Top Writers

[Juno]

After going through Friend or Foe, I've found that I really do have a few "favorite" writers that I love to read. So I thought it'd be appropriate, now that we're sort of into the new CDBZ, to share our current favorites and why. Well, you don't really have to say why, you can just list, but it'd be cool if you said why. You can do a top 5, top 10, whatever you want. I'm going to do a top 7.

1: Ashe - At first, I was unsure of how I'd take to Ashe's character. However, upon reading Ashe's writing in Friend or Foe, I think that the pink-haired girl has perhaps become one of my favorite characters. Not only that, but Tim does an excellent job of writing her. I believe the point when he edged over into my favorite writers was in the... fifth round of FoF? In the post where he described Ashe and Sage getting tortured. Excellent. Truly excellent.

2: Sage - To be honest, I already fancied Sage's writing before the reset, but I didn't always like Bra. Bra wasn't always my favorite character to read, but following the new beginnings and all that good stuff, Sage has become probably my favorite character. I love RP'ing with her, and I love watching her RP. It was a close race between Sage and Ashe for first, but the only thing that Sage fell through on was the extreme epicness that I have yet to feel following one of his posts. Note I said extreme epicness. Epicness does accompany all of his posts, though.

3: Kaden - Kaden is hailed as one of the best writers on this site, and rightly so. If I'm looking for guidance on how to make something work, I read Kaden's work or I ask Kaden. It's no doubt that out of all of the writers on the site, he is leagues ahead in that technical department of creating art. He is also very versatile -- Kaden is much different from Rad, and yet he's executed him exceptionally. The thing that perhaps makes him fall is the length of his posts, in my book. A long post here and there is good, but occassionally, I admit it gets slightly tedious. Otherwise, awesome writer.

4: Piper - Piper's been one of my favorite characters since Alex first started mulling over her in the Civil Unrest forums. Seventeen was my favorite character back on the old CDBZ, so I was througholy excited for Alex's new character. Piper has a great story and is a great character, and the special thing about Alex's writing that he excels in above everyone -- at least in writing Piper -- is pulling you in. I can see everything that happens with Piper. It feels as if I'm there.

5: Belle Hibiki - I was up on Belle's story on the old CDBZ, and while I admit that I've fallen behind on reading it this time around, lemme tell you something about Mister Hibiki: he still continues to amaze me with his masterful writing from what I'd read. The thing that I really like about Belle is this: he makes you feel like you're in a Dragonball Z story. His writing has this episodic feel to it that makes you feel like you're watching an episode of the anime. I'm not sure if this is on purpose, but his writing shares many qualities with the anime, from the outrageous, wacky characters to the cheesy but awesome dialogue to the masterfully-woven storylines to epic battles.

6: Sophia - I can't get away without mentioning Sophia. Sophia's a character with depth, to be sure, and I can tell that she's going places. She truly is a great character, and the writer behind her is no less exceptional. From the way Sophia relates to others to the way that everything she does seems to make sense -- even if it is out-of-character -- is just great. Definitely deserves a spot on this list.

7: Dimitri - Dimitri's a great character. Truly and honestly. I almost forgot about Dimitri, but then I checked the CA list to see if I'd forgotten anyone, and his name popped up, and I realized that he definitely needed to be on this list. Why? Because Dimitri is a unique character with an intriguing storyline to boot. I wish he had stayed in Friend or Foe longer not only because I think he deserved it, but also because I would've loved to RP with him, as there are a few people who you'd love to get a chance to RP with, and Dimi is definitely one of them.

Honorable Mentions: Rose; Wizard; Zena

There ya go. That's my top seven, and the honorable mentions make it a top ten, just without me explaining the last three. But let's go!go!go!go! More top writers lists, people!

[Alura]

>=(

[Kaden]

I'll give this a shot. I'll be basing it solely on what I've read since the switch to Customs. Comments may or may not be included, I haven't decided yet. The list isn't in any order, either.

1. Szar - This is just a cool character. I'll be following your thread with Vad and Juno in the vain hope that you eventually post.

2. Piper - I've always like Alex's characters, and Piper is no exception.

3. Sophia - There's... an accessibility to Sophia's writing that you don't often see. Long posts, short posts, funny posts, serious posts, they all read very well.

4. Belle - Belle is probably the only writer on the site where, when I read his writing I find myself thinking "wow... I never would have thought of that." That's as best as I can describe it, so take it for what you will.

5. Sage - Jason hates his characters. With a deep, burning passion it seems. That said, he goes about showing it in such a fluid, engaging, dramatic way that its hard not to feel for them.

I'll call it at 5. Really, there are specifics things that I like about pretty much everyone's writing, but these are probably the five at the top of my list.

Alura, Lancelot, Rem, and Jaxx, might have been in serious contention, but they just haven't had the chance to post much about their characters. At least, not enough for me to get a good feel for.

[Alexander Trafford]

This a best characters or best writers?

