY need help.

Things I'm Unwilling to do: Kill off the Chars (I'm not like that where I can blow all the hard work I've done on the grid just because a char isn't working out.), Drastically change their personalities (Charlie's not going to be into killing everyone who crosses her path because she can - though stat wise she can't - and Ursa won't suddenly believe that there can be a world without fighting, she loves it and she's statted for it.) In all cases they will never be disloyal (I know it's silly but all of my chars have this trait... I'll never be able to rp my girls cheating on someone they love or back stabbing their families).

Things I am willing to do: Subtle changes to their personalities like having them more open to other ideas or defending someone they normally wouldn't. For example, Charlie helping a Ty member with a hunter or someone else. Meeting new people and getting "out there" even if in the case of Charlie who is pretty much a home body and couldn't trust a Ty member unless they prove otherwise. Joining a faction of some kind or group, Other random ideas that still fit in the rules of path. Sire someone (though in ursa's case she's kinda failing as a sire and doesn't want to sire anyone else till she fixes that). Be sired (I have two human chars as well.)

Things I'm not really into: Politics for the most part and war so armies or political campaign threads I'm just not able to get into.

Things I can't do for rl reasons: create another char (all slots are filled and no 30 karma to open another slot)

In truth I'm a better follower than a leader when it comes to threads but I really really want to try to be a better write. I just don't have any ideas that either fit the canon, fit the char, or something that's been done to death.

I really, REALLY, REALLY need help.

PLEASE help me! Please!

[Madison]

We will has talks about Dawn. :)

[Myk]

I'm struggling myself right now. I'm not sure if it's a case of my characters being stuck because of who they are or because I'm lacking inspiration, or, maybe it's both.

So, my point is: I sympathise.

I think, however, the thing to do is what you are currently doing. Asking for help and suggestions is a good idea. I'm not sure exactly what inspires you, but I generally find that watching a film, playing a video game or reading a book generally inspires me.

I try to do one of these things that's out of my genre too. Say, if I enjoy writing Sci-Fi, I would probably read a book about Natural History or something else that is completely unrelated. Just to get you out of your box, your ditch maybe, and help your brain to think in a new direction. You can then bring it back to your old genre if you like, or try out a new one.

I'm not sure what you mean exactly by 'sucking at writing'. Do you feel it's your grammar/spelling or the story-telling thing? These things come with education and practice. At least, that's what I think. If you're feeling insecure about anything in particular, ask someone to read your work and critique it.

I like to think of myself as a copywriter and proofreader (well, I am employed as the above) so I can always help you out there. Otherwise, good luck with everything! And I'm always willing to plot with ya. ^.~

[Ursula Wolfe]

When I say I suck at writing it's a bunch of things... Not just the spelling and grammar (more the latter because I know how to use spell check mostly) but the fact that my threads always die, I don't inspire people to write, I can't plot worth a damn, and I have a hard time breaking over 300 words most times. Some threads I start don't even get answered. I feel like this is all my fault. I'm the common denominator.

Plot wise I've tried the book thing, movies, music... Thing that could still work with the canon but that's really my biggest problem. Things that inspire me to write will either not work in the canon or get my chars sent to the sr or hospital. Personally I'd like to avoid both.

[Myk]

The SR's not so bad. Just nom on Spirits until your wound is reduced dramatically and then leave. >.>

I can't comment on why your threads die because I haven't seen them. And 300 words isn't so bad either. You don't need to write loads, just enough to get across what's happening from your character's POV. I probably find I write too much rather than too little and people get annoyed/bored and don't want to play with me. *shrugs*

What exactly have you tried that's against canon? You never know, it might not be.

[Ursula Wolfe]

I hate the SR... It's BORING plus when Charlie was in there it took her nearly a month to get out.

And you have seen at least a few of my threads with Dawn... Hell you were in one...

But I haven't tried anything against the canon because its pretty clear what can't happen... No odd creatures so no doing werewolves or shifting to dragons or such like that... No weird powers... Vampires (unless they have that rp power) have to sleep they can't stay up aparently. No other places can have vampires. Hell it seems like even mentioning shows or movies or books about vampires goes against the whole canon. I feel suffocated by it and all I can do is either stop Rping for this game or find some kind of plot ideas that I feel I could write without seriously changing my chars to be what I no longer recognize.

