TL;DR
Me
- Donny, 30+ F
- UTC+3, English second language
- Looking to write a long-term plot (and ship) for my long-running, queer crime OC with your queer, crime OC!
- Contact:
Discord: schmuckinsurance
Email: driftlikesleep@gmail.com
Yes
- 25+ writing partners
- Quality > quantity; context-dependent post length; concise, compelling and engaging writing
- Show > tell
- Casual lit, 1-5 paragraph posts
- Third person, present tense
- Long-term plots and/or dedicated writers who can stick to one thing for a long time
- Drama, crime, realism, 20th century history, war/military, subversive subcultures, slice of life, romance, (some) fluff, hurt/comfort, angst, dark subject matter
- Original characters and content
- In-depth character development
- MxM
- Posts at least once a week
- Matched enthusiasm, engagement and effort
No
- Discourse, drama, politics, hate
- Purple prose
- Bulletpoint dialog
- Novella, matching post lengths and/or writing fillers just for the sake of matching
- Pure fluff
- High fantasy, superhero, supernatural, canon material/characters
- Posts less than once a week
- Smut for the sake of smut
- Defining characters by their sexuality
- Leaving all the work up to me, either IC or OOC
THE LONG VERSION
Hi there, I’m Donny; welcome to my dating sim. She/her (though any pronouns are fine), mid-30s. I’m Israeli, which puts me at UTC+2 or +3, depending on the time of year. If you take issue with that, take it elsewhere.
I’m looking for 25+ writers (bonus if 30+) for a long-term, modern crime RP. Below you can find a more detailed explanation of my preferences as a writer. If you’d like to read about the particular plot and character I’m looking to write, you’re welcome to scroll down to the last few paragraphs.
25+ writing partners: I appreciate your interest, but please don’t contact me asking to plot if you are under the age of 25. The answer will be no.
Quality>quantity, context-dependent post length: though I hate the term, my writing style is best described as casual lit. I’m not a fan of novella or matching lengths just for the sake of it. My own posts can range anywhere from 1-10 paragraphs (100-1000+ words), depending on what a particular thread calls for - and if I feel like 100 words are all that’s needed for a particular post, I won’t be adding any fillers just to make my reply seem longer. Concise, compelling and engaging writing is my aim; say more with less, etc. Likewise, I will not be expecting the same of you.
It’s important to note that I prefer to keep character introspection to a minimum, or exclude it altogether. I know that describing the characters’ thoughts and feelings is big for a lot of writers - but I find that it disturbs the flow of dialog and action and, more importantly, makes interactions feel less genuine. A good deal of real-life misunderstandings and drama stem from the fact that none of us are privy to each other’s thoughts; I want our characters to miscommunicate and have stupid arguments that could easily be avoided! I want them to struggle to understand one another! And while I don’t necessarily expect you to exclude your characters’ introspection altogether, depending on what you’re comfortable with. If you like going into your characters’ thoughts and feelings at length, we probably won’t make a good match. Please do not expect to be the exception to this rule, because you won’t be. Regretfully, this has happened one too many times. If you’re not comfortable with varying lengths or potentially short replies, please do not approach me.
Show>tell: this one is pretty self-explanatory. There are many ways to express the way a character feels or thinks outside of outright telling your reader (i.e. body language, dialog, actions, or lack thereof). Don’t tell me they’re sad - show me. Are their eyes damp? Are their shoulders slumped, burdened with defeat? Don’t tell me what they’re thinking about: show me. Are they thinking back on their day at the beach? Were the waves scintillating with sunlight? Was the sand fine and pale? You get the idea. I’m all about nuance.
On a similar note: no bulletpoint dialog, please. There’s nothing that disrupts the flow of dialog more than characters addressing anything and everything the other character has said, in order, regardless of whether the conversion has since taken a different direction. It’s not how real-life conversations work, and it’s not something I’m interested in writing.
I prefer writing in third person, present tense. I can do past tense if necessary, but would rather not.
