Horribly, the double effort is doing a ton of research then not mentioning any of it that isn't pertinent & doesn't fit within the scene. I respect *so much* writers (& documentary/podcast makers) who immerse themselves in something then ruthlessly triage the material to fit a compelling structure.
That might well not represent the reader's experience at all, though. Like sometimes I'm very happy with a moment or line because I know it's accurate or obscure or represents original research I did, but that doesn't necessarily translate to the reader, who might not notice or care.
For me, there's no real correlation between how hard a scene or book was to write & how happy I am with it once it's done. BUT I'm talking composition/stylistically. I would say effort made in research pretty much inevitably nudges it better & better, & zero research usually = pooper
There's a hard ceiling entertainment wise imposed by the mandatory presence of Jimmy, who has eternal shift manager energy & a grin that looks like he's holding in place at gunpoint
You mean the blocks one? Or the strength one? Yeah, it all looked like something that was crying out for people with experience designing or running games to consult, & - crucially - loads of playtesting, which I guess is at odds with NDAs & secrecy
I think about the interviews I've done with party game designers, & how magic it is when they find a slender, intuitive ruleset that creates great moments, memorable reveals. Do you immediately want to talk about it afterwards is such a good litmus test of a classic party game.
It's a reminder that 90% of game design is playtesting. Is the goal intuitive? What do players naturally want to do? Is there an unforeseen degenerative strategy, a social Nash Equilibrium that is incredibly boring? And for their purposes - are all these elements visual? Does it make good tape?
The game design part of @foldablehuman.bsky.social's wildly entertaining video on Beast Games season 2 is so sharp. The Bluff game feels inspired by the prison one from Alice in Borderland, which was *amazing* but, crucially, scripted fiction with everyone vs 1 traitor.
youtu.be/0dwagg5wYY4?...
I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
It's a lovely question because I immediately feel myself writhing at the thought of not writing stuff I could use. So I would be very reluctant to write at all, in case I wrote something great that would forever be lost to me. I suspect ultimately it would be a very happy year though.
It's hard because I can immediately feel myself looking for loopholes. Like, does research count? If I did things & then later wrote about them - is that in violation of the spirit of the question? If so, honestly, set myself a reading list at the top of it, then do self-care, childcare & reading.
I've quite enjoyed the new Pac-Man game. Making it a push your luck affair captures a lot of the panic of the arcade original
One of my wind down activities (when I get time) is just sorting through boxes, cards etc. Not rearranging stuff, just looking at it. I used to do it so much when I was little, with games like Spy Ring, Buccaneer, the Donkey Kong & Pac-Man boardgames, etc
Thanks Sue. Science communication has a tricky ask right across the board when it's easy & quick to evince a sort of tutting 'I'm not sure about All of This' skepticism but hard & less pithy to go into the nuance of epistemic & hermeneutic injustice & broad phenotypes & emerging theories
I don't get much chance to do writing retreats these days, but it always astonished me how much a change of scene, some focused quiet, some nature & a safe, welcoming room not only helped my creativity but transformed how I felt about myself
'But what if it sucks?' Oh it probably will. Some parts will stink. You know what is completely error-free? All the art you never make. Millions, billions of humans live their lives never having risked making slightly crappy art & those rooms in the mansion of themselves will remain forever closed.
'Is it too late for me to write my novel?'
Did you expire immediately after asking this question? If so, then yes, unfortunately without the assistance of a talented medium you have left it too late. Otherwise, no, don't be daft. Don't die with your music inside you. Go create you big ninny
It’s inaccurate to say Mario is brave and Luigi is cowardly
Luigi is afraid of death, so he runs away from danger. Mario is afraid of living, so he runs towards death. Both brothers are cowards in their own way
And it's always a guy!
Sorry - this sounds intense & you must be experiencing a lot of emotions. I really hope you get some opportunities for a bit of escapism & that your loved ones are ok
Checked out the latest episode But Why Vikings with @ava.foxfort.net and I taking on some convention related queries. Send us your questions for the next and future episodes! We always need more!
open.spotify.com/episode/3BYx...
Is the insult that they have good hygiene
Scrooge McDuck's catchphrase ought to have been 'huge mcfuck!' He ought to have said it at least once per adventure
Ooh! If you find yourself at a loose end I'd love to get a game in with you / grab a coffee
I basically love all games & my heart is open to all of them, & I've loved taking part in the Carcassonne tournament so I'm no hipster, but it's always fun to see a small box & weird theme like 'kobold loss adjusters' or 'we play a late Dominican abbot's false teeth'
Not only is it lovely to catch up with people, but it's always a delight when someone furtively produces a box like an interbellum gem smuggler & introduces me to a game I've never played before. I love old favourites too but there is a special place in my heart for Niche Nonsense
My hope & plan is to be at UKGE this year, & SHOULD THAT BE THE CASE please can we meet & play some kind of game. If I'm there I definitely want to hit up the indie market. I also want to just hang out with the gorgeous freaks who make up the tabletop scene & hear how you're doing.
It's tough because I feel like my brain basically does not work properly, & so I find it very hard to write coherently or in a straight line. My only qualification as a writer is the desire to write, really. Raw stats wise it's like trying to be the Elite 4 with a Weedle.
I must remember that my last 3 books all went through points where I thought they were unfinishable, where I was sincerely convinced I'd failed, & they all reached the bookshops. So even though this one feels rubbish, rambly & stupid to me right now, it may be salvageable. I'm not a great judge tbf.
Ok I'll check your dates in May (which I believe you said is when you're here) and try to make sure I'm about!