If you've already been to TYWC and are familiar with this style of storybook RPGing, don't worry about this. If you haven't, though — well, keep reading.
For starters, pretend you have never heard of the YWS style of storybooks and RPGs. We're starting from a clean slate.
What is a storybook? It's a story that everyone can potentially contribute to. You read the posts so far and then add a bit more to the story. "A bit" can be anything from a line of dialogue to a forty-page post, but in the case of RPGs, I'd suggest you write a little bit more than a line of dialogue. At the end of this post, I'll link to a couple of storybook RPGs written TYWC-style, so you can see how long the posts tend to be.
What is a storybook RPG? Similar to a storybook, except that you choose a character and write your addition to the story from his or her point of view. This is very similar to YWS storybooks (I think, anyway) except that here, you can write for other people's characters. You can only do this if your character is interacting with the other person's character.
So, let's pretend you're joining a storybook RPG. What do you do?
1. Read the stuff that's been written so far. - This may seem like an indimidating prospect if the storybook is obscenely long, but it's necessary. It's also why people tend to join near the beginning; less reading to slog through
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2. Choose a character. - Sometimes, in the original post, there will be a list of characters that you must choose from. Sometimes, you can add more characters, but only after the original list of characters has been claimed. Sometimes the original post doesn't have a list of characters, and you get to make up your own. It all depends on the original poster.
3. Write a profile. - Once you've got a character, you write a profile. This can include anything from physical characteristics to personality traits to an extensive five-paged backstory. A profile is imperative because it is a resource for other writers in the RPG to draw on if/when they write for your character. Which is why it is very important to include at least a basic outline of your character's personality traits on his/her profile. That way, other writers know how your character might react to certain situations, and will (hopefully) be more comfortable writing for your character.
4. Write your first post. - Pretty self-explanatory, I think. Some RPGs request that you find an interesting way for your character to meet up with the other characters; some don't. Which brings me to the next rule ...
5. Follow the rules of the storybook. - Again, depending on the original poster, an RPG may have extensive rules, and it may have none. If they exist, follow the rules. People will like you for it.
6. Keep other characters in-character. - This kind of goes without saying, I suppose, but still very important. So if your character is a blonde axe-wielding maiden, and the other character as a rule hates blonde, axe-wielding maidens, don't have the other character suddenly fall head-over-heels in love with your character. Tempting, but don't do it. Having said that ...
7. If someone writes a post with your character in it, work with it. - If someone else writes a post and your normally laidback character suddenly and randomly erupts in a fit of rage, don't get too ticked off at the writer. Try to work with the post. Maybe your character just found out that his mother died and is feeling (quite understandably) touchy. Some writers feel it necessary to go back and rewrite the post with the exact same events, but from their own character's point of view, to better explain their thought process. Others just keep writing. Whatever floats your boat.
And also: don't be afraid to make up new subplots and weave them into the main story. That's where half the fun is. And don't be afraid to write for other characters. (These are obviously not rules, but guidelines.)
Now. Links to TYWC storybooks. Please note that these are all storybooks on, well, TYWC. Some of them don't get into full-throttle RPG form until a little further down — Mystical Legends is an example of that, I think. Also, they're all very, very long. You don't have to read them; it's just to give you an idea of the format of the TYWC Storybook RPGs, and the length.
(P.S. If you stumble across anything of mine — I, um, can't be held responsible for any eye-gougingly bad writing. Really. It was a long time ago. I may or may not have been a crazy drunken sea monkey. Yeah. That.
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The Desolation of Nuram
The Finding of Lokan
Mystical Legends
Teens That Are Crazy (Because Snoink would kill me if I didn't include this. If you're confused; keep scrolling down. It gets better.)
...okay, I think that's everything. If there's anything else that anyone from TYWC wants to add, feel free to do so. And the reason this is a separate post from the actual storybook itself is so that if anyone has any questions/comments/concerns/donations, they can post here.
This may sound daunting, but it really isn't.
Good luck, and have fun.
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