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(@emilymccosh)
Posts: 98
Bronze Star Member
 

I credit DMing as a major element in my writing success.

What's DMing?

Dungeon Mastering, perhaps?

That would be a good one...

Contest history: R, R, SHM, R, HM, R, R
1 very hopeful: V34 Q2

oceansinthesky.com | @wordweaveremily

"Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations." ~ Ray Bradbury

 
Posted : December 30, 2015 9:01 am
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2135
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Yes, sorry, Dungeon Mastering. (Must remember that there are many dialects of Geek Speak...)

Having a group of very smart close friends try to kill me for thirty years taught me to think on my feet, to build a story from what the characters do, not from what I want them to do.

Bluntly: it taught me how to Pants.

And thirty years of worldbuilding taught me, well, worldbuilding. And even when it comes to that, I Pants: I do just enough to get the story started, add more as my characters explore, and build a mental model so that the new stuff I add is consistent with what has come before. That's how I build my game worlds -- rough sketch to start, details as needed -- and it's how I build my story worlds.

Does it work? Well, remember the fundamental rule: What works for me might not work for you (or vice versa), and what works for one story might not work for another.

But does it work for me? I like it so far, but ultimately only the readers can judge.

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : December 30, 2015 10:14 am
(@emilymccosh)
Posts: 98
Bronze Star Member
 

Yes, sorry, Dungeon Mastering. (Must remember that there are many dialects of Geek Speak...)

Having a group of very smart close friends try to kill me for thirty years taught me to think on my feet, to build a story from what the characters do, not from what I want them to do.

Bluntly: it taught me how to Pants.

And thirty years of worldbuilding taught me, well, worldbuilding. And even when it comes to that, I Pants: I do just enough to get the story started, add more as my characters explore, and build a mental model so that the new stuff I add is consistent with what has come before. That's how I build my game worlds -- rough sketch to start, details as needed -- and it's how I build my story worlds.

Does it work? Well, remember the fundamental rule: What works for me might not work for you (or vice versa), and what works for one story might not work for another.

But does it work for me? I like it so far, but ultimately only the readers can judge.

Ahh, so just like Howard off the Big Bang Theory... wotf019

Yeah, I can imagine how that would help with your storytelling. (And, yes there does seem to be proof it's working for you wotf007 ) I've never played DM (or D&D), but I guess that's just because I don't have any friends nerdy as I am...

Hmm...I need to work on that...

Thanks Martin!

Contest history: R, R, SHM, R, HM, R, R
1 very hopeful: V34 Q2

oceansinthesky.com | @wordweaveremily

"Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations." ~ Ray Bradbury

 
Posted : December 30, 2015 11:12 am
Disgruntled Peony
(@disgruntledpeony)
Posts: 1283
Platinum Member
 

Yes, indeed, dungeon mastering. I keep forgetting that not everyone knows what that means, myself. wotf019 I think I was running a Pathfinder game and a World of Darkness game at that point. I'm a big fan of World of Darkness (modern day horror setting), which has bled into a lot of my recent story ideas. I'm strongly debating on dipping into the setting I created for my Pathfinder game for story ideas, though... I put a lot of effort into that game.

If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells
If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38)
Ticknor Tales
Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback

 
Posted : December 30, 2015 5:32 pm
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

Now we're gaming 29 style.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : December 31, 2015 5:40 am
(@bobsandiego)
Posts: 394
Silver Member
 

I've run gamed since 1979.
it's a blast.
my current player don;t know I plan on shutting down my current campaign and that the adventure's end is the big finale.

Literary saboteur
Blog: http://www.robertmitchellevans.com/
HM X 5
SF X 3
F X 1
Current Rejection Streak: 0

 
Posted : December 31, 2015 7:51 am
(@s_c_baker)
Posts: 979
Gold Star Member
 

Happy thing new!

I mean merry year open!

Uh, MAY ALL YOUR STORIES FIND HOMES, AND ALL YOUR REVIEWS BE INFUSED WITH GOOD CHEER!

Good enough. wotf017

(PS I am a teetotaller, so no I'm not drunk.)

Stewart C Baker - 1st place, Q2 V32
My contest history: Semi-finalist, R, HM, R, R, HM, HM, R, R, R, R, HM, R, R, R, R, Winner
My published fiction, poetry, &c.

 
Posted : December 31, 2015 3:43 pm
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2135
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Happy New Quarter!