[Madison]

I guess writers and designers are more different than I thought. It's been said that give a designer the freedom to create whatever he wants, and he'll create very little of value. Give him restrictions and watch the creativity flourish as he tries to push the boundaries as far as he can go. I've always approached writing in a similar fashion.

Don't look at the canon as a cage or a limit. Look at it like a challenge. You may not be able to turn into a dragon, but if you have meaner things, you can turn into a komodo dragon if you wish. You may not be able to write about werewolves, but we were just given more info on different types of Fae than we've had in the last 3 years.

Other places can have vampires, if they've left from Harper Rock. With all the NPC vampires that have ran around in the last 3 years, why can't some of them have created niches for themselves in other parts of the world? Hell the Culling of the Rogues had multiple rogue vampires fleeing out of the country. Life is lonely when it's just you. It's not unreasonable or against canon to assume that these rogues created progeny.

The problem with mentioning shows, movies and books about Vampires is a discussion we've had before. You have told me that you want Path to be like True Blood or other series where vampires are embraced in society. But that's not the world that this is. If you want a world like that, you're going to have to work insanely hard to get it, because you're going to meet opposition from people who don't want it that way. Personally, from an ooc viewpoint, I don't want to repeat some already done plotline and world. There's a lack in creativity in trying to recreate something that's already been done. If I wanted to play in a world like True Blood, I'd go play a written RPG based around True Blood, because they are out there.

[Myk]

I hate the SR... It's BORING plus when Charlie was in there it took her nearly a month to get out.

As far as I know, you only have to stay there 7 days before you can leave. Finding an exit is so bloody easy.

And you have seen at least a few of my threads with Dawn... Hell you were in one...

Yes I was! I thought it was written fine. Dawn seems like a lovely girl if somewhat dramatic. I would still like to continue that if we can find Ripper and pin him down.

But I haven't tried anything against the canon because its pretty clear what can't happen... No odd creatures so no doing werewolves or shifting to dragons or such like that... No weird powers... Vampires (unless they have that rp power) have to sleep they can't stay up aparently.

This seems true enough. Though, Vampires can shift into wolves and such, so it kinda works. You can kinda get away with mistaking a Vampire with that power to change into an animal as some kind of weird creature. What about Fae? What do they look like? What could you potentially do with them instead?

No other places can have vampires.

I don't think this is true. If you go by what the story says, it says Vampires came from across the world and just settled here before being slaughtered and then returned because of the rift. As far as I remember anyway. And, as far as I'm concerned, if our characters are NOT allowed to leave Harper Rock, then that sucks monkey balls and should be amended.

Hell it seems like even mentioning shows or movies or books about vampires goes against the whole canon.

I don't see why you can't mention other books and such. They're books, not necessarily FACT no matter what the attempt of the author. Everything anyone ever writes is an opinion. End of.

I feel suffocated by it and all I can do is either stop Rping for this game or find some kind of plot ideas that I feel I could write without seriously changing my chars to be what I no longer recognize.

I think you've built up walls and are suffocating yourself with assumptions. I find I do that a lot with this game because the rules we get are often vague and changing. We're generally left to make rules for ourselves, but it can be confusing to know exactly what we can't have choice in and what we can.

I probably shouldn't encourage this, but as long as you're not hurting someone and it doesn't go OBVIOUSLY against the canon, you should be ok to write it. If someone comes across something you've written and reports it for going against canon and you didn't realise, ask them to explain why so you don't make the mistake again. Surely that's reasonable. Don't let it stifle you.

[Ursula Wolfe]

I like the idea of vampires being embraced by the population that's me... Plus I feel like I couldn't play a "hey let's hide and cower is shadows like pussies because humans are bad and will kill us" vampire when the vampires are doing to most violence against themselves for the life of me.

But this isn't helping me with plot ideas... I need ideas I can actually use... A set list... Not politics or armies... Because I literally have NO creative interests in either idea. I don't know, maybe things will get easier when that create your own story thing comes into play but right now I need ideas...

And Myk I chose to stay in there because I refused to leave with the death wound still in play just to be gang banged again for no reason.

[Madison]

We're trying to help you think of things that you could do. Not give you ideas for you to use.