My characters tend to be queer, flawed men, mostly of the criminal variety. As I’ve stuck to writing them for years, it should go without saying that they all come with their own little worlds; well-thought-out, researched bios; and a bunch of minor characters surrounding them, which I would be happy to utilize and further explore and develop, as well.
On a similar note: I’m a dedicated writer. I like seeing plots through. When the story is good and the characters are compelling, I can stick with the same plot/ship/cast of characters for years and never get bored or tired of it. If you are unable to maintain interest for longer periods of time or like to switch things up rather often, we probably won’t make a good fit.
Original characters and content: give me your OCs! GIVE THEM TO ME! I love learning all about them, what makes them tick, all the little nuances that really bring them to life. I am wholly uninterested in canon characters of any fandom (sorry).
Additionally, I'm an active plotter. I try to work with the yes, and method as often as possible and rarely leave my partners hanging when it comes to driving the plot forward or working on character development. I expect you to be able to do the same. I'm sympathetic towards the occasional dry spell; none of us can be oozing with creativity 24/7; but if you consistently leave all the hard work up to me, I will get bored and respectfully drop the RP.
On NSFW, triggers and boundaries: I don’t like writing smut for the sake of smut, but I do like writing about sex for the sake of character and dynamic development. Meaning: smut will never be the focus for me and I won’t write detailed, post-for-post description of sexual acts, part-A-goes-into-slot-B style. Will I write sexual acts in a graphic manner? Yes, if it’s done with the purpose of exploring the characters involved and the relationship between them. Ask me for further clarification/NSFW writing samples if you’d like to know more.
I don't have any particular triggers and like getting into the nitty-gritty of the human psyche/behavior/existence. I'll obviously respect any triggers or boundaries you may have but, as a general rule: if you're especially sensitive to or easily triggered by themes common to the criminal genre (i.e. violence, substance abuse, etc.) - we probably won’t make a good match.
Defining characters by their sexuality: I don’t subscribe to the whole top/bottom dynamic, nor do I subscribe to characters whose entire personality is defined by their sexual preferences, and not looking for partners who do. I believe sex and sexual desires are fluid and that things are more situational than that. If you ‘only write bottoms’, please move on. Additionally: not a fan of twinks and anime FCs. Nothing personal, it just turns me off both the pairing and the RP.
As a general rule, I could do with or without faceclaims, and they’re definitely not a necessity.
Posts at least once a week: this is pretty self-explanatory. Real life comes first, always. My posting frequency fluctuates according to my workload, but I’m usually available to post at least once a week. I try to keep my partners in the loop if I may not be able to adhere to that schedule or if I’m going to be unavailable for a while, and I expect you to do the same. Likewise, if something isn’t working for you, please let me know, and I’ll be happy to restructure/change things to accommodate you.
Matched enthusiasm, engagement and effort: this should also be pretty self-explanatory. If I feel like I’m the only one moving the plot forward, trying to engage in OOC conversation, expressing interest in the other person’s character or just generally feel like I’m the only one pulling their weight, I’m likely to bow out.
I'm comfortable writing virtually anywhere - forums, Discord, Tumblr, email, etc. My favorite method is maintaining a Discord server for OOC while doing the actual writing on Google Docs, as I like to dabble in seamless writing (ask me about it!), but it’s not a must.
If you'd like to reach out, you can write to me either on driftlikesleep@gmail.com, or schmuckinsurance on Discord. When approaching me, please provide details about your preferences as a writer (e.g.: age, timezone, posting frequency/length, genre preferences and anything else you’d like to share) as well as writing samples (my own are included below for your perusal). Please don’t make me have to ask you for either of these things. This ad is as detailed as it is for both our benefit, and I’d appreciate similar consideration in return. This issue has unfortunately become so prevalent that I will wholly ignore any low-effort messages which do not provide this information upon contacting me. Sorry not sorry. Looking forward to hearing from you!
