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 Match-Writing Style Guide 
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Post Match-Writing Style Guide
Here is TCW's official style guide.

<ul type="circle">
<li>This is the main one: matches and segments are always written in present tense, as if we're watching the show right then and there. So, for example:

Darkness throws Dante out of the ring is RIGHT.

Darkness threw Dante out of the ring is WRONG.</li>


<li>Everything should be in plain text format. You can use the odd "i" tag for emphasis, but capitals will serve just as well. If, for some reason, you do want to use tags make sure to tick the "disable UBBcode" box when you send the PM so that, when we get the match, it's all in plain text. If you're using an embedded Youtube or other HTML object, remember to click the "disable HTML" box too. Remember that we copy and paste what you send us into shows, which causes formatting to disappear, and we don't have the time to right click on pictures and put image tags back in, or mess around with Youtubes and so on.</li>


<li>The announcers are Tex Tantrum, Banter Shark and Isaiah Cain. Tex is the old-school southern-style announcer who plays up rivalries and so on (like JR), Banter is the former manager who likes the heels and cracks jokes (think Bobby Heenan or Jerry Lawler without the sex offender stuff) and Cain is the wrestling nerd who marks for workrate and talks about psychology (think a more knowledgeable Michael Cole). You should refer to them as "Tex", "Banter" and "Cain".</li>

<li>Announcer's dialogue follows the "name:dialogue" format. Don't use speech marks. So, for example:

Tex: Oh no, he just threw him out of the ring! is RIGHT.

"Oh no," Tex says, "he just threw him out of the ring!" is WRONG.

Tex: "Oh no, he just threw him out of the ring!" is WRONG.</li>


<li>Other dialogue should use speech marks, like you'd see in a book or most people's posts. This includes dialogue in segments and things that the crowd or the actual wrestlers in a match might say. The reason for this is because it gives a quick visual distinction between stuff heard on camera, and the "voice overs" of the announcers. For example:

"OOOOH!" the nearby crowd exclaim. is RIGHT.

Crowd: OOOOH! is WRONG.</li>


<li>The referee's counts should be spelled out. The advantage of this is that it allows you to create surprising near-falls (by having part of the word that's interrupted as someone kicks out). Any other count should be likewise spelled out. If counting a pinfall, use an ellipsis ("...") after each number, then three blank lines before the next number. When you get to three, put three exclamation marks. A close near-fall would therefore look like this:

One...



Two...



Thr...no!
</li>


<li>For count-outs (either KOs or ring-outs) use spelled-numbers again, but end each count with an exclamation mark. This represents the declarative way that referees count such things in real wrestling. If having a three-count in a submission hold (where the referee raises the victim's arm to see if he's unconscious) use the following format:

His arm falls once...



Twice...



Three times!!!


Just like a pinfall. Obviously, it can be interrupted in the same way.</li>


<li>
Keep the focus on the action. The matches are transcripts of what our fictional viewers would see on the screen. Avoid saying what the characters are thinking, or being definite about a motivation they might have - things might seem to indicate certain emotional states or plans, but someone watching TV wouldn't know that for certain. For example:

It looks like Darkness has decided to end this, and put Dante in his signature hold is RIGHT.

Darkness decides now is the time to put Dante in his signature hold is WRONG.

This isn't a hard and fast rule, and sometimes it will be fine to break it, but thinking in terms of what the viewer would actually see, rather than what you the writer actually know, is good practice for getting the right tone in a match.</li>


<li>Matches shouldn't be too long, unless there's a very good reason. World Title matches, Hell in a Cell matches, battle royals, etc. etc. are all good times to go to town. A random encounter between two wrestlers isn't. It helps us and it helps you if you put a mental limit on how many pages (i.e. on Word or a similar program) the match lasts. Three pages (not including entrances) is a good amount, assuming there's an average amount of announcer dialogue. Anything more is very tedious for anyone besides the writers of the characters in the match. Ideally, the whole show should be entertaining for everyone to read.</li>


<li>Copy and paste entrances from people's bios as they are. If it doesn't fit, that's their problem, not yours. Be aware that you may have to put in the formatting (including HTML for youtubes and so on) in which case remember to tick the boxes when you send the match to disable the code. Don't use a youtube unless there's one in the entrance section of their bio, or it's a special circumstance (i.e. a run-in, someone's debut). Again, the onus is on the writer of the character to get the entrance correct, not you. </li>


<li>The big screen is called "The TwistedTron". Just so you know.</li>


<li>If it's wrong, we'll ask you to change it! You may have reasons for thinking your way is better, but when you send us a match is not the time to start that argument - come to us mid-session and discuss it then. When matches are coming in, time is of the essence, and we don't want to waste it debating the pros and cons of a different style.</li>


<li>The bold sections in this post are meant to illustrate the examples only. Please do not write your entire match in bold! :P</li>
</ul>


Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:24 am
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