Comfort — RPGaDay #17

Is writing about the reverse of comfort appropriate for this topic?

I find little comfort in writing. I find comfort in the research, but when it comes to gathering all that information together and it coalescing on the page, that’s another thing altogether. I find that the idea in my head rapidly becomes something far less captivating or exciting on the written page. Or I stumble over quite how to put something together in a compelling or accessible format.

That almost definitely comes down to Imposter Syndrome and a generous menu of anxieties. I realise that I have published a dozen books myself and written for half-a-dozen companies as a freelance; amidst all the printed books and scattered awards, I must be doing something right.

But, that’s not to say that it ever feels easy, nor that coming at a new book makes me anything but stressed. I have so many ideas and they all sound great inside my head, but the challenge of getting them down on paper—well, The Dee Sanction is a testament to what happens. Iterations of treacle-like progress have made it an uncomfortable project, though thankfully illuminated by many moments of joy in the research and excitement in promoting the idea through discussion and running playtest adventures.

It’s a weird experience. I desperately love writing and creating new game material, but comfort is not easy to find.

Every day during August, I’ll be writing something new on The Dee Sanction and aim to connect the word prompt of the day with the development of the game. Check out the concept, the list and the graphics over at AUTOCRATIK.