THE MAN HAS A GUN, HE KNOWS HOW TO USE IT
The Mercenary, AKA Merc, is my longest-running character and my absolute favorite. He's in his early 30s, homosexual/romantic, and - you guessed it - a mercenary combat operative. Think Blackwater, Wagner Group and the like. Standoffish, thick, self-destructive and extremely dangerous, he is also profoundly loyal, adventurous, charming and far more clever and sensitive than he lets on.
His themes include: crime, modern-realism, recent history, war, mental illness, transgenerational abuse, nihilism, moral ambiguity, violence and redemption. You can find his character sheet HERE and several samples of my writing of him HERE.
While I don’t have a clear or specific plot in mind for him, as the collaborative aspect of RP is a big thing for me, I do have some vague ideas for the kinds of characters I think could work well with him and, by proxy, certain directions where we could take the plot, depending on the kind of relationship we come up with.
Honestly, I could see Merc working in a wide variety of scenarios and with all sorts of characters. I'd be equally thrilled to explore him with another criminal (another mercenary; a druglord, a high-ranking executive in a major corporation, or any other type of potential client; a fixer/cleaner; a bent lawyer; a forger; a handler; the list goes on) as I would with a character on the law enforcement spectrum (a government agent; a police detective or PI; a journalist; a straight-edged lawyer; again, the list goes on), or even an entirely civilian character who has absolutely nothing to do with Merc's world, but will inevitably get sucked into it through their relationship with him. He has plenty of hobbies and interests outside of his job and could easily make a connection through those. I'd also be more than happy to explore a relationship for him with a character in the healthcare industry: a doctor, nurse, first responder, vet, etc.
Whichever the case, I'd adore exploring the relationship in all its aspects and stages, as well as work on a wider plot/world in which everything will take place. I don't like for my roleplays to revolve solely around a romantic relationship between two characters (although I’m a sucker for a good, gut-wrenching romance), and I love expanding on lore and side-characters. All I ask is that your character feels 'real enough', if that makes sense, and that you give me enough to work with.
Me
- Donny, 30+ F
- UTC+3, English second language
- Looking to write a long-term plot (and ship) for my long-running, queer crime OC with your queer, crime OC!
- Contact:
Discord: schmuckinsurance
Email: driftlikesleep@gmail.com
Yes
- 25+ writing partners
- Quality > quantity; context-dependent post length; concise, compelling and engaging writing
- Show > tell
- Casual lit, 1-5 paragraph posts
- Third person, present tense
- Long-term plots and/or dedicated writers who can stick to one thing for a long time
- Drama, crime, realism, 20th century history, war/military, subversive subcultures, slice of life, romance, (some) fluff, hurt/comfort, angst, dark subject matter
- Original characters and content
- In-depth character development
- MxM
- Posts at least once a week
- Matched enthusiasm, engagement and effort
No
- Discourse, drama, politics, hate
- Purple prose
- Bulletpoint dialog
- Novella, matching post lengths and/or writing fillers just for the sake of matching
- Pure fluff
- High fantasy, superhero, supernatural, canon material/characters
- Posts less than once a week
- Smut for the sake of smut
- Defining characters by their sexuality
- Leaving all the work up to me, either IC or OOC
THE LONG VERSION
Hi there, I’m Donny; welcome to my dating sim. She/her (though any pronouns are fine), mid-30s. I’m Israeli, which puts me at UTC+2 or +3, depending on the time of year. If you take issue with that, take it elsewhere.
I’m looking for 25+ writers (bonus if 30+) for a long-term, modern crime RP. Below you can find a more detailed explanation of my preferences as a writer. If you’d like to read about the particular plot and character I’m looking to write, you’re welcome to scroll down to the last few paragraphs.
25+ writing partners: I appreciate your interest, but please don’t contact me asking to plot if you are under the age of 25. The answer will be no.
