Post by WCWA Online on Nov 16, 2010 22:11:23 GMT -5
I've noticed a lot of new bookers around here as of late, and I've noticed a lot are making a lot of the same mistakes. This is something myself and ICW put together back in 2006 and have revised and revisited several times since then. For new bookers, this will tell you what is expected on this board, ways to improve, ways to design your federation, ways to format your writing so it's visually appealing, and more. I've edited it myself as of November 2010 for this board, so it's more accurate.
The Fantasy Booking Guidebook:
How to book your way to success
Chapter 1:
How to make your federation a success
Detail: A lot of people will tell you that detail is the key to a successful and popular fantasy booking federation. Detail allows the reader to imagine every single thing in his or her mind. We need to be able to picture every single thing; word for word on what is going on. Describe as much as you can, down to the electricity of the fans to the emotions of the wrestlers involved. If you're going to write shorter matches, make SURE your promos and angles are properly detailed. Nothing kills interest in a series faster than angles and storylines not being given proper care and attention by their writer. It's impossible for anyone to get behind an angle when there's nothing to get behind.
Example of good detail: “We CUT backstage to a dingy locker room where the only source of light is a single lit bulb illuminating in the middle of the room. Sitting in the middle of the light with his head down is ICW World Champion, Taz. He looks up to the camera with anger in his eyes and begins to speak…”
Writing Style: A writing style is very important in making a good, successful federation. You need to be able to make everything look clear and neat, not bunched up altogether. What I do is when something descriptive is happening, I italicize it. When my commentators speak, I bold their names. It makes things much easier to read. Adding colors can also be helpful, but know your background. Here on WF, we have a primarily white background, so avoid colors like gray, yellow, and pink that are hard to read on this background.
Roster: Develop a roster of about 25-30 wrestlers that you know and know well. A majority of these wrestlers should be able to rotate in and out of feuds with each other and work with history of each other. Building your federation's mythology is almost as important as your roster. Building a history. The most important part to your roster is knowing your roster. If you know WWE guys, use them. If you know Japanese guys, use them. If you know indy guys, use them. But don't use names for the sake of names and have no idea how to write their style. The most important part of your roster is to have a unique roster that is unlike anything else. No one wants to read a clone of WWE or TNA. No one wants to see a new guy show up and essentially clone an existing series.
Chapter 2:
How to start up a fantasy booking federation:
Sit down and open up a word document. Now think (I know scary thought to some of you). Think about what you want to do with your federation and think about if the readers will like it. Assemble a roster of who you think you can write well with and who you think the readers would like to read about.
Now, think about a catchy federation name and a name for your show. For example, my federation name is Intense Championship Wrestling (ICW). My Show name is Monday Night Collision. If I were you, do not do a federation name with initials like “WWF, WCW, ECW, TNA” UNLESS you are doing a federation based on those feds. Also avoid the cliche's. Avoid using Extreme or Xtreme as a whole. Almost every e-fed since 1996 has done it. It's played out.
Now begin writing a card for your show. A card is a list of the matches you will have for your up coming show. Think about what matches will be exciting to write and exciting for the reader to read. A card should contain 4 to 5 matches (if you’re writing a show that would be 2 hours if it actually aired on TV) . An hour long based show should contain 2-3 matches. Always include backstage segments, promos, and interviewers.
Now you are ready to work on your show…
Chapter 3:
What not to do…
Do not ever post short results. An example would be: Undertaker def. The Rock; Stone Cold def. HHH. These really do nothing for the reader, nothing to progress angles, and nothing but damage your show. At the very least, give a summary of the match and the finish.
Make sure you don’t make any spelling mistakes. Type on Microsoft word and use spell check and always double check your work. If you catch one mistake it is likely there are many mistakes in your show.
Do not rush while writing a show! Do not ever feel compelled to hurry up when writing. There are no deadlines here. This is a hobby, not a job. Some of the best writers out there are lucky to produce one show a year.
Chapter 4:
I’m not getting replies; what do I do?
Reply to other shows. Let all everyone know, especially the veterans, that you are apart of the community by replying to other shows. When replying, don’t write “omgz 10/10!”. List what you liked, what you did not like, and what you thought was the writers strong/weak point. Leaving a number rating such as “10/10” is not needed. Just give your honest opinion.
Chapter 5:
Be Consistent
You should always be consistent with storylines and angles. Don’t start a storyline then not go through with it. It makes you look bad as a writer and your federation look bad. Feuds should always make sense and the reader should have a clear understanding on why exactly the wrestlers are feuding.
