Past raif topics: Writing

This is a collection of Past raif topics to do with the literary side of IF.

If you add or change any of the sections on this page, remember to update the entry on the Past raif topics page as well.

Creative writing (vs programming)

See also => Development: Coding / programming
See also => Exposition in IF (D.G. Jerz)
See also => Writing in the IF Gems review quotes collection (also in the IF Archive)

• Interactive Fiction as Literature (Mar 1993)
• Fine writing / eloquent prose in IF (Jan 1995)
• Do IF writers write / IF players read ? / bad games (Aug 1996)
• Do IF players read #2 (Aug 1996)
• Developing writing skills (Mar 1999)
• IF writing techniques (tension) (Jul 1996)
• Programming vs creative writing (Dec 1997)
• Writing vs coding + tough things to code (weather) (Jul 1996)
• Writing vs programming (end of thread) (May 1998)
• Including quotations in a game (May 1996)

Introductory text

See also => Introductory Text in the IF Gems review quotes collection (also in the IF Archive)

• Game introductions / the perfect intro (Dec 2002, RGIF)
• Writing advice / introductory text (Nov 2004)
• Game prologues and introductions (Dec 1995)
• PrologueComp results (Jun 2001)

Descriptions & settings

See also => IF Theory: Mimesis / game consistency & completeness
See also => Mapping the Tale: Scene Description in IF (J. Robinson Wheeler)
See also => Description Medicine (archive) (XYZZY News) .. Descriptions Constructed (Brass Lantern)
See also => Descriptions in the IF Gems review quotes collection (also in the IF Archive)
See also => Description .. Setting (IFWiki articles)

• Descriptions (Oct 2004)
• Room descriptions (June 2004)
• Stylish or simple room descriptions ? (Jun 1997)
• Writer's block & room descriptions (Nov 2001)
• Long room descriptions (Feb 2003)
• Long room & object descriptions / depth of "examine" hierarchy (Oct 1992)
• Large chunks of text in a game (Dec 1997)
• Describing complex objects / using ASCII graphics (Oct 1994)
• Describing room exits (Jan 1998)
• Describing exits (May 2005)
• Naming locations (Nov 1998)
• The five senses (Apr 1994)
• Sounds as text ("squeak", etc) + why IF language was chosen (poll) (Oct 1998)
• Atmospheric messages (Sep 1994)
• Choosing your IF setting / genre (May 1994)
• Game setting / originality (May 2001, RGIF)
• Settings / why avoid real world ? (Sep 2003)
• Fictional vs real settings (Feb 2002)

Plot and narrative

See also => Plot,Resolution and Puzzles and Story in the IF Gems review quotes collection (also in the IF Archive)
See also => Plot .. Narrative (IFWiki articles)

• Plot in interactive works + simulation vs story (Oct 1994)
• Simulations vs pre planned plots (Oct 1994)
• To plot or not to plot (Jan 1994)
• To plot or not to plot #2 (when to write a plotless game) (Jan 1994)
• The elements of plot (Dec 1993)
• The elements of plot #2 (Dec 1993)
• Elements of plot - atmosphere (Dec 1993)
• Representing stories / person-place-thing-motive (Jan 1993)
• Overdone plot ideas (Jan 2006)
• Counting story plots (Apr 1993)
• Classifying plot lines / 36 basic plots (Nov 1989)
• The 36 basic plots, part 1 (Jan 1994)
• The 36 basic plots, part 2 (Jan 1994)
• The 36 basic plots, part 3 (Jan 1994)
• Pacing of plot (Jun 1998)
• Puzzle as a pacing device (Aug 2005)
• Mood establishment and plot development (Oct 1994)
• Drama in IF: Limited ? (Mar 2001)
• Mindsets, failure, death, dramatic tension (Jan 2003)
• Eliminating rooms & narrative tension
• IF and Critical Theory / interactive drama vs interactive fiction (Feb 2000)
• Player-only information & irony (Jun 1998)
• Why romance doesn't work as a game (Dec 1999)
• Anti-romance / abuse as a plot device (Jan 2000)
• Games without a "best ending" (May 1996)
• Undirected / free form / goalless IF (Sep 1997)
• Directing the plot / forcing player to do something without feeling forced (Jun 1995)
• Plot branching (Bladerunner) + conversation trees (May 1998)
• Plot DAGs (Directed Acyclic Graphs) ("Annoy" transcript) (Nov 1994)
• Plot Maps / plot DAGs / using a "plot fixer" to prevent branching (Jan 1996)
• Plot diagrams / DAGs (Sep 1995)
• Plot paths (Jan 1994)

Computer generated story lines

See also => Plot Automation article (David Graves, 1991) .. OZ Project publications
See also => www.interactivestory.net .. Structuring Content in the Façade Interactive Drama Architecture (pdf)

• Erasmatron story generator (Jan 1998)
• Erasmatron story engine (Aug 1997)
• Story generation + personal vision of IF (May 1991)
• Dynamically generated IF games (Jul 1993)
• Dynamically selecting plot elements (Jun 2005)
• Computer writes a book / computer generated stories (Jan 1993)
• Automatic adventure game generator (Nov 1992)

Persistence at writing / inspiration

See also => Originality in the IF Gems review quotes collection (also in the IF Archive)

• Writer's block (Jun 1999)
• Boredom during development of IF (Oct 1998)
• Boredom during development of IF #2 (Oct 1998)
• Drudgery in IF creation (Sep 1997)
• Coming up with ideas (Feb 1999)
• What would you like to see in an IF game ? (Mar 2004, RGIF)
• Ideas for an IF game (Dec 1997)
• Some game ideas (May 2004)
• Some IF ideas (annotated Adventure with Crowther & Woods) (Feb 1997)
• Stories we've seen too often? (Jul 2007)
• Coming up with ideas for IF (Jun 2007)
• New IF themes (ideas) (Dec 2006)