Quality>quantity, context-dependent post length: though I hate the term, my writing style is best described as casual lit. I’m not a fan of novella or matching lengths just for the sake of it. My own posts can range anywhere from 1-10 paragraphs (100-1000+ words), depending on what a particular thread calls for - and if I feel like 100 words are all that’s needed for a particular post, I won’t be adding any fillers just to make my reply seem longer. Concise, compelling and engaging writing is my aim; say more with less, etc. Likewise, I will not be expecting the same of you.
It’s important to note that I prefer to keep character introspection to a minimum, or exclude it altogether. I know that describing the characters’ thoughts and feelings is big for a lot of writers - but I find that it disturbs the flow of dialog and action and, more importantly, makes interactions feel less genuine. A good deal of real-life misunderstandings and drama stem from the fact that none of us are privy to each other’s thoughts; I want our characters to miscommunicate and have stupid arguments that could easily be avoided! I want them to struggle to understand one another! And while I don’t necessarily expect you to exclude your characters’ introspection altogether, depending on what you’re comfortable with. If you like going into your characters’ thoughts and feelings at length, we probably won’t make a good match. Please do not expect to be the exception to this rule, because you won’t be. Regretfully, this has happened one too many times. If you’re not comfortable with varying lengths or potentially short replies, please do not approach me.
Show>tell: this one is pretty self-explanatory. There are many ways to express the way a character feels or thinks outside of outright telling your reader (i.e. body language, dialog, actions, or lack thereof). Don’t tell me they’re sad - show me. Are their eyes damp? Are their shoulders slumped, burdened with defeat? Don’t tell me what they’re thinking about: show me. Are they thinking back on their day at the beach? Were the waves scintillating with sunlight? Was the sand fine and pale? You get the idea. I’m all about nuance.
On a similar note: no bulletpoint dialog, please. There’s nothing that disrupts the flow of dialog more than characters addressing anything and everything the other character has said, in order, regardless of whether the conversion has since taken a different direction. It’s not how real-life conversations work, and it’s not something I’m interested in writing.
I prefer writing in third person, present tense. I can do past tense if necessary, but would rather not.
My characters tend to be queer, flawed men, mostly of the criminal variety. As I’ve stuck to writing them for years, it should go without saying that they all come with their own little worlds; well-thought-out, researched bios; and a bunch of minor characters surrounding them, which I would be happy to utilize and further explore and develop, as well.
On a similar note: I’m a dedicated writer. I like seeing plots through. When the story is good and the characters are compelling, I can stick with the same plot/ship/cast of characters for years and never get bored or tired of it. If you are unable to maintain interest for longer periods of time or like to switch things up rather often, we probably won’t make a good fit.
Original characters and content: give me your OCs! GIVE THEM TO ME! I love learning all about them, what makes them tick, all the little nuances that really bring them to life. I am wholly uninterested in canon characters of any fandom (sorry).
Additionally, I'm an active plotter. I try to work with the yes, and method as often as possible and rarely leave my partners hanging when it comes to driving the plot forward or working on character development. I expect you to be able to do the same. I'm sympathetic towards the occasional dry spell; none of us can be oozing with creativity 24/7; but if you consistently leave all the hard work up to me, I will get bored and respectfully drop the RP.
On NSFW, triggers and boundaries: I don’t like writing smut for the sake of smut, but I do like writing about sex for the sake of character and dynamic development. Meaning: smut will never be the focus for me and I won’t write detailed, post-for-post description of sexual acts, part-A-goes-into-slot-B style. Will I write sexual acts in a graphic manner? Yes, if it’s done with the purpose of exploring the characters involved and the relationship between them. Ask me for further clarification/NSFW writing samples if you’d like to know more.
I don't have any particular triggers and like getting into the nitty-gritty of the human psyche/behavior/existence. I'll obviously respect any triggers or boundaries you may have but, as a general rule: if you're especially sensitive to or easily triggered by themes common to the criminal genre (i.e. violence, substance abuse, etc.) - we probably won’t make a good match.
