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-INCORRECT
Ron Potter danced a jig to impress his professor Minerva Snape.
-CORRECT
Headmistress Powell glanced around Cascade Hall in search of John Doe, a fellow professor.
2. All posts should be in the third person past tense.
-INCORRECT
I am picking up a book off my bed and reading it.
-CORRECT
To learn more about dragons, Headmistress Powell borrowed a couple of books from the school library.
3. You may only write for your own character. Please do not write for other roleplayers' characters.
-INCORRECT
"Hi John," Headmistress Powell exclaimed while waving at Professor Doe. John turned around and waved back before turning himself into a toad.
-CORRECT
After a long day of paperwork, Headmistress Powell flopped into her seat at the faculty table. "I'm exhausted," she said to the nearest person that would listen.
4. Keep your posts realistic. This means do not write about things that would not normally exist at Sonora Academy. This includes telephones, computers, CD players, and other electronics. Also, your characters are not infallible. They make mistakes like normal people. Please try to keep your part of the story within a realistic level for your character.
-INCORRECT
Headmistress Powell called the president of the United States on her office telephone. She checked her e-mail and read a message stating she had won three million dollars. Out of joy, she leapt out of the tenth story window and landed unharmed on the ground below.
-CORRECT
Headmistress Powell carefully wrote a reply to the letter she'd received, and then headed to the owlery.
4b. Your character's appearance should also be realistic. Remember your student is eleven years old and human, and as such should possess suitable qualities.
-INCORRECT
Headmistress Powell felt the rage build up, the anger grow. Her eyes, usually a deep purple, flickered before turning bright yellow.
-CORRECT
Headmistress Powell closed her brown eyes and took a deep breath as she worked hard to retain control of her emotions.
5. No foul language or extreme violence. All posts should have a PG rating, just like the Harry Potter series.
-INCORRECT
"#$@#%##$!. You #$@#$#$!" screamed the Headmistress. Taking a fork from the table, she gouged the student's eyes out in revenge.
-CORRECT
Headmistress Powell issued the student with a detention.
6. No special powers allowed unless approved by the Headmistress. Special powers include speaking parseltongue, telepathic abilities, seeing the future, and any other abilities that would be rare and unusual in the magic world.
-INCORRECT
Using her mind reading powers, Headmistress Powell discovered exactly which student was telling the truth.
-CORRECT
"Now, I want the truth," Headmistress Powell said, crossing her arms over her chest in a forceful gesture.
7. Remember to write detailed posts. Not only are detailed posts more interesting to read, but they also give other role players more to work with when replying to your posts. As a rule of thumb, posts should be at least two paragraphs, or a minimum of 200 words. If you are having trouble writing this minimum, try to imagine what your character is feeling, thinking, his or her facial expression and actions, and past events that would affect their current situation. This will provide the detail needed for an interesting and creative post.
8. There is a limit on how many characters you can apply for in any given year. New authors will only be allowed to submit one character per year, and returning authors can submit a maximum of two characters per year. Characters already at the school will also be taken into consideration with applications. Please remember that more characters might seem exciting, but each needs time to develop, and time to be written. A neglected or abandoned character is no fun for anyone.