Chapter 6:
Take Advice
When someone takes the time to read and reply to your show, you should listen to what they say. If someone says an angle is silly or non-believable, you should reconsider it. If you've got Rey Mysterio running around and chokeslamming people, it should probably be abandoned immediately and forgotten. If you've got an angle that doesn't make any sense, work to make it make sense, or bring the angle to a finish as soon as possible. When people give you formatting advice, take it. People are only out for your best. Don't argue with people when they give you advice and don't take it to the heart. People are just trying to help
The Fantasy Booking Guidebook:
How to book your way to success
Chapter 1:
How to make your federation a success
Detail: A lot of people will tell you that detail is the key to a successful and popular fantasy booking federation. Detail allows the reader to imagine every single thing in his or her mind. We need to be able to picture every single thing; word for word on what is going on. Describe as much as you can, down to the electricity of the fans to the emotions of the wrestlers involved. If you're going to write shorter matches, make SURE your promos and angles are properly detailed. Nothing kills interest in a series faster than angles and storylines not being given proper care and attention by their writer. It's impossible for anyone to get behind an angle when there's nothing to get behind.
Example of good detail: “We CUT backstage to a dingy locker room where the only source of light is a single lit bulb illuminating in the middle of the room. Sitting in the middle of the light with his head down is ICW World Champion, Taz. He looks up to the camera with anger in his eyes and begins to speak…”
Writing Style: A writing style is very important in making a good, successful federation. You need to be able to make everything look clear and neat, not bunched up altogether. What I do is when something descriptive is happening, I italicize it. When my commentators speak, I bold their names. It makes things much easier to read. Adding colors can also be helpful, but know your background. Here on WF, we have a primarily white background, so avoid colors like gray, yellow, and pink that are hard to read on this background.
Roster: Develop a roster of about 25-30 wrestlers that you know and know well. A majority of these wrestlers should be able to rotate in and out of feuds with each other and work with history of each other. Building your federation's mythology is almost as important as your roster. Building a history. The most important part to your roster is knowing your roster. If you know WWE guys, use them. If you know Japanese guys, use them. If you know indy guys, use them. But don't use names for the sake of names and have no idea how to write their style. The most important part of your roster is to have a unique roster that is unlike anything else. No one wants to read a clone of WWE or TNA. No one wants to see a new guy show up and essentially clone an existing series.
Chapter 2:
How to start up a fantasy booking federation:
Sit down and open up a word document. Now think (I know scary thought to some of you). Think about what you want to do with your federation and think about if the readers will like it. Assemble a roster of who you think you can write well with and who you think the readers would like to read about.
Now, think about a catchy federation name and a name for your show. For example, my federation name is Intense Championship Wrestling (ICW). My Show name is Monday Night Collision. If I were you, do not do a federation name with initials like “WWF, WCW, ECW, TNA” UNLESS you are doing a federation based on those feds. Also avoid the cliche's. Avoid using Extreme or Xtreme as a whole. Almost every e-fed since 1996 has done it. It's played out.
Now begin writing a card for your show. A card is a list of the matches you will have for your up coming show. Think about what matches will be exciting to write and exciting for the reader to read. A card should contain 4 to 5 matches (if you’re writing a show that would be 2 hours if it actually aired on TV) . An hour long based show should contain 2-3 matches. Always include backstage segments, promos, and interviewers.
Now you are ready to work on your show…
Chapter 3:
What not to do…
Do not ever post short results. An example would be: Undertaker def. The Rock; Stone Cold def. HHH. These really do nothing for the reader, nothing to progress angles, and nothing but damage your show. At the very least, give a summary of the match and the finish.
Make sure you don’t make any spelling mistakes. Type on Microsoft word and use spell check and always double check your work. If you catch one mistake it is likely there are many mistakes in your show.
Do not rush while writing a show! Do not ever feel compelled to hurry up when writing. There are no deadlines here. This is a hobby, not a job. Some of the best writers out there are lucky to produce one show a year.
Chapter 4:
I’m not getting replies; what do I do?
Reply to other shows. Let all everyone know, especially the veterans, that you are apart of the community by replying to other shows. When replying, don’t write “omgz 10/10!”. List what you liked, what you did not like, and what you thought was the writers strong/weak point. Leaving a number rating such as “10/10” is not needed. Just give your honest opinion.
Chapter 5:
Be Consistent
You should always be consistent with storylines and angles. Don’t start a storyline then not go through with it. It makes you look bad as a writer and your federation look bad. Feuds should always make sense and the reader should have a clear understanding on why exactly the wrestlers are feuding.
Chapter 6:
Take Advice
When someone takes the time to read and reply to your show, you should listen to what they say. If someone says an angle is silly or non-believable, you should reconsider it. If you've got Rey Mysterio running around and chokeslamming people, it should probably be abandoned immediately and forgotten. If you've got an angle that doesn't make any sense, work to make it make sense, or bring the angle to a finish as soon as possible. When people give you formatting advice, take it. People are only out for your best. Don't argue with people when they give you advice and don't take it to the heart. People are just trying to help