Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on May 20, 2017 17:38:42 GMT -5
An Outsider's Guide to SCUV Writing By: Erin
Hiya!
Chances are, if you’re here, you’re clicking on this just to see what it is. Or, you’ve been directed here and are looking for a little bit of clarification on how things are done at SCUV. I mean, I looked at that rubric, and yes, while I understand 100% of it, I still realize how you guys are automatically like “I have to wat.” I mean, you could have Shaun or Cryssi tell you about it, help you to figure it out, but I figured I’d walk you through the same routine like I do my students. If my sixth graders can understand, so can you!
I’ve been e-fedding for sixteen years. That’s older than some kids playing this game. The reason I'm writing this is that I had to be guided through how to write here, and I figured I could pass it forward. So follow along, and it’ll all be cleared for you inside.
First things, first. Make sure you’re aware of the rubric, and know that everything is graded on a rubric here. Provided you have “dem gud grammar skillz”, you should be fine on the technical stuff. Make sure you understood it entirely, so you can focus on the “good stuff”.
Second, you need to realize this: stories are the ultimate goal here. You’re going to need to read results thoroughly. Don’t want to do that? Question your point here. I know there are a lot of people who just kind of sift through results, look for their match and move forward. I did it too. But, writing is so much more than trash talk and defamation of character. Your focus here is on characters and stories, not how much you can destroy the credibility of your opponent from week to week.
Also win. That's a goal too.
Once you get those two things out of the way, it'll get easier and make more sense. So let's check out that rubric.
All roleplays are scored out of 60.
Your first category. This is twenty points, and the meat of all efedding promos. It covers some of the most important categories of your roleplay, and it needs to be fully fleshed out as much as possible. You have five points each for the following categories: match relevance, story relevance, the sell and the argument.
This is clearly the easiest point. Mention your match in your roleplay - pay attention to what's going on for your character in the show, not just the opponent. Some things I like to answer at first are like, “Why do I have this match?” and “What is the point?!”
Sometimes, you're gonna get matches that don't fit your current storyline. But . . . it's still important to mention your story. Like it says, the whole point of the roleplay is to win your match, but like I said earlier: your story is what is gonna get you through.
For example: I write as Tiffany, and while she's stuck in a battle royale match at Baptized in Blood, results at Asylum IX show that Zahra Phoenix and her boytoy Matthias Black were abrasive and condescending to her and destroyed her victory. Yeah, she has the match, but I'm going to ensure I talk about that blip of Asylum because it's part of Tiffany’s story.
I won't even lie -- the sell has always been my worst part. This should be clear as day, because you're trying to tell the audience why your match needs to be watched. Not just watched aimlessly, but needs to be chewed 30 times, swallowed and digested so intently that the audience is literally on the edge of their seats in anticipation. If you're gonna be lackadaisical in your roleplay, then the audience is gonna be lacking in attendance.
So here's the weird one: you're not gonna do the standard “I'm going to beat you because trash can only be trash” kind of trash talk. You remember those attributes? Those ones you filled out? Yeah, this is where you look at yours versus your opponents. I made myself an excel document (because I am a glorified nerd) to monitor this information, with red when an opponent has a higher score, and green when my character has a higher score. Does it sound weird to pick apart someone’s stats? Yeah, but I suggest you don't even do that. Make it natural, point out your skills without bashing the other person. What are you good at? What are you terrible in?
Sitting there and picking apart someone else's roleplay isn't going to help here as much as it would elsewhere. This isn't a debate, but a story. I know the more I see a roleplay that just has "this person said -insert here-, but that's bullshit because -insert here-", I tend to lose interest and I bet our fearless judges do too. Don't do it. Just don't. If you've been doing it, stop doing it.
Try something new; you'll find that it's more interesting.
For example: Elena DeDraca isn't a high flyer and her aerial skills are her lowest in her attributes. Any opponent she faces that is a flyer is going to outshine her. So how does she combat it? Her submission skills. She'll mention those, and her talent in them.
This is easy: spellcheck, grammar check, PROOFREAD. I cannot emphasize this enough. Your writing is what’s being evaluated; help yourself, and you'll help your score.
I agree fully with the statement at the top. I can give you evidence, and I can find quotes that are relevant to the RP to sound like I'm super academic, but if I'm not going to include anything about my character’s story, then you might as well not give a crap about my character or my point in this fed. Best to always at least include something interesting.
This is easier said than done. If you have history with So-Cal, then it's something that you can latch onto. If you don't…you better find something relevant for your character’s story.
For example: Tiffany’s the daughter of a former SCUV champion, so I can cling to that information, and use it to develop her character. But, Finn Whelan is a different story. I'm still in the search for relevance, but eventually, I'll find something.
^ refer to prior statements. Note this one more time: MAKE SURE YOU’RE TELLING A STORY. Oh, also, generic back and forth will get you a low score. You can do that -- but, make sure it's inventive, and you show your character's personality with your supporting cast. Super important persons.
Don't be boring as hell with your writing. If you just go to that blanket promo trying to tear your opponent down, you're going to bore your audience. However, if you try to include creativity and story, chances are, you're going to entertain your reader. Your goal is to make your story continuance, and readable.
Yes, you will encounter characters who are assholes, and you're gonna want to respond to them abrasively to save face, regardless of your face, heel, tweener, whatever affiliation you are.
Don't do it.
Stay in character with your character. If your character is naïve, such as Tiff is, she's not going to start rattling off things veteran wrestlers would know, and she's most certainly not going to start calling whoever is mean to her a plethora of curse words and names.
EDIT: Damian brought up a point that I rectified within a Skype conversation about this point, and I'd like to make sure it's here as well. This isn't particularly meant to be like, "don't react", because that would obviously create a static character. What I mean is this: react appropriately with your character. Use what you see in results, and react in character to it. If something bad happens, of course, your character may feel upset and may not act the way they normally do, but keep in mind who you're playing.
Once you get the hang of this, you'll be safe and sound. Hope this helps!
Happy roleplaying! <3
|
|