The Long, Medium and Short of Post Length

This is not about which post length is better. I'm not a Nazi about post length. Some people prefer longer posts from RP partners because they need it to get into a character to which they play. Some people--my husband is one--don't do description well, or are in three or more plays. While I'm basically a short poster RPer, if I'm in a specific play with certain characters and I have more time, my posts might be medium to long. Some characters talk a lot, or some role plays between characters need longer posts to show how the character goes from one state of mind to another. A good example of this is the love story of Akiharu Okara and Tsukasa Meiou, which I will talk about at more length in the section on Long posts.

The difference between lengthy and short posts and the reasons for using them are not difficult, once you think about it. Finding your initial style, then adjusting for your RP needs is pretty simple.

But what is the measure of a post?

Short: This can range from one short sentence (Example: "Me.") to a short paragraph of about five sentences. In word length, the short post is no longer short if you pass 200 words. Why do I say that? Because a double-spaced manuscript page of 250 words in MS Word is a single page in a printed book. Short posting is good for fast paced storytelling. Usually the short post consists of dialog with little or no description or inner-dialog.

Pros: This can be good for time saving, short plays of a light nature, or exchanges that are intense.

Cons: They usually reveal very little of the character's interior, though there are techniques to bring out details. However, that's another blog post.

Medium: A wider range, this is anywhere from two paragraphs (about 200 to 250 words) all the way to 500 words (one-half single spaced page in MS Word.) This usually has the works in it: dialog, action, inner thoughts.

Pros: This gives you the maximum scope without bogging down your partner. Great for opening posts and introspective ones alike.

Cons: Is time consuming and not good for fast paced/intense RP scenes.

Long: This is over 500 words and is closer to a solo post than anything else. However, this length is excellent to tell everyone why a character is having a change of heart, or seeing a different point of view than they did before. For an example, see this post that is 771 words long. The set up is: Akiharu and Tsukasa have met on a seaside cliff. He is the enemy of her family, a very great evil. She is a princess of her clan, and a healer, and has never confronted that which makes her daemon kind violent. The two find a common ground--loneliness. And here she has tried to remind Tsukasa he once had glory. The post is here.

See how that post gave you the reason to believe she might be sympathetic to the murderous enemy of her family? That post is long because the character's journey demanded it.

Another time I've posted very long posts was at the beginning of a role play, when I needed to establish time, place, inner world, and possibly years of back story to fill in. This is rare, but it's useful when establishing setting.

Pros: Gives you loads of details, time to expand on back story, point of view and how it changes, and do huge character development.

Cons: Really takes a long time to write, making a partner wait, slows the pace of an RP to near standstill if done regularly during a play, if one or more of the players prefers shorter posts, or has a time limit.

Many times, people post long posts that have little to do with setting up the scene or an internal journey such as Akiharu had to make. While I'm not you and you have to play how you like, I have to say if the content is a lot of words with no meaning to the play in progress itself, it's better to not make someone read it. Short post, medium post, but don't long post if there is no reason to do so during a play. It only makes your partner wait, then have to read something self-indulgent. What's self-indulgent? Five long paragraphs about all the bad times your character has gone through, then responding to a simple question about whether or not the character wants to be served some tea. That's not the give and take of role play. It's self-indulgence.

Whether it's a short, medium or long post role play, now you can determine what length is best. Time, the characters and the storyline all need to be put into consideration when choosing how long your posts will be. Your own style can be to one taste of post length, or change with a particular role play's constraints. What matters is the comfort of you and your fellow players.

Next article will be about Solo Posts vs. A Novel