Writing Sample



This is one of my least favorite parts of the application (along with History and NPCs ^_^;), and I know I'm not alone. A fair amount of games are coming out which don't require a sample, going with the theory that your writing style should be apparent from the application. Still, the WS does serve a few important purposes- it shows how your character will behave in a story, how well you do dialogue (an important aspect of online games), and that you're prepared to do some extra work to get in.

In all the games I've encountered, the writing is done in third person, past tense. ("She went to the store to buy ice cream.") Unless the game's page tells you to do otherwise, ALWAYS do your WS in that voice. So many newbies get rejected because their WS is in present tense and/or first person. ("I'm going to the store to buy ice cream.")

The WS should show how your character is different from any other person. With that in mind, consider writing about your character working on one of her hobbies, or some other daily life routine. One setting I'd recommend avoiding is the "It's five minutes until class is over and we get out of school" story. It's rarely done right- usually the only thing one can learn about a character from this kind of story is that she doesn't like waiting for school to be out- a pretty universal trait.
Some people give a writing sample where their character fights an enemy. This does show how your character acts in a battle situation, but rarely shows the spark of life that most reviewers are looking for. If you think you can show your character's personality in the midst of a battle, go for it. However, most of the time, character is shown better during more sedate actions.

Don't use another character unless you have the permission of that character's player. If the other character isn't taken yet, you don't get to use him/her. Period.

The page should tell you how long your sample needs to be. If not, three to five paragraphs is a good length to aim for. Unless it's really important, try not to write four pages of writing sample.

Useful Writing Sample Links:
Writing for RPGs
RdF's article on description, characterization, and action for RPGs. 		Common Errors in English
A very in-depth list of phrasing that often gets screwed up.		 Serendipity: Common Errors
A less intimidating list of common grammar errors. READ THIS SITE!
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