From Roleplay to The Red Spark
Subscribe For the Latest news & behind the scenes!
As a child, I was captivated by cartoons, spending countless hours daydreaming and crafting fanfiction adventures for my beloved characters. Looking back, those early stories weren’t masterpieces, but they were the essential first steps in my writing journey.
Writing stories solely for oneself can be liberating. Without the pressure of external feedback or criticism, you’re free to create purely for personal enjoyment—a beautiful thing in itself. However, everything changes when you start writing with others.
Collaborative writing is both exhilarating and challenging. You begin to notice how different writers express their thoughts, some in ways that are truly inspiring, while others can be somewhat unsettling. This exposure to diverse styles and ideas becomes a catalyst for growth.
Despite a decade of self-study, free classes, workshops, and books, nothing accelerated my writing skills more than roleplaying. Why? When writing for yourself, it’s easy to overlook imperfections. But in a collaborative setting, you’re challenged to improve constantly. There’s an expectation, a standard to meet.
I wasn’t skilled at first, and it took time to develop my abilities. But I was fortunate to be surrounded by talented individuals who pushed me to improve. Finding this supportive community wasn’t easy—I encountered my share of discouraging experiences before discovering this nurturing environment. It was in this space, where I allowed myself to be challenged, that I uncovered the best stories waiting to be told through me.
Mastering the art of roleplaying and crafting stories for others requires practice and patience. The key is to allow yourself to try, to take that first step. For me, collaboration became the key that unlocked my creativity. While I might have had an endless well of ideas, it was collaboration that provided the spark to ignite them into vibrant stories.
Enter Robert, a pivotal figure in my writing journey. He was willing to read my stories, review my campaigns, and point out inconsistencies without malice. He pushed me outside my comfort zone, challenging me to write the best stories I could. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, but as the saying goes, “Done is better than perfect.”
And that’s how it all began…
“Done is better than perfect.”
On November 20, 2023, Robert and I embarked on what seemed like a simple roleplay campaign. Little did we know that this would be the catalyst for an intense creative journey, culminating in a fully realized universe by January 3, 2024.
Our collaborative process has always been unique and seamless. We quickly found ourselves managing six to ten characters at a time, developing a sort of secret language of fictional personas. This synergy became the foundation of our creative endeavors.
As time passed, we were struck by inspiration. We decided to transform this improvised yet completed mission into a cohesive narrative. However, we wanted to challenge ourselves further. Instead of remaining within the constraints of fan fiction, we made the bold decision to create our own universe from scratch.
This is where our complementary skills came into play. I took on the role of the worldbuilding specialist, while Robert excelled at plot development. Together, we combined our strengths to give birth to the Crimson Veil nebula and the Red Spark story.
Transitioning from a familiar universe to our own creation was no small feat. It pushed us to new creative heights, especially in the realm of worldbuilding. As a chronic daydreamer, I found myself lost in the intricacies of creating a fully realized universe. My goal was to craft a world that felt as tangible and complex as our own, complete with its unique cultures, technologies, and interstellar dynamics.
Over the following weeks, we delved deep into universe-building. We considered everything from the grand scale of galactic politics to the minute details of everyday life in our fictional cosmos. This process was both challenging and exhilarating as we strived to create a setting that was not only original but also internally consistent and believable.
Our initial draft, completed in a whirlwind of creativity, reached an impressive 85,000 words spread across 250 pages. This milestone marked the transition from free-form roleplay to structured storytelling. We then began the painstaking process of refining our work, removing remnants of our roleplay and world, and polishing the dialogue to create a cohesive narrative voice.
The editing process opened new avenues for creativity. As I adapted and refined our story, we found ourselves diving deeper into research, using both traditional sources and AI assistance to flesh out the scientific and sociological aspects of our universe. This process of adaptation and refinement led to numerous breakthroughs, including innovative concepts like flower-shaped space stations and animal-shaped or mythology-based ships, breaking away from conventional sci-fi designs.
One of the greatest challenges we faced was balancing the need for worldbuilding with effective storytelling. To address this, we adopted a character-centric approach, presenting our universe through the eyes and experiences of our protagonists. This technique allowed us to organically introduce the complexities of our world without resorting to excessive exposition.
As we continued to develop and expand our story, those initial 17 pages grew easily from 12,000 words (approximately) into over 62,000 words, evolving from a simple draft into a rich, multifaceted narrative. The universe behind the Red Spark has become more than just a setting for a story; it’s a living, breathing universe that continues to inspire and challenge us creatively.
This journey from roleplay to the creation of Red Spark has been transformative. It has pushed us to explore the boundaries of our creativity and has resulted in a universe that feels real and alive. Regardless of the ultimate reception of our work, the process of creating this world has been profoundly rewarding, opening up endless possibilities for future stories and adventures in this new cosmos we’ve crafted.
Categories
Top Posts
From Pixel to Prose
Subscribe For the Latest news & behind the scenes!When it comes to writing, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach—especially in character development. Over the years, I’ve delved into numerous blogs and guides, each offering valuable insights. But, as a writer who...
Author Notes
Writer & Worldbuilder Nerd
Ruby Pine is the creative force behind the serialized fiction “The Red Spark.” As an avid lover of speculative fiction, science fiction, space operas, and space fantasy, Ruby weaves intricate tales that transport readers to distant galaxies and fantastical realms.
A passionate roleplayer and storyteller, Ruby brings characters to life with vivid detail and emotional depth. When not crafting epic adventures, Ruby enjoys indulging in chocolate and exploring the nuances of the INTP personality type, which fuels a love for abstract thinking and innovative ideas.
Psst!
Are you ready to embark on an epic journey? Join me on Wattpad and read “The Red Spark” for free!