How Does One Get Back Into Roleplaying?

For getting back into RP, I'd get in a 1x1 with a friend and just do it. Your replies will probably be terrible at first but as long as your partner's understanding, you should be good to go in a bit. Don't be shy if that particular plot isn't working, or if you want to start over, or whatever. When me and my friend got back into rping, we went through like 5 rps where it was like "Yeah this isn't working" mid-way through. It's not going to be a smooth ride, but you'll get there.

On the knowing your characters part:
- Write super extensive, detailed character sheets.
- Do the character exercises in that swank new character forum we got now
- Sign up for a daily question thing (ex. spring.me ) and go through all the questions, answering them as your character(s).
- Alternatively, this question list.

So, about character development questions. There used to be this site that was like formspring but specifically for RP character development. Doesn't exist anymore, but I signed up once and thought "man these questions are dumb. Character's highschool? Dad's name? Who cares." But I decided to take it seriously anyway. I came up with my character's dad's name, how he went to school, etc. I ended up creating a family tree... SO MUCH useless information that would NEVER come up in my book, but proved to be insanely useful later. You might find through the questions that just knowing the facts sometimes isn't as important as WHY those facts are the way they are.

As an aside, this site is also insanely useful. It's a bunch of generators. I use them to help break writer's block or to think about things in a different light.