- Try basing your character's personality on a favorite character you know from books/movies/tv. Change the name, build on the character's complexity, sprinkle in new traits and habits, create a brand new history, take out what doesn't work. Not only will you end up with an original character you're guaranteed to like playing, but you have a familiar voice to fall back on during those inevitable times you're just not in that character's mindset.

- The story, the characters, and the players' enjoyment of the game are far more important than accuracy of information. Resist the urge to correct other players. Sometimes posts, character sheets, or OOC posts will contain suggestions or information that you know in your heart is [i]wrong[/i] -- they've mixed up simple technical terms, they obviously don't understand how spaceships work, their knowledge of a certain time period is clearly inferior to yours, etc -- and a deep urge to (gently) correct them rises up in your throat. Unless the mistake is directly in gross conflict with the RP, and unless you are the GM, do nothing. Once again: only if BOTH of the listed criteria are true should you correct someone who didn't ask for clarification. It doesn't matter.

- To echo several statements above, quality over quantity. Read poetry. Keep a list of words and phrases that immediately evoke images or emotion. One paragraph, with the right words, can vividly describe an entire scene in the reader's mind.

- As a GM, your job is to write prompts. Everything you do, from the interest check to answering OOC questions to posting IC, should inspire the other players to [i]write[/i]. If they get stuck, if they can't decide what to do or they say there's nothing they [i]can[/i] do, it's your job to motivate them with further prompts and questions. The best feeling, as GM, is when the players prompt [i]you[/i]. That's when you know the RP is going to be awesome.

- If you're feeling angry, close the tab. Walk away. Do something else for at least an hour, maybe a day. Write your grievances somewhere else, vent to someone outside RpG, play a game, do anything else. When you've cleared your head and you can see things objectively, reread the situation. If it still upsets you, calmly state your case via PM, never in the OOC. Calling out grievances in public puts people on the spot, and they'll be forced to be defensive instead of helpful in solving the matter.