How do people feel about the complexity of the posts?

[Sycamore]

Alright, here is what I mean... If a character, in their post, got everyone out of the town and onto the ship, I feel that you would likely credit them for "moving the plot forward well." I feel you would similarly credit them for posts about the boat journey progressing, the boat crashing, a post about Bellona/Damask/Deadtail's group traveling in that direction, etc.

Well, that depends. I would credit them for "moving the plot forward" but not "well" if I felt it wasn't executed effectively. I've expressed my distaste for the sudden rush of events at the end of Week One. While they might have moved the plot forward, I was often left in confusion because each new post started at something completely unrelated from the previous one.

On the same vein, some of my favorite posts have been Revel's and she doesn't really progress the plot very much at all, but each time I read one I know more and more about the stoat, and that's exciting for me.

I completely understand the point that there can be great plot development in a chapter that spends time on nothing but character development with hardly any outside action. If we want to bring video games into this, I'll bring up the scene in FFVII where Cloud finds himself. More plot happened in that scene than the entire game put together, and nothing happened.

Now, I agree with you that plot development in the sense of action and moving beasts places isn't everything. Did I say that somewhere? I hope I didn't because I don't believe in it. But I do understand that you're more focused on a prose style that reflects the character being written. Personally, those are my favorite styles as well. After all, it's the way I write. I know we talked about this in private, but I want to bring it to light because I'd like to see if it might spark other discussions.

The thing is, I've never really taken a technical course on writing. That's why my prose is more often than not casual and, if I can use the word you used, conversational. I write the way I speak, so I feel as though my characters need to narrate the way they speak.

However, this is just one style of prose. It's not for everyone. I feel that the only reason this style is emphasized in contests like this is because, in essence, it's a huge Role Play, with nine different authors writing about nine different characters. Each author has to show why their character has to live until the next round, and the only way to do that is to make us interested in that character. This style you're emphasizing, Third Person Limited or whatever it is, probably does this most effectively.

Again this isn't the only way. If I can't learn about their character through prose alone, then I'll rely on character interaction and dialogue. The point I'm trying to make is that there are other venues.

So I dunno. Did I veer off the track here?

[Jarrtail]

No, I don't think. That was quite good.

[Revel]

I can't think of where else to say this... But I need to apologize in advance! My post is going to be the longest one yet. But please don't skim it or skip it because even if every scene isn't important to the plot or characters, I worked hard on it and it would hurt my feelings. ;) I honestly didn't try to go for the longest post yet, it just came out that way and I can't bear to cut anything. It would be like snipping the background out of the Mona Lisa!

It should be going up this evening I hope.

[Erethas]

Hey, no worries, and no need to apologise!

Long posts are lovely; they're interesting - and Revel is a fun character/oddball with a lot of, er, twists shall we say? Not to say that no character is fun.  Much hugs!   ;)
Sorry if this doesn't make sense - my brain is being bizarre today.

[Jarrtail]

Hey, I love long posts. What really annoys me is when we wait so long for a post, then it's a few paragraphs long. :angry:
I'm exagerrating a little, but you get the idea.