Wow. It is hard to believe that it had been over a year since I first joined Valucre. And let me tell you, it has been an interesting ride so far. Now I am the first to admit, I was brought to Valucre by a friend kicking, screaming and clawing at the floor if you really must know. I would in a very short time come to realize that my reticence was completely unwarranted, having come from a larger, much more commercial site with cutesie avatars, lots of items to purchase and a wide variety of role plays.
Sadly, over the years, even such variety proved to be lack luster. It was the same anime being played out again and again. Unfortunately my own efforts, not fitting nearly into the anime motif, went largely ignored, but for the occasional misguided cyber invite. Even my age, which is considerably greater than your average collaborative writer, was an issue. It was at this time that I found my drive to role play waning.
Ready to retire from collaborative writing altogether, my friend began pressing me to join this new sure that he had found. He swore that it was different, that the atmosphere was not one of pretentious back biting and characters that defy even the liberal parameters of suspended disbelief. This is a nurturing environment that values creativity as opposed to a stifling site that rejects anything that does not fit comfortably into preexisting molds.
I was of course, quite skeptical. But after perusing the site and jumping back into collaborative writing with both feet, I found his words to be quite true.
I have come to know Valucre to be a vivid and well organized and inviting world that has a place for almost any kind of character. Creativity abounds here without infantile judgments. If one cannot find a place in the main forums, there is an alternative forum were one can explore the outer reaches of one's imagination.
At last, I have found a place where my writing skills can develop and grow. At last I have come home.
Nox