Your posting format is the most important thing you learn in the cadet academy. This can make or break you. Sure, you have to have a character that is believable, but if the crew can't understand your post, then your character would be left out of the game. I need to know when the action is taking place, where it is happening and with whom. You need to know the same thing about me.

Mailing Lists

This is where we all post so we can all read the story. Ours is Starship_USS_Atlanta@yahoogroups.com

When you are accepted on the ship the CO will send you a welcome letter as well as letting you know your rank and position. Then you are added to the mail list and will receive a greeting to welcome you. You can then go to the group's site and read up on the mails and what has been happening on the ship. Do not use the list for anything other then posts to the game. If you have need of information or you need a LOA or you want to quit the game send a mail to the Captain and he will help you. If you want to quit the game and use your character somewhere else, that is not a problem. If you need help posting we love to help. Please don't send advertisements of any kind. No spam is allowed, and do not give out the addresses to others not on the ship. etc.

IF you quit a sim, do it off post by sending a letter to your commanding officer.

When you write your posts, you can reply to the last one if you like, but since we use the # system it is not necessary

Subject Headings

This is an easy one on the Atlanta. The Captain makes the subject and no one changes it. A few goof up when they start playing the game, but it is easy to correct. We number our posts as well and that # changes with each post. When you post, you look at the last # on the post and you add one. So, if the last post was "Don't shoot me # 7 " then the next post would have to have the same subject, but the # will have changed to "Don't shoot me # 8 " If there's a Re: or Fwd: that is fine. If you want have a topic to your post you can do a OFF: <This is it, my first post!> ON: and your post. I sometimes do that if it is a funny one or if it is going to be a joint post.

ON/OFF introduction

This is what tells us you are writing the story. ON: TIME <WHERE YOU ARE> in the brackets and your post. If for some reason you need to clarify something you then do an OFF: make the comment and do another ON: Everything after an OFF: means that it is a comment, not apart of the story. Everything after an ON: means that it's the actual post. If you are doing a joint post, posting with another person, where they put in their own words it usually starts with an OFF: This is a joint post

ON: <TIME><<WHERE YOU ARE>> and the post. You should sign your post at the very end, after the last OFF: The acceptable signing is:

Captain Jennifer Hailey
Commanding Officer, USS Atlanta>
Ruurd_p@hotmail.com

By putting in my adres, etc., it makes it easier to message me and do joint posts.

Thinking, speaking and action writing

We like to use the third person format, but anything you are comfortable with is acceptable as long as it makes sense.You can always use a brief paragraph to describe what is happening. A paragraph of action would be as follows:

Senik sat at his desk running over the transporter logs. Star fleet had asked him for a full analysis of the tycho effect. So far he had only these facts: the tribble was in the pattern buffers, and the person that it switched with had similar brain waves as the tribble, therefore providing a place for the tribble's mind to go. The Captain and the XO were not affected by the tribble because there brain waves where not similar. He had also found out that there was only a 234,678,234.12341 percent chance of two living things to have similar enough brain waves to switch places. As soon as he found out what had happened in detail he would give a lecture to the transporter techs, and any other interested officers. Right now he had to talk to Lt. Tycho about what he remembered from the accident.

Then he might say something, so it would follow with:

Senik: "Computer where is Tycho Hunter?"

To show tapping and using a commbadge, the =/\= symbol is often used.

ie. Shu: =/\= Security report to the main transporter room.

Locations and time

Locations and time are enclosed between << and >>. For example: <<USS Atlanta>> or <<Later that day in sickbay>> or <<USS Atlanta Stardate 58206.18 20:00hrs>> etc.

The stardate is easily keeping track of as it is actually nothing more then the year date month.day notation: So 2382 06(may) on the 18^th would be 58206.18 the five is to represent the 23 (2+3=5) and the rest follows along. The time is put behind it to determine what time of the day it is.

This can get you a strike!!!! You are not to change the actions of someone else's character by predating your posts!!! I.E. If you are told to be somewhere by the captain and you really don't want to be there, don't try the predating to get out of it. That will mess up the posts. You CAN write a post that explains why your character cannot remain where they are. For example if the doctor wants you in the sickbay for a check up and posts you in the sickbay you can continue the post by saying that the check up was done and you then went somewhere else. There is always a way to move your character. You just have to think a bit first!

Sample post:

<USS Atlanta>

<<Tom's Quarters>>

<<Stardate 58206.16 19:55 hrs>>

Tom decided that he would attend the mysterious gathering at the holodeck. He himself had been thinking of throwing a poker party for everyone. This would be a good way to get to know his new shipmates.

He especially was hoping to get in a few words with Cadet Drak. Unlike most people Tom enjoyed the warrior spirit of the Klingon people. He recalled fondly a rather intimate experience he had once had with a Klingon woman. He spent about a month in sickbay afterwards, however it was an exhilarating experience to say the least.

He was secretly hoping that Drak would be willing to instruct him in some on the Klingon martial arts. Tom recently got his tail kicked in a fight with a federation commando during the attack on starbase 31 and wanted to improve fighting his skills.

Tom left his quarters and ran into Zen. Together they got on the turbolift and went to the holodeck. Along the way they ran into the Captain. She seemed to be in a rather contemplative mood but invited Zen and Tom to join her on the way to the holodeck.

The trio arrived outside the holodeck and waited for the party to begin.

Off:

Thomas Swenson

Chief Engineer

USS Atlanta

dave@starpoint.net

Writing Techniques

This is a very important aspect of your posting and often neglected. We have gone through all the fundamentals, but now it's time to get into the posting style.

Creative Writing

This is what will build your character. This is creative writing at it's best. It will build your character and develop it into a person that others can relate to. Character development gives you a personal life.

Maybe two characters hate each other and can't stand being in the same room. The CO can add your plot in to the main story line as long as you run it so it can be worked in. An important note is to stick to the personality you described in your bio. If you decide to be shy have a reason to become out going or stay shy.

As your character develops through the story, it makes the character more believable.

Sub plots are what really adds to our stories. If you have a great idea to add a twist to a plot put it in writing and send it to the captain. Be creative, cause we love that and if in doubt let the XO or CO know what you want to do so they can work it into the plot.

Character Traits

What more can I say here, except stick to your personality? You've outlined and defined your character in your bio. Stick to it, to keep things consistent.