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Reading: Old Gods of Appalachia TTRPG by Monte Cook Games, Starter Villain by John Scalzi, The Secrets We Keep by Shirley Patton
Finished Reading: Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, The Future by Naomi Alderman
Podcast: Unwell
Playing: God Hand (PS2(on PS3(Thank God Hand for PS2 Classics)))
Making: Zines and Doom Levels
Writing: Project E
Word Count: 168317
TLDR: EfanGamez needs help badly! CHEAP TTRPG BUNDLE! Working on working titles. The, frankly, crowded writing scene and AI intruders. ADHD and unfinished proj… Wingspan is so cute and so fun~ We’re Here because We’re Here because… Mekborg and Steel Psalm want YOU!
An indie TTRPG designer needs help badly! EfanGamez has put all of their paid TTRPGs and supplements together into a tidy little bundle and is currently offering it for $25USD on their itch.io page! This sale is on for another 19 days as of the posting of this newsletter and I HIGHLY encourage anyone interested in trying out TTRPGs that are out of the norm to take advantage of this deal. Grim and Mourn are two first-person-shooter-inspired TTRPGs that I can recommend in particular.
I have been working on Project E, the working title, of which she’s had many. Just recently, I decided it was necessary to completely rewrite every bit of dialogue for the main villain, allowing him a more gradual, consistent descent into madness. It’s going well, and progress is happening. I want to touch on something in the first sentence of this paragraph. It’s FASCINATING to me how some stories get their names with minimal teeth-pulling. Hell, I’ve had stories who received their names BEFORE I wrote a word of them. But Project E has gone through so many iterations of names that I’ve sort of decided to keep this working title until I’m done and maybe even after Beta Readers have had their turn. I know the name will come when it’s meant to. Part of my problem is the book is about a very specific theme, its plot has some consistent elements, and its setting is vivid… but to wrap up enough of these separate elements together in a title is proving… troublesome.
Trying to get your work out into the world as an author (in ways where people will actually see it that is) is SO freakin difficult. The market is saturated now more than ever. We, as writers, not only have to “contend” with our fellow writers but now with AI as there is an influx of AI-generated content being submitted to journals and magazines around the world. I am glad I am not in the publishing industry right now. But, nevertheless, I have submitted to two anthologies this past month. One bigger name bi-monthly and one niche market which was INSANELY fun to write. Hopefully, something will come of them. But if not, what do you do? We, as writers, continue on. We heed the call in our hearts and minds, we sling that ink and continue forward, one lie at a time.
Speaking of which, I have so many unfinished works XD I tend to post about something I’m working on then distraction occurs and all of a sudden it has been a month and I have totally forgotten about the project I had been working on. I have no doubt picked up something new or something old and once-forgotten. ADHD brains often feel like a quagmire, hard to pull thoughts through, sometimes you lose them altogether to the deep dark, sometimes they resurface, grimy and forgotten… what was I talking about again?
Last month, my little TTRPG group didn’t meet as several folks were unavailable… so instead we got the remaining few of us together and I got to play Wingspan for the first time! What a blast~ It was certainly complicated starting off but the rules become pretty easy to grasp after about two rounds of play. After that, when you’re about one round from the end is when it becomes clear how you’re supposed to plan for the ending if you’re intent on winning. Or of course, you could just enjoy all the beautiful birds, the weird facts, and the wonderful time shared with your friends.
I am a long-term Nerdfighter. 2012 era. If you are unsure of what this means, I’ll briefly explain. John and Hank Green are two authors/ YouTubers /philanthropists/ podcasters/ educators/ nerds/ TBFighters (I could go on… these guys are PROLIFIC) and they have been vlogging since 2007 and around that vlog (originally meant to bring them closer as brothers which I think is/was/whatever a resounding success) has grown a community called Nerdfighteria, among many other things. They have recently started a “good news” newsletter called We’re Here. “A nice little email for people from Earth.” I highly recommend signing up. These humans have continued to make the world less sucky by their presence and their actions. It’s beautiful how these massively powerful, famous, and influential creators are using their network to support folks in their extended community and using their community and influence to make so much good change in the world. Please go check out We’re Here and Vlogbrothers.
Speaking of community and supporting one another, DMDave is starting a Kickstarter for two books! Mekborg, which seems to be Warhammer 40k grimdark meets Battletech, is/was/whatever designed by John K Webb who has a LOT of design credits for the magazines Broadsword and Sidequest. As well, there’s Steel Psalm, designed by Dave himself, which from the name I’d presume is the same setting, but using wargaming rules similar to Forbidden Psalm (Also big recommendation). The Kickstarter is launching April 16th and the best part? When it’s done, the digital copies will go out immediately and by June or July the books will be shipped out (depending on how long printing takes) as the books are already finished! I’ll fully admit DMDave probably doesn’t “need” help to get the project funded, but the more support there is, the more likely projects like this will be created in the future!
Support weird. Support indie.
Reading: Vaesen: Nordic Horror Roleplaying, The Future by Naomi Alderman
Finished Reading: The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
Podcast: Old Gods of Appalachia
Playing: Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition (PS3)
Making: DOOM levels and Zines
Writing: Project E
Word Count: 167578
TLDR: Looked at old work: liked it. Editing trenches: *cries in author.* Put trigger warnings on books, please. TTRPGs: I have a group now. Writing stories with others is sick as. TTRPG recommendations. Beetle Knight was funded fantastically.
This month I decided to take a short three-day break from the editing mines to go crack open an older WIP that I last looked at about a year ago. I couldn’t stop laughing through the first three chapters and legitimately couldn’t remember what I’d written scene to scene. I got to feel the intrigue as a character picked up a shoebox beneath their bed, and got angry at myself for not telling me what was in it! What a gloriously strange experience it was. I likely won’t spend too much time on this WIP in the coming months, but it’s good to know that when I’m done with my current big novel’s rounds of edits, I’ve got a project that I’m massively excited for waiting in the wings.
