Your support makes Blue Moon possible (Patreon)
Welcome! I'm Fruit!
If you're struggling with writing a good request thread, look no further!
I've compiled some tips and suggestions to help you craft a solid request thread!
Thanks to @cat. for helping with the coding!!
yyyyyyyy
Rule 1: Brevity is Key!
x
There is a reason videos on TikTok get more exposure than those on YouTube.
We live in time where people seek condensed and digestible content.
Remember that 99% of the people clicking on your thread don't even know whether they want to write with you.
Very few of them will invest time and effort into reading your long paragraphs. This is why you should only include relevant information in your request thread.
But what even is relevant information?
The primary purpose of your Request Thread is to sell you as a potential partner to all the random people skimming through your thread.
The secondary purpose to filter out people that don't match what you're looking for.
This means that you should only include information that accomplishes one of those two goals.
Consequently, if you have a sentence that achieves neither of these things, it probably should be taken off your thread.
A lot of the information people throw in their RTs can be exchanged during the planning phase of an RP.
Many of the separate lists people make (Kinks, Pairings, Fandoms, Settings, etc..) can be discarded; all such information should be reflected in your plots.
What attracts people to writing with you? 🡒 Your plots. That's it. 99% of us are clicking on RTs looking, exclusively, for plots that we like.
What filters out people you don't want? 🡒 Your limits. Your must-have kinks. People writing on mediums you don't write on.
We live in time where people seek condensed and digestible content.
Remember that 99% of the people clicking on your thread don't even know whether they want to write with you.
Very few of them will invest time and effort into reading your long paragraphs. This is why you should only include relevant information in your request thread.
But what even is relevant information?
The primary purpose of your Request Thread is to sell you as a potential partner to all the random people skimming through your thread.
The secondary purpose to filter out people that don't match what you're looking for.
This means that you should only include information that accomplishes one of those two goals.
Consequently, if you have a sentence that achieves neither of these things, it probably should be taken off your thread.
A lot of the information people throw in their RTs can be exchanged during the planning phase of an RP.
Many of the separate lists people make (Kinks, Pairings, Fandoms, Settings, etc..) can be discarded; all such information should be reflected in your plots.
What attracts people to writing with you? 🡒 Your plots. That's it. 99% of us are clicking on RTs looking, exclusively, for plots that we like.
What filters out people you don't want? 🡒 Your limits. Your must-have kinks. People writing on mediums you don't write on.
-
Examples of Useless Information
-
Examples of Good Information
yyyyyyyy
yyyyyyyy
Rule 2: Sell Yourself!
x
Your thread should not feel like a resume!
You're a writer, above all else, so hook the reader with your words!
Let the reader get a sense of your personality through your words.
Otherwise, it'll feel like it was written by AI.
You're a writer, above all else, so hook the reader with your words!
Crack a joke.
Propose a philosophical dilemma.
Ask them a riddle.
Propose a philosophical dilemma.
Ask them a riddle.
Let the reader get a sense of your personality through your words.
Otherwise, it'll feel like it was written by AI.
Rule 4: It's a Market!
x
Some kinks are exceptionally niche. The sad reality is that if only a small demographic is seeking the same things as you, you will probably not get a lot of interest even if you happen to have the most amazing RT.
If you're okay with that, then good on you. It's important to have reasonable expectations and you're allowed to have standards and specific wants.
However, if you're not, then consider broadening up your interests a bit to cater to more people or relaxing some of your limits.
If you're okay with that, then good on you. It's important to have reasonable expectations and you're allowed to have standards and specific wants.
However, if you're not, then consider broadening up your interests a bit to cater to more people or relaxing some of your limits.
Rule 3: Presentation Matters!
x
Short sentences & bullet points are generally easier to read than paragraphs. That said, small paragraphs are okay if you can keep the reader hooked.
Important things go on top: Posting Length & Frequency, Kinks & Limits, Plots, etc..
Least important things go on bottom: Samples, Fandoms, etc..
Graphics and coding can make your thread more attractive to read and more memorable but they're not required at all.
Spoiler/Accordion tags are helpful to tidy things up but note that overusing them would not be a good idea. You don't want to put many clicks between people and what you want them to see. Spoilering plots, in my opinion, is a bad idea. Spoilering writing samples is fine.
Most people put their plots on the bottom of their threads and spoiler them. This makes people have to scroll down and click in order to see their plots which is bad.
When writing plots, I recommend not writing everything down. Leave it somewhat vague; this helps people come up with their own interpretation. It's better than making people feel like they're following a script you've written down.
Another important point to consider is that most of the userbase, most of the time, browse the site on their mobile devices. If you use coding and graphics, you should make sure everything is comfortably accessible and legible on mobile devices and not just computers.
We have pretty good BB Code templates here for reference. Feel free to customize them and move sections around as you wish.
Important things go on top: Posting Length & Frequency, Kinks & Limits, Plots, etc..
Least important things go on bottom: Samples, Fandoms, etc..
Graphics and coding can make your thread more attractive to read and more memorable but they're not required at all.
Spoiler/Accordion tags are helpful to tidy things up but note that overusing them would not be a good idea. You don't want to put many clicks between people and what you want them to see. Spoilering plots, in my opinion, is a bad idea. Spoilering writing samples is fine.
Most people put their plots on the bottom of their threads and spoiler them. This makes people have to scroll down and click in order to see their plots which is bad.
When writing plots, I recommend not writing everything down. Leave it somewhat vague; this helps people come up with their own interpretation. It's better than making people feel like they're following a script you've written down.
Another important point to consider is that most of the userbase, most of the time, browse the site on their mobile devices. If you use coding and graphics, you should make sure everything is comfortably accessible and legible on mobile devices and not just computers.
We have pretty good BB Code templates here for reference. Feel free to customize them and move sections around as you wish.
XX
Rule 5: Label it Right!
x
There are fifty threads in a single page of the RTs section. This means your thread is competing with fourty nine threads for visibility. When you bump, your thread will likely only remain on the front page for maybe two hours max. This means you need a title that will draw people and make them want to click.
Your goal isn't strictly to go for a title that perfectly captures what you want, but also something that catches eyes.
Use short phrases and either all caps or decorative text for maximum eye catching potential.
"dom m for sub f" is very bland and uninteresting.
"STARWARS & ROMANCE" is great because shows what you're looking for + all caps will draw the eye.
"Ｔｅｍｐｔａｔｉｏｎｓ" Although this is uninformative, the ambiguity might draw some curious clicks. The font being different will also quickly catch eyes.
Your goal isn't strictly to go for a title that perfectly captures what you want, but also something that catches eyes.
Use short phrases and either all caps or decorative text for maximum eye catching potential.
"dom m for sub f" is very bland and uninteresting.
"STARWARS & ROMANCE" is great because shows what you're looking for + all caps will draw the eye.
"Ｔｅｍｐｔａｔｉｏｎｓ" Although this is uninformative, the ambiguity might draw some curious clicks. The font being different will also quickly catch eyes.