Dang it. Wring profile.

I don't, but I'm sure a few of us would be more than willing to give you a few pointers. I can, if you want, for example.

I know exactly what you mean.

I like looking through the Naval Certs board, and having a look at some of the other people's writing for inspiration. Also, adding other perspectives in, as well as describing what's happening in detail, helps add bulk.

It's a matter of just adding more each time. Just a few words here and there. Eventually, you get a bigger post.

Though, remember that it's quality, over quantity. Don't give in to the temptation to waffle. A bigger post, doesn't always mean better.

As Gur said, quality is always better than quantity.

Looking at Naval Certs is a good idea. It also helps to think "what do I want this post to end as". Do you want someone to get shot down? If so, who? Does your character have a run in with a TIE and gets damaged? Whatever your outline is will help determine what your plan of action might be.

Take that outline and start thinking about the how. Visualizing fighting on the ground is much different than in the air, much less space. You now have three directions to consider as well as the physics of the craft. This seems extremely daunting but actually sometimes reading up on basic flight maneuvers can help a lot. There's a good link that has both basic and advanced flight maneuvers but I seemed to have lost the link...

But do research, describe your character's reactions, and describe what's going on around you and you will be fine. It's a learning process and you'll only get better the more you push yourself.


On a different note, those who haven't posted this week are free to get shot down in another member's post. No that doesn't include me. I posted this week, and I have been helping on other fronts.

As I said in my report, I'll post mine later, because of the extra bit Tryk wants me to do.

You are Strill. Do not doubt yourself.

It was absolutely fine. Being able to let your character get shot down, even if it was only in a sim, is an admiral quality. Most people don't like letting it happen to their person.

Just popping in to weigh in on Sturm's question. 

The suggestions so far are really great, Sturmwind.  The Certs ComNet is a good source of longer-form story posts for you to look at for reference, and just looking through the Naval Story Board is a great way to see smaller story posts, and like Avalar said you can really see how members have grown and improved over time, that way.  Gurlanin's point - that you can switch POVs mid-post, to get up to the word count minimum - is also a good one, as is his reminder that quality is much, much more important than quantity.

My addition to the conversation is just to stress that last point: remember, despite the average word count of this particular story so far (which is very impressive, and big), the minimum word count for official Navy stories is only 500 words.  You don't have to aim to write a novella every time you post, in other words. 

Lastly, I'll just say that, while the VE does not condone piracy or the theft of intellectual property, the internet is also a vast place.  There are plenty of Star Wars short stories and books (published works) that are floating around the internet, free to read, that don't even require you to screw the publishing companies (or the parent company, which is now the scary, monolithic Disney corporation) out of money.  Go searching.  It's totally worth it.  The Wraith Squadron books within the X-Wing series would be especially instructive for Strill pilots to get ahold of. 

Gurlanin, while I'm here in this thread: go ahead and post something else to the story now, if you want.  The bit you showed me, with the interruption?  Post that between 12 and 16 hours from now, if you want to work it in.  Otherwise, it'll come too early or too late.  Although, now I'm thinking about it, you COULD just post it after my "moving on" post, to show the scene from a different POV.  Up to you: post to a specific deadline, or just wait til I post and then plop yours down after. 

I posted a quick one, and added it to the Strill colab doc.

/me smirks.

Okay, Gurlanin, I'm waitin' to see your reworked post, and I'll follow with something of my own.

Great work, Strillians.  I'm giving you plenty to work with once we hit the Sollamens, so don't get too comfortable. 

There's Trick's reaction, Avalar: poised, and in control, until the sim ends unexpectedly.  A flash of anger, then all business when he gets the news about StOrMz.    He's a classy guy, Trykon. 

And, Joamer: Trick might have been taken out by the explosion, or he might not have.  I'll let you hold on to your hopes.    But, you seem to have forgotten: Trick had a TIE Phantom to call on, too.  Whether you killed my PC or not, you all would have been taken out by the stealth ship.  I'm going to choose to believe Trykon would have survived, though in a crippled fighter.  Even with the subsequent victory, though, he would have been very, very proud of Strill Squadron, and quite impressed with your performance.

But that was the point of that whole subplot, folks: in the face of truly overwhelming odds, Strill came together to use an incredibly dangerous and outside-the-box tactic, which was very effective.  Really well done, y'all.

And, as I said earlier, don't relax, now: the main event is about to begin.  And Strill is going to have plenty to do in the Sollamens! 

No worries, Gurlanin.  Thanks for waiting for such a specific timeframe to post.    Glad we could find a way for you to use your scene. 

Well, I'm off for the weekend, if you guys can cope without your newbie for a couple of days!

Give you lot a chance to catch up :P

Avalar wrote:Some of us have a real life to deal with

Except Av. She pretends she does, but actually she's dreaming about Hades. True life facts.

Aaand I'm back from my course at the weekend. I passed, and am now catching up everything I missed.