I feel that I should explain a few things on my style of writing.  It might help others with their form and will hopefully explain the things that people may have found annoying or curious about my style.

Forming a paragraph:  Because of how ComNet is, I don't indent a new paragraph.  It seems to make it harder to read.  I've heard others agree with me there.  To each their own.  I hit enter twice at the end of a paragraph for the same reason.  It's just easier to keep track of when you're reading.  Also, while the three sentence rule for paragraphs makes the world go 'round, every once in a while it just feels better to have one line.  That shouldn't be abused though.  It makes things too choppy and gives you license to add no detail.  You should constantly be describing actions and goings on in the background.  Internal thoughts also fill space nicely and it gives us some idea as to what the character is thinking (obvious, not always thought about).

Quotation:  As the rule goes, unless it's a question or the end of the sentence, quotations end in a comma.  For some reason I just don't like that for my stories.  I know the rule, I just ignore it.

Capitolization:  The Force is always.. ALWAYS capitalized.  While I was underway and writing about the Sith Holocron I decided that I want Holocron capitalized when referring to a specific one.  It just makes sense in my mind.

One thing that has been bugging me lately is the lack of introduction as to who is being spoken about at the beginning of a post.  Since we're making these runons, the character in focus needs to be introduced.  Starting off with "The Dark Jedi" "The soldier" "The pilot" etc without stating who exactly that is just slows down the flow of the beginning because the reader is unsure of which Dark Jedi/soldier/pilot is doing whatever.


That's all I've got.  Anyone have questions or thoughts?  Let's make this a discussion.  It could really help some people.
 
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OO/SM Sierra "Talon" Taurus/HC-3/VEHC/VE[BC][IOC][LoC][SoS][BM][CDS][MSM]
GM-SL/DJM "Nightblades"/DC-1/Elite Griffen Sect/VSD-II Griffen/VEDJ/VE[IOC][OQD][WoS 2nd Class][EoP][SoY][SC]
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SCAP/COM Vincent "Claw" Taurus/ISD Nemesis/Offensive Fleet/VEN/VE[=*A*=][=*SA*=][LoM][IOC][IC2]
CEO Vincent "Claw" Taurus/ECHC-1/Endoven/Dome 8473/VEEC/VE
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Verastinian Republic - Minster of Antiquities (Fossil Technology)

Any sentence the grammar check doesn't like, erase it and completely re-write it. Grammar check my be useless, but a lot of times just re-writing will help make things sound better.
 
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=[Arrogant Elitist]= Iron Horse Squad
TRP/SGT Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/1SQD/1PLT/1COMP/1RGT/1BAT/VEA/VE/Tadath [LoR] [RoM] [BC] [CDS] {BoA}
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=[Dark Knight of the Sith]= Eagle Sect
CM/DJK Jikkyo "Angel" Nimiichi/Eagle =1-1/Sith/VEDJ/VE/Lopen [VP:1]
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Fallen....only to rise.
Risen...only to fall.
The circle is now complete.
The Angel of Death has returned.

"Don't get cocky."
 
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Admiral Japheth Cappadocious, Krath Templar
Naval Commander in Chief, Captain of the mSSD Atrus
Headmaster of the Dark Jedi Order Academy
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NCC/ADM Japheth Cappadocious/NHC-1/Raptor 1/mSSD Atrus/DEF/VEN/VE/(=MA=)(=SCPA=)(=FCO=)[BRC][LSM][MC:1][KC:OC]
HM/KT Japheth Cappadocious/DC-3/Krath Order/Elite Griffen Sect/VEDJ/VE/[SoY][EoP]

While flaws are fun there is such a thing as too many.

Case in point:

In any real military Kuroishi would probably be locked away in some padded room in an extra strong straight jacket either by his own forces or by his enemies after his own forces turned him over to his enemy because quite frankly he is far more of a liability then an asset right now.

Spellcheck schmellcheck.

There is often little that can actually surpass the good old fashioned Mark I Eyeball.  The grammer check in Word kind of sucks because I can correct it more often then it corrects me.  Spellcheck is indeed usefull but again it does not check the context of what you are trying to say.

Aside from VIN and when I re-wrote my first Classic Battletech fanfiction I just use the provided window.  What can I say I'm lazy.
 
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Kuroishi Wraith VEA
Daishi Raptor VEN
Assistant Writer Why Project Copyright Infringment
Described as Psychoticly Depraved
Ich bin hessliche amerikaner.
Nehmen mir zu dein frauen von vernunftig preis tugendhafte.
"And the sound of many heads hitting many solid objects was heard throughout the land." me
Avatar by scientist computer graphics subdivision of Clan Wombat.
"It's not what I'm on it's what I'm NOT on."-far as I know me
"Now equiped with Swiss Army Lightsaber!"

There are also two major ways to improve your writing.  These ways are simple, yet if you truly wish to become a better writer, they really are the only ways to get better.

First Rule:  Write

It sounds silly, but to write better, you have to write more.  You'll grow as time passes.

Second Rule:  Read

This may also sound silly, but by reading good books from great authors, you can essentially steal writing styles or ideas until your hair turns grey.  Read Read Read.

Also, Word grammar check is a waste of time.  The only thing it's really good for is finding the times where you accidently use it's instead of its.  At least, that's my opinion.  Although I do have pretty good grammar.....
 
