The Wombat strikes again! I’ve been quietly watching (stalking!) this furry creature for some time now, and I couldn’t pass up sharing the Wombat’s latest brilliant post on editing.
Ooo! Editing!! Sure, you might asking, what the heck do I need to know about editing? Why would I even care?
Good questions.
Now ask yourself this: how much writing do I do as a player, GM, or both for my games? Character creation backstories, character journals or in-character posts, NPC creation, world building and power group notes, adventure creation, war cries, taunts, insults, catchphrases… the list goes on.
On top of that, great writing and great roleplaying are closely connected. Do one well, and you increase your chances of doing the other well by over 9000. Over 9000!
Ahem. But seriously, look at the raw editing example right here. Read the editor’s comments. Notice the redlines. What was removed? Most importantly, why? Understand the why. For the love of beholders, displacer beasts and Mortal Kombat fatalities (all awesome, agreed?), understand the why – for each edit. Study, practice and ask questions until you do.
Now, I’ll also tell you the #1 secret, as I’ve written and edited all kinds of content – gaming to fiction to technical, adventures to short stories to resumes, you name it – for (wait for it…) over 9000 years.
Be clear.
That’s it. That’s one of the big secrets. That’s what makes any writing – or roleplay – leap off the page, capture your imagination or inspire you. It’s like that perfect dialogue in your favorite book or movie – it’s so real, so on-point, so engrossing, everything else fades away.
Is it clear now? Spend more time with my furry Wombat friend till it is. I promise you’ll learn some writing and editing basics that will really help you amp up your RPG game.
Image Credit: The-Camo at deviantART.com
Kilsek