Defining characters by their sexuality: I don’t subscribe to the whole top/bottom dynamic, nor do I subscribe to characters whose entire personality is defined by their sexual preferences, and not looking for partners who do. I believe sex and sexual desires are fluid and that things are more situational than that. If you ‘only write bottoms’, please move on. Additionally: not a fan of twinks and anime FCs. Nothing personal, it just turns me off both the pairing and the RP.
As a general rule, I could do with or without faceclaims, and they’re definitely not a necessity.
Posts at least once a week: this is pretty self-explanatory. Real life comes first, always. My posting frequency fluctuates according to my workload, but I’m usually available to post at least once a week. I try to keep my partners in the loop if I may not be able to adhere to that schedule or if I’m going to be unavailable for a while, and I expect you to do the same. Likewise, if something isn’t working for you, please let me know, and I’ll be happy to restructure/change things to accommodate you.
Matched enthusiasm, engagement and effort: this should also be pretty self-explanatory. If I feel like I’m the only one moving the plot forward, trying to engage in OOC conversation, expressing interest in the other person’s character or just generally feel like I’m the only one pulling their weight, I’m likely to bow out.
I'm comfortable writing virtually anywhere - forums, Discord, Tumblr, email, etc. My favorite method is maintaining a Discord server for OOC while doing the actual writing on Google Docs, as I like to dabble in seamless writing (ask me about it!), but it’s not a must.
If you'd like to reach out, you can write to me either on driftlikesleep@gmail.com, or schmuckinsurance on Discord. When approaching me, please provide details about your preferences as a writer (e.g.: age, timezone, posting frequency/length, genre preferences and anything else you’d like to share) as well as writing samples (my own are included below for your perusal). Please don’t make me have to ask you for either of these things. This ad is as detailed as it is for both our benefit, and I’d appreciate similar consideration in return. This issue has unfortunately become so prevalent that I will wholly ignore any low-effort messages which do not provide this information upon contacting me. Sorry not sorry. Looking forward to hearing from you!
THE MAN HAS A GUN, HE KNOWS HOW TO USE IT
The Mercenary, AKA Merc, is my longest-running character and my absolute favorite. He's in his early 30s, homosexual/romantic, and - you guessed it - a mercenary combat operative. Think Blackwater, Wagner Group and the like. Standoffish, thick, self-destructive and extremely dangerous, he is also profoundly loyal, adventurous, charming and far more clever and sensitive than he lets on.
His themes include: crime, modern-realism, recent history, war, mental illness, transgenerational abuse, nihilism, moral ambiguity, violence and redemption. You can find his character sheet HERE and several samples of my writing of him HERE.
While I don’t have a clear or specific plot in mind for him, as the collaborative aspect of RP is a big thing for me, I do have some vague ideas for the kinds of characters I think could work well with him and, by proxy, certain directions where we could take the plot, depending on the kind of relationship we come up with.
Honestly, I could see Merc working in a wide variety of scenarios and with all sorts of characters. I'd be equally thrilled to explore him with another criminal (another mercenary; a druglord, a high-ranking executive in a major corporation, or any other type of potential client; a fixer/cleaner; a bent lawyer; a forger; a handler; the list goes on) as I would with a character on the law enforcement spectrum (a government agent; a police detective or PI; a journalist; a straight-edged lawyer; again, the list goes on), or even an entirely civilian character who has absolutely nothing to do with Merc's world, but will inevitably get sucked into it through their relationship with him. He has plenty of hobbies and interests outside of his job and could easily make a connection through those. I'd also be more than happy to explore a relationship for him with a character in the healthcare industry: a doctor, nurse, first responder, vet, etc.
Whichever the case, I'd adore exploring the relationship in all its aspects and stages, as well as work on a wider plot/world in which everything will take place. I don't like for my roleplays to revolve solely around a romantic relationship between two characters (although I’m a sucker for a good, gut-wrenching romance), and I love expanding on lore and side-characters. All I ask is that your character feels 'real enough', if that makes sense, and that you give me enough to work with.