A Guide To
Literary Roleplay

Hello! If you're on this page, you're here for an explanation of the idea of 'literary roleplay', as compared to other kinds of roleplay or collaborative writing. Please click through to familiarize yourself.If you are not interested in literary roleplay and simply want to redirect yourself, click the 'Where to Go' button below.

Erotic Roleplay

Erotic roleplaying is done primarily for the purpose of personally sexually gratifying the writer.This type of roleplay leads with the kinks it wants to write, and these kinks often overlap with the personal kinks of the writer. This also includes roleplays more focused on erotic scenes than story, versus story-based roleplays with erotic scenes. For example, if the smut is removed from an erotic roleplay, the story often has no framework to continue. When seeking out erotic roleplay, the ads themselves can be a form of erotica, explicitly incorporating desired kinks with detailed descriptions.In erotic roleplay, characterization becomes less important, as the characters are generally more vehicles for accomplishing or sustaining certain kinks, as opposed to existing to carry out a story arc. Erotic roleplay is closely related to sexting/cybering, in which participants describe sex acts they wish to perform on the other participant.

Hallmarks that an erotic roleplay may include:

Chatplay

Chatplay is roleplay that is done in a first-person, dialogue-focused style. In these roleplays, writers change their names or icons to the names of their characters, and then simply speak as if they are those characters.Chatplay is often faster-paced than literary roleplay. Chatplay roleplayers may 'rapid fire' posts, where both roleplayers are online at the same time and carry out real-time 'conversations' as the characters they are playing. This differs from literary roleplay, which is often asynchronous – each roleplayer will post when they have the time, whether or not the other player is immediately available. For this reason, chatplay roleplayers may have much shorter posts, since they will write back-and-forth continuously, whereas literary roleplayers write in larger blocks that help to move action and dialogue.

Literary roleplay is roleplay that is best described as 'collaborative writing'. Literary roleplay is like you are writing a book with one or more other people. There is emphasis on writing as if you were writing a book.There are paragraphs and quotation marks. There is both outer dialogue and inner reflection. The setting and sensory details are described. Each character is thought of as having a 'story arc' – an adventure they are on, a goal that they have, or something they want to resolve within themselves. These roleplays are generally written from the third person Point of View ("he/she/they").Characters have motivations that they act on in combination with the other characters in the roleplay. The roleplayers collaborate to build the story together and weave together the different characters' motivations.Sexuality can still be a part of literary roleplay, and literary roleplays can still include detailed smut. However, characterization, character dynamics, world-building, and story remain important in literary roleplay, even if smut and kinks are built into the story.Literary roleplay is similar to writing a book, but it is different in key ways. Each roleplayer must look to include the characters of the other roleplayers, and make sure that the other characters are equally important. All roleplayers must feel satisfied with the progression of the story in order for the roleplay to be successful. A story where only one character's wants, needs, or motivations is emphasized is often an unsatisfying story for the opposing roleplayer. If you want to write a story that revolves solely around your character, it is best to write a book instead of roleplaying.

Literary roleplay is all about learning how to write. The core idea around literary roleplay is about appreciating roleplay as its own art form, as serious as solo fiction. Roleplaying is just as capable as being high art as traditional fiction written by a single author. Literary roleplay can explore as wide a range of topics as traditional fiction, from the comic to the tragic, the light to the dark. Literary roleplay encourages roleplayers to approach roleplaying as a craft and an art that they can love as passionately as solo writing.Springhole has many articles explaining how to start writing. The RPG-Directory also has member-written guides on how to roleplay. These are two sites that focus specifically on literary roleplaying.Becoming a good literary roleplayer also means learning writing techniques. The best way to learn is to read books. Read as much as possible. Read books of different genres. Read books that challenge you. Seek out books that are described as the best in their genre. In order to know if you are writing well, you have to know who to compare yourself to. There are many 'Best Of' Lists that point you in the direction of high quality books.If you are having trouble with ideas or a creative block, The Artist's Way is a great do-it-yourself book for helping to unblock. If you want to learn the very basics, The Elements of Style is a good place to start.Most of all, writing consistently is the best way to continue to improve at writing. Writing improves iteratively – that is, through repetition. A combination of continuously reading and continuously writing is the best path to improvement in the field of literary roleplay.

For Literary Roleplayers

Here are a few different places to search for literary roleplays.

For Erotic Roleplayers

We do not shame erotic roleplay. The point of explaining literary roleplay isn't to shame anyone, but to make clear the different styles so that everyone can opt into the best spaces for them. Please check out the following communities if you are looking for something less story-based.

For Chatplayers

For chatplayers, here are two sites that offer chat-style roleplay. On Disboard, you can browse Discord servers that are more likely to focus on chat-style roleplay, generally based around a given setting or fandom.