This is a near constant question in online communities I visit around other creative pursuits. I helped teach improv at one point, too. This is going to come from a combination of teacherly advice and personal experience.
Back to basics: Remember why you're playing Maybe you're trying to write compelling drama, as play by post tends to attract. Maybe you just want to have fun. Maybe you're here to do both.
If you want to write compelling drama then take a moment to think about that character's purpose. What is the character's message, reason for growing, and such? If you're writing to have fun then your question is, "What is the fun answer to this situation?" If it's both then do both.
Just check in. No stress. Back to basics might even clear away some clutter that built up.
Letting Go of Clutter: Stephen King's "On Writing" has some grim words to this effect. Sometimes you need to let go of a really wonderful piece of clutter entirely because it's cluttering your purpose. This clutter is a lot of fun. You're excited about it. It leads to so many cool things. Every one of those things is getting in the way of the story you're trying to tell. You need to let go of it.
I'm not going to post his phrasing of the concept. I will suggest that a shiny distraction might be a great character concept for a future game.
Find the fun. These are games. There should be an element of fun. If you're weighing yourself down then try to let go. One post at a time. Write something that seems like an obvious, fun post. Don't worry about perfect either.
Your perceived "imperfection" can someone else's inspiration. "Perfect" might rob you of fun and other players of new ideas. On that note.
I'm going to paraphrase Susan Messing's view of improv. "If you're not having any fun then you're the jerk." She didn't say jerk. Fun is contagious. When you have fun you're excited. That excitement will spread when you have a good group. Fun can be a lot more important than people think.
Communicate with your groups. If you're really worried, then communicate in the OOC thread. Something like, "I might be writing (shorter/different) posts for a bit, and I'm really thankful to be in this game." Keep it short and on point. They'll ask questions if they want/need to know more. You may be surprised to know that they aren't putting such dire expectations on you.
Go on an adventure. A real one. Drive out in a new direction, eat somewhere you've never been before. Today is Saturday, which means there might be some kind of nightlife near you. Just be responsible and safe. Or if you're introverted, try to see some new book stores or museums or something.
Personal: The biggest source of inspiration to me is a good adventure. Meeting people. Doing new things. The biggest way to
keep that inspiration is to stay on message. What does this book / character / song / painting need to say?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BestAtNames
I wouldn't worry about "quality" or "length". Post what you feel or what you can get out, if you decide that keeping writing is what you should do. Sometimes a sentence is all you need and that rarely takes as much time and effort as a longer post
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I agree with this very much. Not every post needs to be an eloquent literary achievement. Sometimes your character just needs to walk down a hallway or finish lunch.
Play by post lives on momentum. A brief but forward-moving post can be perfect no matter what your mood is.
I hope that you find what's fun for you. If all you can write is a ten word update then have the most fun you can writing those ten words.