Custom rider stories have become the most popular story writing medium on PCMdaily. Do you want to join the elite, and see your name in lights? I can't give you all the secrets, but this guide should get you on your way to story stardom.
Before You Start
Idea
Before you even open your thread, you need to have a few things set. The idea is the mainframe of the whole story, and can be referenced back to at any point. I can't tell you what the idea has to be, but it's not entertaining for a reader if there's just a little information about the story and then straight into the racing. Also, it's not good if your rider comes out of nowhere and becomes a world beater.
Backstory
Part of a good rider story is making your rider real. He should have a backstory. You should know when and where he was born and why he got into cycling at the very least, but to give your character a real personality you should know more. What does he like, what does he dislike? How popular was he growing up? Who are his family members? All this will not only help you write better from the character's perspective, but it can also provide aspects of the story. Make sure you keep this information constant throughout the story.
Racing
Before you start your story, you should have a couple of races already done so you can start reporting quickly, and help you gain immediate followers. You may prefer to play a stage, then report it and so on. That's fine, but the one problem is that if you have a resolvable technical problem or at some point don't have time, it is good to have some races done so you can continue reporting. You should at least have scheduling and planning done before you begin.
During The Race
Notes
Notes are not necessary. Some people prefer to type up their report as the race is going on, but I recommend taking notes as you can have as much time as you like between race and report. Take notes on key events of the race, and to go along with screenshots.
Screenshots
Often screenshots are complicated, so here's how they get from game to website. In PCM, press CTRL+U and ' to make the screenshot cleaner, then press CTRL+T to take the picture. You can also use programs like Greenshot. Then, use a bulk image converter to convert the screenshots from PNG to JPEG/JPG. Upload them to a website like Photobucket or Imageshack, where you copy the html link and paste it into your report. Take screenshots of main events in the race.
During the Story
Stories can get boring if it's all about racing. Try to add social aspects which involve your rider. They can be results related, family related or anything in between. This is where backstory helps, but don't be scared to add new characters. Remember your rider is a person; he has a life, and the key to good storylines is making him a real person.
Layout
The layout is important to the story, it gives your readers a first impression to the story. Make sure it looks nice! Look at other stories for information. Don't copy them, but browse around, see what you like, and take inspiration.
So, hopefully this has helped you on your way to story glory. I hope I haven't forgot anything, tell me if I have. Good luck!