Speaking of my current big novel. Let’s look at that word count. Seems pretty similar to last month. I have done SO MUCH EDITING. I’ve realized that right now, my biggest concern is making sure to correct errors, cull old plot points, and generally tighten up dialogue. I feel that I’ve been too focused on culling words and maybe the more important thing is making sure this book fucking SHINES. Besides, while I shop this novel around, I can be happily chugging along on my other WIP, so no wuckas.
I am part of a writer’s group which meets once a month. It is quite a large group with many people who flow in and out. It is a beautiful group and an invaluable fount of knowledge. Every second month we have a discussion topic. This month was talking about the ethics of being an author and how much responsibility we have to our readers in regard to the topics we write about.
This led to talk of trigger warnings and the suggestion of books having them. (SPOILERS! I think they should have them) There were varying ideas on all sides of the spectrum, but there was one point made that has stuck in my head. Trigger warnings are just like nutrition labels. If you are allergic to nuts you need to know before you buy a product if it contains nuts, right? Trigger warnings are the same. You don’t want to be taking a big bite out of some delicious morsel and then suddenly you feel your throat closing up. Same same. You don’t want to put hours into a book, invest in the characters, only to suddenly have your exact trauma thrust into your eyeballs. You can’t unread it. If you have been honestly triggered before, you understand how it can be hard to stop that spin when it starts. And from an author's standpoint, you don’t want to turn off potential readers also. One scene that may seem insignificant to you, may be terrifying to another. Then they may never pick up your books again, for fear of said thing.
Speaking of this delightful group, near the end of the meeting a friend was talking to a brand new member about TTRPGs and I just so happened to be carrying CY_BORG with me! We chatted a bit and I enthusiastically suggested I should and would run a one-shot for them, their partner, my friend, and another writing buddy of mine. SO I’VE FINALLY GOT SOME TTRPG FRIENDS TO PLAY WITH! WOO! I am thrilled about the idea of introducing these fine folks to all the strange and interesting TTRPG systems I’ve picked up over the last year.
TTRPGs are such an invaluable resource for storytelling. With a few dice, some rules, and a setting, you and a few friends can end up creating an entire world and a compelling narrative together, even if no one in the group is a writer! Now… if you are writers… well then, something truly incredible can happen. I think authors often think of the writing process as a solitary pastime. Traditionally, it may be, but I think we undersell how satisfying and freeing collaborative storytelling can be. Hell, plenty of fantasy writers started their careers (See Raymond E. Feist) dictating and polishing up their D&D campaigns that they ran with their friends!
And in the spirit of collaboration, I want to recommend some small projects that need your help! I’ll be personally backing these later this month when I’ve secured my own funds.
Budgeon Kickstarter
Budgeon: A digestible mini adventure zine with a VERY old-school feel. The art is all first person a la Combat Heroes, but can be played as a party or solo! It even encourages you to draw your own maps, very similar to how you might have played Stonekeep on DOS. (Big nostalgia for myself) As of posting this, this project needs additional support right now! Go give them some love. The basic zine is only FIVE USD. (And THREE USD for digital~!)
Thirty Horrors Kickstarter
Thirty Horrors: A bestiary designed to be used with Mothership 1E. Let’s be real people, that means it could likely be converted for just about any system with minimal pain. The art is shaping up to be suitably uncomfortable and this project blew the hell up! They’ve reached heaps of stretch goals and it still has half a month to go~
SPEAKING OF BLOWING UP. Holy hell Beetle Knight did well! It ended up earning 22,898 USD out of the required 3,500. WHAT A SHOWING! I absolutely adore seeing small weird projects become more successful than anyone could have imagined. Certainly, it was more than the original creator expected as that final total completely blew past their final stretch goal.
Support weird. Support indie.
Firstly, each month I'll be writing up one public post. In this I'll talk about upcoming works of mine, art I'm working on, and progress on bigger projects. As well, I'll take some time to highlight projects and people I think need your support, love, and eyeballs.
Beetle Knight is so cute it hurts. If you love Hollow Knight, simple TTRPGs, or solo TTRPGs, you've gotta go check this out! As of today, there are 15 more days of the Kickstarter and it has been wildly successful. It sits at 11,700 USD out of the required 3,500! All stretch goals have been met and it's shaping up nicely.
Beetle Knight Kickstarter
In addition I'd like to draw your attention to Red Borg! A Mörk Borg hack which presents all the rules to start your own communist revolution! They specifically point out that their setting stretches back in time and into the future, but I'd love to point out that this would DEFINITELY make an exciting supplement for alternate settings.
"Let's overthrow the king! Too long has he grown fat on the labor of the land!"
Food for thought. It has, sad to say, already finished its Kickstarter, HOWEVER if they create a DrivethruRPG page or other place to obtain the final product, I'll try to make sure and come back to share it here!
Red Borg Kickstarter
I am still plugging away at Bog Crow for my Umbrulexicon series of mini zines, which are character classes for Mörk Borg. He is a delightful scamp whose voice can literally send men screaming from the battlefield.
For my first peak into how my novel writing is going, I am knee deep in the editing mines and slowly chipping away at my current novel. It started at ~176,000 words and is now sitting around 167,000. I love this book, but I do wish there was a magical, "reduce my story to 125,000 words, but keep everything that makes this book f*cking rock," button.
I've finally broken out my typewriter after a REALLY long time and typed up a few lovely things I'll be sharing soon enough.
Hope this finds you well.
Kindest regards,
Adorne Sibely
Author
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