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Reading circuits

JeepGuyPosted on 02/14/08 at 16:20:01

I was wondering what everyone out there likes to read in a circuit. There are some really well written circuits out there in several different formats and I was wondering what the most popular format was. What do you like in your circuits?
Rick GarrardPosted on 02/15/08 at 01:13:32

I like how mine are written.  :P
Psycho ScottPosted on 02/24/08 at 20:09:45

detailed. As long as it doesn't ramble on and on.
Larry MondelloPosted on 02/24/08 at 22:06:50

In a nice summary style.  I want to get a brief overview of the match and a summary of all the key points of the show that forward the storylines at all.  I don't really have time to read long move by move match results or a lot of fully written dialogue.  Just summaries for me.
rey619Posted on 02/28/08 at 11:14:27

I'm not too fond of Pbp-format or circuits that just posts results. You don't have to write move for move, but some kind of description of each match is nice.

I really prefer modern day circuits over classic circuits or circuits with mixed wrestlers, so there aren't a whole lot of promotions that fit my bill. Unfortunately, as I realize several of them are well written.
lazy duckPosted on 02/28/08 at 18:03:30

this explains why no one reads my stuff. I'm to old school to be new and to new to be Old School...lol
JeepGuyPosted on 02/28/08 at 21:10:44

On 02/28/08 at 18:03:30, lazy duck wrote:this explains why no one reads my stuff. I'm to old school to be new and to new to be Old School...lol
You may be getting reads and just no comments. I've noticed that most of the circuits, both good and bad (my opinion) get reads but very little by way of comments.

I try to comment on all the circuits I read, even if it is just to say "good card", just so the writers know that someone is reading and appreciates their hard work and will continue to do their work. You know who you are.

If you're getting no comments and no hits, maybe it is your formatting/writing style.
lazy duckPosted on 02/28/08 at 22:24:13

It's probably because I'm boaring. I get an idea then run with it then after maybe  few months the comments/readers just fade away. One reason why I stoped Pro Wrestling Weekly. I'm not the greatest booker and the cards start getting stale.
JeepGuyPosted on 02/28/08 at 22:34:30

On 02/28/08 at 22:24:13, lazy duck wrote:It's probably because I'm boaring. I get an idea then run with it then after maybe few months the comments/readers just fade away. One reason why I stoped Pro Wrestling Weekly. I'm not the greatest booker and the cards start getting stale.
Are you sure the readers stop coming around or is it just the comments that go away?

I think I'm okay as a booker but I shoot for something that interests me (I go the comedy route with AWE) - the stuff practically writes itself and what I thought might become stale keeps me laughing.

Having problems with your booking? Shorten your shows. Fiddle with your roster. Try a different format and/or writing style. Try different things to keep it fresh or at least be different.
Rick GarrardPosted on 02/29/08 at 02:00:34

good point on roster shortening and show shortening.  Makes it easier to remember who is on the roster and what storylines are going on.
JeepGuyPosted on 02/29/08 at 02:53:03

On 02/29/08 at 02:00:34, Rick Garrard wrote:good point on roster shortening and show shortening. Makes it easier to remember who is on the roster and what storylines are going on.
Plus it makes your writing time less of a chore and more fun.
YunPosted on 03/15/08 at 12:19:48

I tend to be attracted more to good storytelling than good matches. Trying to recreate old-school ROH in plaintext just seems silly to me.

Also, like Rey619, I prefer modern circuits. I've only been a fan since late 1999, so I really have no connection to the old school.
The TNM Members ChampPosted on 03/15/08 at 16:22:34

On 02/29/08 at 02:53:03, JeepGuy wrote:
Plus it makes your writing time less of a chore and more fun.
I think a good way to write a show is to use the same format a lot of the wrestling reviewers use.
rey619Posted on 03/27/08 at 07:47:17

One problem that comes to mind is trying to run Indy-feds. Indy-feds are low on storylines and usually lasts 3 hours. Every show. That means that there will be 7-10 matches, and not much in-between. Which again means you will have to either a) just fill in the results or b) do writeups of the match itself, which isn't all that popular.

Any advice on how to "solve" this?

pszPosted on 03/27/08 at 13:21:53

Describe the show as three 1-hour segments programs. Have recaps/promos/interviews fill the "In Between"

Tis how ECW did it for years...

It's also the only way I've personally found to manage having more than 5 or 6 concurrent angles at a time.
JeepGuyPosted on 03/27/08 at 21:59:27

On 03/27/08 at 07:47:17, rey619 wrote:One problem that comes to mind is trying to run Indy-feds. Indy-feds are low on storylines and usually lasts 3 hours. Every show. That means that there will be 7-10 matches, and not much in-between. Which again means you will have to either a) just fill in the results or b) do writeups of the match itself, which isn't all that popular.

Any advice on how to "solve" this?
Just because the Indys are low on storylines doesn't mean you have to be. Of course, you don't have the backstage stuff that goes on in a televised production but you do have in-ring interviews, run-ins and attacks, wrestler staredowns which can all be part of the bigger story.

Not all indy shows are 3 hours. I went to one that was pretty cheap and had maybe 5 matches with no match lasting more than 20 minutes. It was fast and furious ... and did I mention cheap?