Diary Writer Tips

[praguepride]

Thought I would share a big tip that I have and provide a place for others to share tips too.

 

For me the big thing is BACK UP YOUR SAVE.

 

Go into the your DB folder:

 

(wherever it's installed, probably Program Files)\GDS\TEW2020\Databases\Default\SaveGames

 

Find the folder with your diary save and make a copy of it before advancing.

 

With the recent instability of patches I've noticed some critical disruptions in the surrounding 'verse that made me happy I could revert back in time to before it all started. Typically I make a save after every major PPV, so one month at a time but now I'm even more conservative and have one save point in March I keep reverting back to as I hit corruption errors/the champions bug etc.

[FINisher]

Play the save atleast half a year or even a year forward.

 

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum.

 

Save every bit of text, info, email. You'll regret it if you delete any info. I know I have.

 

Wear sunscreen.

 

Follow other people's diaries. You'll might find them motivating and you'll be inspired by them.

 

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.

 

Make the game world alive. Tidbits here and there. Every save is unique in it's own ways. The more time passed, the more different the world will become. In my save, US wrestling industry is at 2 and has caused multiple promotions to collapse.

 

Accept certain inalienable truths - prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too, will get old.

 

Put effort into the graphical style of your diary.

 

Be careful whose advice you buy but be patient with those who supply it, but trust me on the sunscreen.

[Coop]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="FINisher" data-cite="FINisher" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="50245" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Play the save atleast half a year or even a year forward.<p> </p><p> Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum.</p><p> </p><p> Save every bit of text, info, email. You'll regret it if you delete any info. I know I have.</p><p> </p><p> Wear sunscreen.</p><p> </p><p> Follow other people's diaries. You'll might find them motivating and you'll be inspired by them.</p><p> </p><p> Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life.</p><p> </p><p> Make the game world alive. Tidbits here and there. Every save is unique in it's own ways. The more time passed, the more different the world will become. In my save, US wrestling industry is at 2 and has caused multiple promotions to collapse.</p><p> </p><p> Accept certain inalienable truths - prices will rise, politicians will philander, you too, will get old.</p><p> </p><p> Put effort into the graphical style of your diary.</p><p> </p><p> Be careful whose advice you buy but be patient with those who supply it, but trust me on the sunscreen. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Brother and Sister,,,,,,, Always liked that song.</p>

[Makhai]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="FINisher" data-cite="FINisher" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="50245" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Play the save atleast half a year or even a year forward.<p> </p><p> Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing Bubble gum.</p><p> </p><p> Save every bit of text, info, email. You'll regret it if you delete any info. I know I have.</p><p> </p><p> Wear sunscreen.</p><p> </p><p> Follow other people's diaries. You'll find them motivating and you'll be inspired by them.</p><p> </p><p> Put effort into the graphical style of your diary.</p><p> </p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> As someone who has tried many, many times to make long term diaries(and failing) I wanna take this point by point.</p><p> </p><p> </p><ol style="list-style-type:decimal;"><li>This is smart but also a bit soulless. If it works for you, great. But I treat the game as the prize at the end of the rainbow. So I usually book event to event. I should absolutely back up after each month. And never even considered it so great tip.<br /></li><li>This. Just all of this. When you go through events, save finishes. For w/e reason you can't look at moves anymore. Jot down dirt sheet stuff too and turn that on if it's off. It'll help you a lot if you're actually doing writeups.<br /></li><li>This must be some FINism I'm not privy too. <br /></li><li>Yes and No. On one hand, there are some great diaries with crazy graphical stuff that someone clearly spent hours crafting templates for, but I find that too many people spend way too much time in photoshop and not nearly enough time in their word processors of choice, time and talent are finite resources, and you can fall prey to the arms race if you're not careful. I can't even use Paint. I'm not keeping up with Lloyd and the boys on graphics. Don't feel like you have too. If the text is good enough, the characters rich enough and you're having fun with it. That's what counts.<br /> <br /> You also don't realize that a lot of the top guys (Like Lloyd) have other people helping them out from renders, to banners, to w/e. So what I'd tell a lot of people is, just tell stories. That is hard enough. Don't set bars you can't clear. (A problem of mine) Post at your leisure, no artificial deadlines. write to improve and don't make it work for yourself. Rule #1 is to keep it fun. <br /></li></ol><p></p>

[Self]

I wouldn't say you should play the actual diary save 6 months ahead (booking an episode on TEW is the last thing I do) but you should certainly play that game/scenario through for that length of time before committing to a diary. Randomness will make it different to the final product, but it tests your interest. I've played my (potential) future diary a couple of times now.

 

That being said, try to have 4 episodes booked and written out before posting anything. Again, it tests your interest and commitment. Too many projects fade out immediately because of overexcitement.

[BHK1978]

That being said, try to have 4 episodes booked and written out before posting anything. Again, it tests your interest and commitment. Too many projects fade out immediately because of overexcitement.

 

Funny you say this because I had one of the longest-running diaries (At the time, I think it lasted two years or just shy of that.) and I wrote it one show at a time. For me, if I get too far ahead I might forget things I previously wrote. I also never have a set direction with which I want to go, I would rather keep it fluid that way if something happens I can pivot to something else.

 

Saying that I have a general idea and I tend to follow it, but I will never marry myself to one single way because you never know what might happen. I once had Ade Nelson debut in a diary as That 80's Guy. He was at a Wham concert in 1980 something and he slipped through a portal (Which was located in a bathroom) to the then modern times (Which was 2015 at that time). I created this backstory just so I could make a George Michael bathroom joke, but that character took off with reads and so I focused more on him. That is what I mean by never marrying myself to one straight plan because if people give a character positive feedback, you better believe that character is going to be featured as often as I possibly can.

