Getting Started

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Getting Started.

Step-by-Step (Short Version):
1. Register an account with us, if you haven't done so already.
2. Read the rules, as well as the other important information in The Classics section.
3. Inside the Registration section, you'll find an APPLICATION TEMPLATE. Copy that, fill it out. Post the completed application as a new thread in the Registration section.
4. Wait for an admin to review your character.
5. Still need help, ask the cbox or pm a staff member.

Need help creating your character or need more detailed information? Read on. Here is a step-by-step process to digging your writing chops into this site.

Identity Crisis.

If you have no clue who you want to be, first answer these questions:

1. What are some classic books, legends, myths, characters, heroes (in a literary sense), operas, or plays that you remember enjoying? Use our canon list for reference and also to check who is available and who isn't. Also check members' wishlists to see who people would personally like to see on the site.

You don't have to know everything about it, just list them. A good place to start is schooling--what things did you read in school or university that you actually enjoyed? What legends and stories of old do you feel most people know about? Then pick your favorite characters from each canon.

2. Now that you have your list, narrow down the list to only the characters you can see yourself RPing.

Only you can determine the criteria for that, and again, you don't have to know every single thing about this character to play him/her. You won't be playing him/her exactly by the books anyway. Just ask yourself which characters you feel you can get into the skin of.

Note that we accept original characters too, so you're not just limited to the canon list. Be mindful, however, that we're very selective when it comes to OCs.

The Big Brainstorm.

Now for the rewrite. We have RENT and Great Expectations (think of the 1998 movie) as canons to give you an example on how to do this (remember, you can't *recreate* anyone from those canons). RENT, for instance, is an excellent example about how creativity can translate an old production into one that is still relevant today. Think of this as creating an original character that is heavily based on a previously created character.

1. Firstly, whether you know the character you picked pretty well or not, go do a wiki or google search on that character.

Refresh your memory on the character's history (as you will need that information for the application anyway). Maybe skim through some of the actual text (if there is one). Familiarize yourself a bit with the character. Once you do that, then you are ready to switch things around a bit.

2. Usually there are some core areas of a character that may need modernization. Think about each of these categories and see if you can find clever ways to modify/omit/add to the characters in your own way. This should get you really thinking about ways to fill out your 'rewritten' character.

Note: For all modernized reinventions, we encourage diversity - in regards to race, background, and orientation for our characters. We want Rewritten City to actually represent a city, all different types of people! So think about that when you're reinventing.

Age:

Probably a teenager in the past and a teenager now will be quite different. Think about how age effects the character. Would it be appropriate to change the age? If so, what would happen if the original age of the character was changed? What interesting things could you do with that?

Looks:

Obviously, looks will be different. But looks clue us in to personality. When you think about a face claim, think about how a modern day version of your character would dress him/herself.

• In the original, if he dressed 'upperclass', how would that translate in today's terms?
  
• Are there things you can exaggerate, modify in the way this character presents him/herself?

Profession:

Professions are quite different from back then and now too. Think about what your character did for a living. What would that translate into now?

Be specific! If a character was a merchant in the original, you could possibly translate this into a 'salesperson' nowadays. But what kind of salesperson? Door to door? Car dealership? Online?

Be creative! If your character was a king, perhaps he could hold a governmental position, or be head honcho of a major corporation. Maybe your character was a gentleman and really had no 'profession' at all...that gives you more room to take liberties.

Maybe, even, your character calls for a different profession than in the original. Maybe the character's profession in the original had no baring on the character whatsoever.

Personality:

List the personality traits of your character. Is there a 'type' of person that reminds you of these personality traits in today's society? Drama queen? Geek? Comedian?

Be mindful, you probably won't be able to change the personality traits too much so that you keep the 'essence' of the original character. But perhaps the personality trait leads the character down a path that someone with the same trait today would follow. For instance, what happens to people in today's society who are obsessed with idealistic love? Who are Machiavellian? Who are crazy in the head? LOL

Think about those things and see what you can do with them. You could ask your self: If this is what drove my character back then...what would would the equivalent be now?

History:

Think about the history of your character. Perhaps, for instance, it is heavily influenced by the social implications of the time. Maybe your character was a certain race, or female and had no rights. Maybe they were highly discriminated against in the society or there were certain social/hierarchical norms that were followed that drove your character's actions.

Certainly there are some social pressures and societal issues today that could effect your character...maybe not in the exact same way, but would certainly create a parallel.

• Does the history of your character remind you of a similar story that's going on today? Does it speak to it in some way? If so, how could you translate that into this new character? For instance, in Romeo & Juliet, do families/group not rival in today's society? How is it different? How is it the same? If you are 'exiled' in today's terms, what could that mean?
  
  Perhaps there's a supernatural or some unnatural element in your story (Dorian Gray, Griffin, Charles Dickens, for example).
  
  
• How would this supernatural, abnormal thing be translated in today's terms and could this abnormality be considered a superstition now? For instance, ghosts, potions, hypnotism, prophecies, magic, and spells could all be considered things today that people are superstitious about today in real life. E.i, Potions could equal experimental medicine. Perhaps that supernatural thing doesn't have to be supernatural at all. Perhaps you could achieve the after effects by rewriting it in a new way.

What you want to achieve, ultimately, is the original character...living his/her life like the original, but in today's world. Don't forget, details, details, details. This is different than other RPs, so if you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. Look to one of the admin's profiles for an example of what we're looking for!

Ready for the Job.

Now that your character is set up, you're ready to apply. Simply go to the Registration section and fill out an application. Once you're done, post the application in the Registration section and a staff member will look it over and see if you're ready to go! If you want an example of a completed application, simply look at other accepted attempts.[/block]

So Just Live Your Life.

So you're application is accepted and you're ready to go. Well now you need an avatar. You can get graphics from some of our talented members. Visit the graphic shops here. Once you get a signature and avatar, dive in! A good start is any thread that you see that has "open" in parenthesis ( ). That means any character can come in and shake things up. There's also an inventory of open threads here. If you're completely stuck, making a new thread in the Character Development section can help. There, you can ask for posting ideas or ask if anyone is interested in RPing with your character.