[Cain]

Writers:

1. Ander: The only writer here who's stories actually capture me as a reader.

2. Kaden: You're just a great writer.

Everyone else worth mention that I've read, in no particular order: Trafford, Jaxx (old stuff, particularly the John Wayne post in DA), Orion, Krillin's char whomever that was, Kazuya, and the guy who's John Constantine on AD. Everything is only relative to your exposure to it however and as I haven't read many of the ones listed by others, they're unmentionable.

Characters:

Jaxx, for a comic book bad ass that'll probably never see more than a post. That's the only character that comes to mind unless we can do old characters too. Then Rad and Bardock.

[Belle Hibiki]

This a best characters or best writers?

The thread is called "Top Writers, " though Juno seems to cross into commenting on the characters in the OP. /shrugs Cover whichever you want, I suppose.

[Kaden]

To add on to what Belle said, creating memorable and likable characters is something a writer needs to be able to do. No matter how good the actual writing is, it usually doesn't matter if no one cares about the people in it.

Point being, in a setting like Chubbs, I don't think there's a huge difference between top writer and top character. There is some, sure, but not a lot, imo.

[Belle Hibiki]

That tends to be how it goes with RPing. Each writer is generally responsible for a single character. Even if you have a cadre of NPCs, the "main character" is who people generally associate with you. I doubt anyone would think of nominating many NPCs as "best characters" outside of saga figures.

[Alura]

The whole concept of 'Best Writers' and 'Best Character' really starts to bother me after awhile. Only because, especially after hosting a saga, you can NEVER say someone is a top writer. There are some people who can do it much easier then others, but everybody who is accepted into this RPG is a pretty decent writer.

Basically every single person in this thread could be on that list. The people who are posting 'lists' are only posting people they can recall at this current point in time. Ask them in a month and see if the list is the same.

I'm not bothered that I'm not on any list, but bothered just by the amount of people who don't make these lists, because they don't post or they don't interact with people. A better list would be 'people who need work' or 'characters that require attention' because that list would actually be smaller. Don't make lists that should be holting 90% of the RPG.

Furthermore, I don't like the idea of the entire RPG being a big false competition. This thread makes it seem like there are better writers or characters, when it's really a minor popularity contest.

[Celena]

I can tell you know that the only reason why I've never and can never give you a top or favourite characters is because 75% of writers on this RPG are really good in their own way and most of the characters all have something about them I like to read. A 'people who need work' or 'characters that acquire attention' list are important because it would be a way to help better these writers and to give people a reason to help notice those who don't get noticed.

[Juno]

The name of the thread is "Top Writers," true, however that doesn't mean it has to be construed that way. I don't mind if you post people who need help to get to be a top writer. And Alura, lemme just say you would've definitely been up there if, like Kaden said, you'd had a chance to post more about Alura. =]

EDIT: And there's no competition, I just happen to know that these threads motivate people like me to get better, and I thought I should give praise where praise is due.

[Vad]

To hint at what Alura was talking about. This may seem a little weird or even childish, but the minor popularity contest or the fact that some of the best writers on the site make the lists scares me.

I agree with the statement that some write easier than others. I haven't written a long post in awhile because I haven't simply been in my groove. I just can't seem to get anything out.

I've been re-reading the Retribution thread I did with Piper and Misa as well as my other threads. I've been using that as sort of a kick start to my mind to help me write.

Logically, I know, there isn't a reason to be so...scared (lack of a better word) of this popularity contest. I've been here for a long time and this is the first time I'm actually pushing to RP with different people.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this:

The fear that I might screw up and be outcast when writing someone's character in a group RP is so great, it's ruining the fun. =/

[Alexander Trafford]

that's partially why i asked if this was a top writers or characters thread, i didn't ask because i couldn't read the title, but because top writers could really be anyone on the site given who you read, who you've read last and whose characters better click with you. i think i better list would be best developed characters, or something to that nature.

[Kaden]

Good lord, you guys.

EDIT: Vad: thinking about this as a popularity contest is a bad way to go about it. Its not. Its about pointing people towards writing that you think is good.

Alura: you would have thrown a shit fit if someone posted something like that in a thread you started and told them to stay the fuck out of it.

Trafford: if you think a "best developed characters" list would be better, then do it. Just say so before the actual list. I doubt Juno will lose sleep over it.

[Alexander Trafford]

i like this thread too though.

[Juno]

I doubt Juno will lose sleep over it.

I will. Oh, trust me, I will! xD.

But yeah... lists of any kind. Post 'em. =S

[Cain]

When a reader reads something by a writer they "know" is good they have to be convinced that the writing is bad. When they read a new writer's work, they have to be convinced it's good. --Paraphrasing G. Anderson

^^ It's as simple as that. Don't freak if no one mentions you. It's either because you need work or because no one gives two shits about your writing/storylines/characters*.

*(Juno, et al.)

[Ashe]

I basically understood it to be a normal "Here's a few characters or writers I enjoy reading, and here's why they stand out to me." It helps someone identify what their strong points are and where they lose their audience. And I appreciate the comments, Juno, especially given that I rarely am able to focus enough to return criticism to other's writings.

[Alura]

Here's a few characters or writers I enjoy reading, and here's why they stand out to me

That's a fair way to look at it. I apologize.