RPGs

Let me ask the stupid question of stupidity -

RPGS. What are they?

I know that athena25 plays one, but that appears to involve actual meeting up of people and actual play. So how does an online RPG work? I am similarly confused about theatrical_muse.

Also, what's the difference between an online RPG and a first-person round-robin?

It is, in fact, the two different parts of my geekdom failing to connect. I've done round-robins before. Does this mean I'd enjoy RPGs?

*clueless*

P.S. Still not fired.

Writer's block and inspiration

Because I have nothing better to do, and also because people around me are busy being incredibly productive whilst I sit and twiddle my thumbs and wait for inspiration -

I keep reading on my flist how people are hit with a bunny, and then they sit down and just write it. Others, it appears, are given a story outline or develop it or pluck it out of thin air, and then sit down and write it. And these outlines really aren't the easiest thing to envisage someone thinking up, either. I'm talking - X meets Y and does something un-X-like, and yet works withint he context of the story because of abc, and then plot Z development happens, and everyone grows as a person, and possibly there is some sex.'

OK. How?

It probably shows how very uninspired I feel at the moment, but I think I have actually forgotten how to go from a vague idea of "wouldn't it be cool if..." to writing a sixty-part epic. OK, I always had problems writing sixty-part epics, but we'll leave that to one side at the moment. And we'll also ignore my current frustrations with the Multiverse story I am most spectacularly failing to write, as I have started three times, drafted three different stories, and consigned all of them to oblivion.

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All those prolific writers out there that feel completely comfortable with your characters - come on, share the love. Tell me how you get from "I need to write a story for X featuring these characters" to something plotty. Tell me about strategies, or ideas, or even your favourite places to sit down and scribble.

If you're writer who isn't writing - where do all the story ideas go? *ponders*

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Current frustration: writer's block.

In trying to write Jack/Nadia for monanotlisa's request eons ago I wrote myself into a corner and had to start again. The recent Ethan fic request by andrastewhite actually corresponds to a story I've had on the go since, oh, three years ago, at least. I may even get around to working out what I originally wanted to say with it.

As it is, I'm going to have a look at 'The Whore of Babylon' and see if there is anything in there I might be able to work with.

*twiddles thumbs*