A Good Ad Filters as Much as It Attracts
The goal of a roleplay ad is not to receive the most messages. It is to help compatible writers recognize one another before either person invests hours in planning. Clear preferences are welcoming because they let the wrong match leave without conflict.
The Copyable Template
What I want to write: [one-sentence story promise].
The role I am bringing: [character premise and current hook].
Open roles: [two or three possibilities, with room for original ideas].
Tone and themes: [the emotional range and subjects you want to explore].
Writing rhythm: [async or live, typical reply range, and realistic frequency].
Collaboration style: [planning level, OOC communication, and how surprises are handled].
Boundaries: [hard limits, fade-to-black subjects, and anything that requires a check-in].
A first-scene option: [one situation that gives both characters an immediate choice].
Reply with: [one easy, relevant question a compatible writer can answer].
Example: Small-Town Supernatural Mystery
What I want to write: Two reluctant investigators uncover why a coastal town forgets one resident every winter.
My character: A local archivist who has started leaving notes for a person nobody else remembers.
Open roles: A returning resident, a skeptical journalist, someone connected to the missing person, or another concept tied to the town.
Tone: intimate mystery, uneasy folklore, and hopeful character development; no graphic horror.
Rhythm: asynchronous, two to four paragraphs, roughly two replies per week. Shorter replies are welcome when dialogue moves quickly.
Collaboration: I like choosing major turns together while leaving reactions and smaller discoveries spontaneous.
First scene: Both characters find their own handwriting in a library book neither remembers opening.
Reply with: What would your character risk to prove a memory is real?
What to Leave Out
- Aggressive warnings aimed at previous partners.
- Requirements unrelated to the story or safe collaboration.
- A fully predetermined role with no meaningful decisions.
- Claims that every reply must meet an exact word count regardless of scene.
- Personal information another writer does not need.
Make the First Response Easy
End with one relevant question instead of “DM me if interested.” Ask for a character premise, a preferred role, or one change they would make to the setup. The answer gives you something specific to discuss and discourages empty introductions.
Check Compatibility Before Plotting
Compare four things before building lore together: availability, desired tone, character agency, and boundaries. A promising premise cannot compensate for incompatible expectations. If the fit is wrong, a polite decline saves both writers time.