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Krath Oracle(ess) Riel Fury
Dark Jedi Extraordinaire

Kuroishi hit on a major point I wanted to address here.

While we try to stick to some form of "realism," there is also room for the fantastic.  As a new trooper, you will not be able to wade through a firestorm of blaster bolts (The Wyatt Earp at the river scene in Tombstone comes to mind "No! No! No!" etc.) That said, as you grow as a character and get battle experience, you too can lob a grenade off of a couple walls and plant in where you want it or snap shot an officer from fifty paces.  But all in due time, with due experience.

Grow into your character.  Talk to your squadmates on how they collectively want to develop.  Get a sense of where you want your character to be six months, one year down the road.

Keep it real, but allow some room for development as well.
 
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PRF/HG Fury/VEA/TADATH/VE [SCP][PoC][SotE:HC][SotE:VEA][IOC]
Prefect - Stormtrooper Corps
Administrator - Imperial Center

this may seem obvious, but lets not have everyone be a maniac, psychoticaly unstable type, pick other, more mundane flaws aswell, e.i. Snipes has a drinking porblem; mundane, yes, fitting, that too.
 
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TRP/SSG Sniping101/4SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR][IH][BoA]

I don't only read Star Wars books.  I agree that it is a good idea to read many other types of books.  That is the reason why I've fallen behind in the Star Wars category.  In fact, I haven't read a Star Wars book in a couple months.  I've been trying to concentrate on some of the classics, such as: The Lord of the Ring series, Lord of the Flies, Treasure Island, Death of a Salesman, Animal Farm.  All the really famous classics from long ago.  They are all must reads.

If you're not into those kind of books, try reading some Tom Clancy, or even Harry Potter.  It's all good.
 
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Feed a womp rat a food ration, he'll want an energy stim.  Give him an energy stim, and he'll rip your throat out.

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FM/CRW Darius/Nazgul 3-2/mSSD Atrus Defensive Fleet/VEN/VE (=A=)

If you want a fascinating story, go with Harry Potter, JK is one of the better writers I've actually encountered.  I've read a whole crap load of classical stuff lately, and its pretty good I suppose, but I think they went a little overboard with trying to fit as much crap as humanly possible into a sentence.  Kind of like I just did there, there called run ons.  I actually don't have  a problem with them as long as they flow.  Victor Hugo is good too... 

Anyways, allow your stories to flow, bring thoughts out of thin air and use them, connect things that would seem otherwise unusable.  Create a web of information and experiences that will form an overall plethera of story...  Its all good.  Just write.  And have fun.  I suppose that's the most important one, because if your not having fun writing, why are you writing?
 
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*Flash Was Here...*

CMDR/WO1 Shazam/Nazgul 1-1/Phoenix Wing/mSSD Atrus/1VENF/VEN (=A=) (=*SA*=) (=*MA*=) [LoM] [LSM] [VC:B]

i suggest Kerouac, Hunter S. Thompson, Hesse and Robert Jordan myself, Robert Jordan i've found interesting so far as he manages to have about 10 diffrent plots and sub-plots going on, but still have it manageable in your mind, intricate, but not confusing.
 
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TRP/SSG Sniping101/4SQD/1PLT/1COM/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR][IH][BoA]

Robert Jordan is a good choice if you are having problems with writing.  As the CO's said, if you want to get better you have to read, and write more.  I have been writing for years, and I currently have a book that is in the process of being published.  Even I still struggle at times with my spelling, and grammer.  If you're... um.... "lazy"... like Sergeant Kurioshi, and don't like to use spell check, well then don't.  When I don't know how to spell a word I go back, and use one I do know that has the same meaning.
 
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TRP/PFC Slick/4SQD/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA[LoR]

"Someday we will all be alone.  All alone in a combat zone, but the Corps going to bring us home."

I love all of the encyclopedia brown books.  They rock my world.  I have read a little bit of stephen king novels, and some Robert Frost, but I usually read Timothy Zahn and other starwars authors books.  Zahn has some awesome ones.
 
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Squall Lionheart
Lance Corporal
*DarkDragoons*
+ Advance Recon Commandos {ARC} +
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TRP/LCPL Squall/2SQD/1PLT/1COMP/1BAT/1RGT/VEA/VE [LoR] [EWI]

I propose that the VE creates something of a manual or a handbook that sets the writing standards we expect from our members, rather than just a sticky on the main comnet.

Content will be basically the sagely advice as what we have seen here, and more. It will be a guide for newer members to improve the "flow" of their writing, written by our more experienced writers.

Just a humble suggestion.
 
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Gunny Hashi Shiyun

Funny. I seem to recall a similar problem regarding to the refuse spat upon the pages of the comnet in Chap. 7. One would think such a problem could have been remedied in the last three years. Then again, most everyone from those times seems to have vanished into exile on some slimy mudhole of an outer rim system like that worthless whelp TwinFury.

/me looks around.
 
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"Water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink. Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink.~Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner.

Extraordinary by being ordinary......yeah, uh I'm confused
 
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Private First Class Jakireth Cadrimos
Army of the Vast Empire
TRP/PFC Trooper/3SQD/1PLT/1CMP/1RGT/1BAT//VEA/VE[LoR]

"Courage and bravery are your two primary weapons on the battlefield, without them, it is difficult and sometimes impossible to prevail"-Jakireth Cadrimos