 

My advice would be don't listen to the advice of others. There is no right way to write a diary, what might work for you might not work for others. It is one of those things you have to figure out by trial and error. Yes, this thread is a good idea and if one sees something they think can help them out that is posted in this thread then I would say run with it. But do not take anything in here as gospel because once again what works for me, might not work for you.

[Bad Collin]

I like to book 4-5 shows ahead with the last show in the set being a big event. This way I can make sure that the first shows lead up to and enhance the big event. Usually while booking this way i'll get ideas for where the story should go next so i'm also planning out the next 4-5 shows at the same time.

 

If I book further than 5 shows in advance I feel disconnected from what I was thinking when putting the show together.

[Self]

Funny you say this because I had one of the longest-running diaries (At the time, I think it lasted two years or just shy of that.) and I wrote it one show at a time. For me, if I get too far ahead I might forget things I previously wrote. I also never have a set direction with which I want to go, I would rather keep it fluid that way if something happens I can pivot to something else.

 

I don't think you always need to be writing 4+ episodes ahead of what you're posting. I am, but that's just my personal style that is far, far from mandatory.

 

However, I see so many diaries fade away early. There's an initial announcement post. Or a scene where someone gets a phone call or wins the lottery. And then... nothing. Or it'll go for a few episodes, then the writer calls it quits, because he isn't having as much fun as he thought he would, or he has a new idea that is better. Or the finances won't work (learned that lesson with TEW'20 already) and you can't do everything you wanted to do.

 

That's what my advice for new writers is about. Don't post "I'm going to do a TCW diary" without first playing TCW for 6 months. As a mess-around. And then write a few episodes to see if you like it. To find your style before posting on the forums. To see what characters jump out at you. To see how long it's going to take to write each one. Get a feel for the process and then announce it to the world.

 

My advice would be don't listen to the advice of others.

 

I say; Always listen. Always consider. But filter it through your own experiences and make your own final decision whether it's right for you.

[FINisher]

[*]This must be some FINism I'm not privy too.

 

 

I never have written shows beforehand. I've played them maybe a week or two forwards but I never have anything written stored, like content for several shows. I write the next show, publish it, maybe advance game a week or two, then start writing on the next etc.

[Kjarvs]

I started writing my first Diary last week and I'm having a ball. My laptop is old and knackered, so the presentation style is basic and unflashy, and the readership is next to nonexistent, but I'm writing it primarily for myself, as opposed to writing with the target of being super popular. I shall start backing up the file more often though, thanks!

[Leohunter]

1. Staying "CONSISTENT" with writing a diary is more valuable than any other point. Imagine writing something that has inconsistent directions and inconsistent presentation style. No one wants to read something like that.

 

2. Don't beg for people to predict or review your writing.

 

3. Have a simple yet not too flashy presentation style so that everyone can enjoy it.

 

4. Writing shows beforehand had never helped me, its just my point though. I seem to go with something I find interesting which should be simple yet great but with the flow.

 

5. Try to achieve simplicity at its best. Complex things can be simple sometimes. "Simple yet Badass" should be the point.

 

6. Backing up the save is really damn important, imagine the save being corrupted when your diary reaches its prime/glory point.

 

7. Write for your fun and let the others experience it.

 

8. Keep on writing and you'll evolve into greatness slowly.

[DarK_RaideR]

Yes and No. On one hand, there are some great diaries with crazy graphical stuff that someone clearly spent hours crafting templates for, but I find that too many people spend way too much time in photoshop and not nearly enough time in their word processors of choice, time and talent are finite resources, and you can fall prey to the arms race if you're not careful. I can't even use Paint. I'm not keeping up with Lloyd and the boys on graphics. Don't feel like you have too. If the text is good enough, the characters rich enough and you're having fun with it. That's what counts.

 

You also don't realize that a lot of the top guys (Like Lloyd) have other people helping them out from renders, to banners, to w/e. So what I'd tell a lot of people is, just tell stories. That is hard enough. Don't set bars you can't clear. (A problem of mine) Post at your leisure, no artificial deadlines. write to improve and don't make it work for yourself. Rule #1 is to keep it fun.

I can't stress this enough. Visuals will catch people's attention but good writing will keep them coming back.

 

Make an effort on your presentation, even if it's only learning how to upload and post/link portraits, that'll help readers connect the names to faces. Try to use spoiler code (even if you had to quote the post of someone who did it so you can copy the code) or just big gaps in the text to make surprises pop out. Ask your fellow diary writers, many are happy to give you advice or share the code/template of their visuals.

 

At the same time, don't set the bar too high or try to keep up with the best of them. Some people have more time than you do, or no kids, or studied computer science, or work as professional graphic designers, or have others helping them or or or... We don't all have the same background and resources. Remember that and don't let it take the wind out of your sails.

 

Bottom line: Put some effort into the visual aspect but keep your expectations realistic.

[Blodyxe]

If we're speaking of real world diaries, research the company you're writing about. For example if you decide that you want to book ECW, don't send people in rehab for pot or book DQ finishes <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

[Voeltzwagon]

Don't do anything I would do and you'll be fine.

[infinitywpi]

Make sure to double-check your title matches and make sure you have the right person going over.

[joshspicer]

<p>It's skeezy to go back when you've already booked a show and are reviewing it live, but considering you're the only one playing it (assumingly) and nobody will know, well...if a tree falls in the woods and nobody's around to hear it, it might make a noise but only nature truly knows.</p><p> </p><p>

So if you somehow book Charles Robinson to go over Chris Jericho, feel free to go ahead.</p>