I've Got a Writing Assignment

[Anders]

That I'm getting paid for. It's an article for a gaming supplement, 1500 words in four weeks.

I'm ecstatic and scared witless.

I know I can do it, but I don't know that I can do it, if you know what I mean. I'm good at finishing projects with a deadline, but I suck at finishing things I do for fun. I'm not sure which this is.

Game design is my dream job. I don't have the illusion that I will ever be able to do it full-time, or as anything other than a hobby, but getting paid to do something you love, even if it's a pittance... it's huge. Mostly I can't get over that someone liked an idea I fired off with no real thought to having it actually being picked up.

Right now I can't even look at the notes I took. And tomorrow I'm supposed to write a whole RPG for the 24 hour RPG design contest at RPG Geek. Like I'll be able to focus on that.

Okay, this is more stream of consciousness than I need right now. Laterz.

[K-Box]

Good luck! Remember, the more you write, the easier it gets.

[Anders]

Thanks.

Right now I'm less worried about the writing and more about the design. Like, "What the hell were they thinking?! I have no idea what I'm doing!"

[michaelpaciocco]

Good writing my friend! Let us know how it turns out!

[jensaltmann]

If it's any comfort: every time I turn in an article, I think, "I know I'm a fraud, and this time they'll find me out."

They haven't found me out in 16 years.

I don't see why your editors should be smarter than mine.

Seriously, the one single thing you shouldn't do is overthink it. You have four weeks. Hack it out in one afternoon over a cup of hot beverage of your choice, then put it aside for a week or two. Then you revise and turn it in.

If you need advice or anything, you know how to reach me.

[Anders]

Thanks Mike and Jens! I'm feeling a bit more at ease today, which is my day for doing the 24 hour game design thing so I shouldn't have time to think about anything else.

[jensaltmann]

How did this turn out anyway?

[Anders]

Turned it in, got a confirmation, then no word. The book (well, pdf) isn't out yet. I've thought about contacting the editor but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Anders]

I sent an email to my contact just now and got a reply after only a couple of minutes. He says the reason is they're tied up with other sourcebooks and a new RPG - basically, they don't have people to put on it.

I don't think I have any reason to doubt this.