Newbie Ahoy

[Miriah]

They're pretty much as long as you want them to be, but a good idea is to break up the really long ones for easier consumption

[Jane]

Also, I have a quick general question. How long are someone's individual post/part of a co-post normally? I know it would be like 'you' 'me' 'you' 'me' but how long would one 'you' bit be normally? I don't want to accidentally post anything too small or horribly long.

I think it's a little unhelpful for a copost reply to be a single word response - but there are times when that's absolutely the only thing that will work.  More normally your reply will include something your character says or does and the supporting parts of the sentence or a couple of sentences which make a short paragraph.  Sometimes it includes a bit of development of the character's point of view which might expand into a couple of paragraphs.

When you're reading posts you should be able to dissect them into Person A wrote this and Person B wrote that which will give you an idea.

[Heather]

I will be honest, Charis, I despise one line responses (a sentence).... I believe that SOMETIMES .... SOMETIMES... they are a necessary evil for the part, but mostly, I love having enough "meat" to work off of

[Len]

Heya Charis!! I have a gaggle of folks over at RBW, if you are ever in need/want of a co-post. :-)

*sneaks off since I do a lot of one sent. replies* >.<

[Yvonne]

It depends. I reply depending on what the story needs. Sometimes that's one word/one phrase dialogue replies that leave the other character to flounder a bit, sometimes it's several paragraphs in length to move the action ahead. Sometimes your character needs room to touch their hair or smile or laugh or whatever, and sometimes that's background noise. So... whatever fits? *g*

*ducks from Heather* Please still post with me! **hopeful**

[Jane]

Sometimes when the coposts are zipping back and forth really fast I find the responses often get shorter - mimicking conversation.  But when you wait a couple of days for each response then naturally you're going to want to do more with each 'pass'.

See, there is no right answer!  Though I do always apologise for single word replies.  Always.  Even if they're the best thing for the post.

[Suzee]

LOL... I get the picture of Heather thwaking me in the adams apple if R'enh just grins and winks.

[emma]

Sometimes a nonverbal reply from your guy or girl is the way to go though ;) I mean if the other writer(s) have done something that causes your guy/girl to have a jaw hit floor moment... Then they have to do it, but please explain why, e.g.

"R'der's jaw hit the floor as he saw the mess the weyrlings had made. surely nobody copuld get that much firestone all over the place and not in bags..." 

I think a non-verbal, or one word response can be fine, if there is some explanation of how your character is feeling, or their thoughts and expression that will allow other writers to respond to it in a meaningful way - of course you can always tack an OOC note on the bottom to the other people just to clarify what is going on, and if there is something specific you want to happen

[Heather]

LOL... I get the picture of Heather thwaking me in the adams apple if R'enh just grins and winks.

See Suzee, you get me Hahaha!!

As I said, sometimes it's needed, but if every reply to a copost is one word or one line.... I can tell you there's a frustrated Heather on the other end =P