Saturday, January 31, 2015

How and Where I Write - February 2015 RPG Blog Carnival

As the one-year anniversary of my return to creative writing and tentative foray into blogging approaches, I offered to host this month's Blog Carnival: How and Where I Write and/or Game Prep. 

Thanks to Johnn Four for helming this project.


Years ago, I tried to be a Writer, without much success. I wrote some short stories and essays, even getting a few published. I think my crowning achievement was winning the Romance category in the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, in spite of the fact that I have never read a romance novel in my life. But apparently I was adept at writing poorly on purpose. So there's that.

A bit over a year ago, I rediscovered gaming and the vigorous online DIY community of creators and theorists.  At about that time I also made the decision to be less of a consumer of content, and contribute a bit of my own, whether a story, a map, or a bit of treasure. So I've played around with mini-dungeon scenarios, occasional flash fiction, some essays on gaming environment, and a bit of crowdsource content.

For the next year, upcoming goals include another One Page Dungeon entry, a longer module-length piece, a new character class, short stories, and whatever crowdsource and/or contest content that doesn't have too strict of a dress code...

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Like most creative folk, every writer has their own approach and opinions on the craft.

Among my writing books, I have two writers-on-writing books "Just Open a Vein," by William Brohaugh, and "On Being a Writer," by Bill Strickland. For the 30 or so essays/interviews in each book, there are approximately 30 opinions on 'how to write.' But they give a glimpse into each writer's method and philosophy, and there are many approaches. The creative process is as unique as the writer and their stories.

And each writer has their space: some spare, some well ordered, some cluttered.  Perhaps those spaces represent, or contrast with, the mind of the person sitting at their notebook or keyboard.

A few are documented in photo-essays like these:

http://booktique.weebly.com/blog/the-writing-space-of-famous-writers

http://www.whereiwrite.org/

I've always been fond of this photo of Sam Delaney in his garret-like workspace
So, here's a bit of me and my process:

I don't have a particular 'space' - sometimes it's at the kitchen table, sometimes at the couch.  Regardless, I hew out a comfy space to put the feet up and an appropriate beverage to quiet the Internal Critic, or commune with the muse... Your call.


And I grab some inspiration, whether is it a writing cue, a piece of art, or a map.

Mix well with:

And add a soundtrack of something drony or ambient via http://somafm.com/. Or if I'm in an industrial mood: http://www.digitalgunfire.com/. Or if it's Sunday night, http://www.ontheedgeradio.com/ (via the local high school radio station, one of only a few left nationwide) (where the kidlet takes her broadcasting class and internship) (The old man became slightly less uncool when he revealed his punk and industrial leanings) (Who says kids and their folks can't share musical tastes?) (Ok, I'll stop with the parentheses now).

And often with the "help" of Ella (aka Snotcat), the typical aloof cat who suddenly requires one's attention when one is busy.


There are a lot of creative folks out there in Blogistan - some write for work, many more as a past-time. Likewise, we plan for games - perhaps reskinning, melding, or pulling critters and spaces and situations out of our own minds. And everyone has their own inspiration, process and space.

Feel free to share yours. Perhaps we'll all find a bit of inspiration.

Update: Wrap-up and commentary here

22 comments:

  1. Here's my, somewhat tangential, post for the Carnival.
    "Gamemaster Prep Survey"
    http://ageofravens.blogspot.com/2015/02/gamemaster-prep-survey.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the contribution. - Yup - all part of the process, especially considering home-built campaigns or games vs published works. You may also want to differentiate between prep for beginning a campaign vs. ongoing play prep within the campaign. I expect even that will vary quite a bit, depending on if everything has gone 'according to plan' or if the players have gone gallivanting off in some other direction. All part of the fun...

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  2. Here's my "Where I Write" entry. http://arcanegamelore.com/2015/02/03/where-i-write-february-rpg-blog-carnival/. I'm planning on a "How I Write" entry as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the insight into your writing 'spaces' and looking forward to your process, as well...

      And 7 kids? Epic. I wouldn't get 15 words a day written... not to mention 15 minutes worth.

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    2. It's a struggle and part of why I haven't had been very good at it recently.

      And here is part 2 (http://arcanegamelore.com/2015/02/05/how-i-write-february-rpg-blog-carnival-part-2/)

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    3. Thanks for the second entry, as well - yes, much writing or creative work gets done in the in-between times. I've read of other busy authors who pounded out everything from stories to novels in 15-minute increments.

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  3. Replies
    1. Thank you - and yes, having a second set of eyes/ears always helps!

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  4. Here is my submission! Thanks so much for hosting.

    http://worldbuilderblog.me/2015/02/12/writing-on-a-schedule/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the 'writing in-between' strategy appears to be a common thread for busy people with 'other' lives. My wife tells of writing her thesis or research papers early in the AM, or during 15-minute patches of child nap-times during her Phd and post-doc days.

      Thanks for contributing this month - greatly appreciated! - VA

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  5. Another post. following up to the earlier one. Following various suggestions, I put together a survey looking at Campaign Prep done by GMs:
    http://ageofravens.blogspot.com/2015/02/gm-campaign-prep-survey.html
    I hope both surveys together will offer some interesting information.

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  6. "Driven To Be... How and Where I Write" - Samuel Van Der Wall at RPG Alchemy - http://www.rpgalchemy.com/driven-to-be-how-and-where-i-write/

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    1. Thanks, Sam! A good reflection on discipline and goals, and that even the shelved and discarded projects are all part of progress as a writer.

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  7. Got my post for this month up today!

    http://www.creativemountaingames.com/2015/02/the-friday-grab-bag-blog-carnival-how.html

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! The carving bits of time and space to write seems to be a common thread...

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  8. Heres my entry to the carnival:
    http://www.generaltangent.com/blog/2015/02/22/rpg-blog-carnival-february-2015-how-and-where-i-write/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks - the tools have changed a bit, but good to hear that the drive remains the same.

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  9. Hi V,

    A great topic,and I love those photos. I can relate to the cat picture!

    Just in under the wire, here is my entry from Tales of a GM:

    http://talesofagm.com/?p=1917

    All the best
    Phil

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    Replies
    1. Phil, thanks for the glimpse into your process. I must remember to outline more - especially if i want to return to longer works. I sympathize about the cats.

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  10. The raw results from my Gamemaster prep surveys- Session and Campaign. http://bit.ly/1AB605E

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    1. thanks for the follow-up and compilation - very illustrative of the effort people put into their sessions.

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