(Also not drunk...)

wotf013

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : December 31, 2015 4:02 pm
(@rebecca-birch)
Posts: 625
Silver Star Member
 

Happy New Quarter!

(Also not drunk...)

wotf013

(What is this drunk you speak of? Can it be made by chocolate? No? Okay, not drunk either.)

Rebecca Birch
Finalist - 2, SF - 1, SHM - 1, HM - 18, R - 6
Words of Birch
Short Story Collection--Life Out of Harmony and Other Tales of Wonder

 
Posted : December 31, 2015 4:47 pm
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

Whashappening, has shomeone spiked my eggnog. Hic!

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : December 31, 2015 11:57 pm
(@ishmael)
Posts: 793
Gold Member
 

Dunk? Who's Dunk? Is it the same as Dunc?

That is a Scottish nickname. Short for Duncan.

Who was not really king and who was younger than Macbeth and not murdered but killed in battle and nowhere near Dunsinane and apart from that the Shakespeare story is quite accurate apart from the witches and Malcolm Canmore not being the legitimate heir and Macbeth being king for fourteen years not days and having visited Rome and been a jolly good chap by Dark Age standards.

Happy new year anyway. wotf007

1 x SF, 2 x SHM, 11 x HM, WotF batting average .583
Blog The View From Sliabh Mannan.

 
Posted : January 1, 2016 3:42 am
(@mattdovey)
Posts: 183
Bronze Star Member
 

I've never DMed (though I've sat at the table a number of times) but a lot of my writing is based in my time spent LARPing. It helps with quickly imagining characters (from all the times I wander in as a barely-fleshed out random to serve a specific plot purpose, and have to spin backstory out on the fly) and keeping them consistent (so used to inhabiting a character and reacting as they do, so I (hopefully) avoid characters acting out of character).

Roleplay, in general, is marvellous for writers.

Golden Pen winner v32 (2016)
Stories | About | Facebook | Twitter

 
Posted : January 1, 2016 6:22 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

307 to go. wotf011

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : January 6, 2016 10:13 pm
Galen
(@galen)
Posts: 58
Bronze Star Member
 

I make a tiny contribution to the effort of this bold endeavor.

Clearly what a glorious quarter this was.

Finalist x2
Semi x1
SHM x5
HM x9
R - lots!

 
Posted : January 6, 2016 11:56 pm
(@amoskalik)
Posts: 438
Silver Member
 

29 seems to be a theme around here lately. The first prime after 23 which has its own deep meanings.

 
Posted : January 7, 2016 1:22 pm
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2135
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

I make a tiny contribution to the effort of this bold endeavor.

Clearly what a glorious quarter this was.

Even tiny contributions keep the thread alive. Thank you!

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : January 23, 2016 2:00 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

We need to add a lot of posts here as quickly as possible to get to 5000 faster. Don't just read this thread, make a comment. You can do it.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : January 24, 2016 4:18 am
(@emilymccosh)
Posts: 98
Bronze Star Member
 

Here, I have a question that should fill up a bunch of answers...

Can someone please explain the Hugo Awards to me in simple language...There is tons of crap to read online, but I have no idea what they're talking about, so...

1) What is the controversy with Sad Puppies...

2) What was all the uproar at the last Awards where a bunch of people voted for No Award?

Thanks! wotf009

Contest history: R, R, SHM, R, HM, R, R
1 very hopeful: V34 Q2

oceansinthesky.com | @wordweaveremily

"Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations." ~ Ray Bradbury

 
Posted : January 24, 2016 6:42 am
Disgruntled Peony
(@disgruntledpeony)
Posts: 1283
Platinum Member
 

Here, I have a question that should fill up a bunch of answers...

Can someone please explain the Hugo Awards to me in simple language...There is tons of crap to read online, but I have no idea what they're talking about, so...

1) What is the controversy with Sad Puppies...

2) What was all the uproar at the last Awards where a bunch of people voted for No Award?

Thanks! wotf009

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=2224&start=0 This does the best job of explaining it that I've seen. (Please keep further discussions about it there as well. The reasons why are explained therein.)

If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise: attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it. ~ H.G. Wells
If a person offend you, and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures; simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick. ~ Mark Twain
R, SF, SHM, SHM, SHM, F, R, HM, SHM, R, HM, R, F, SHM, SHM, SHM, SF, SHM, 1st Place (Q2 V38)
Ticknor Tales
Twitter
4th and Starlight: e-book | paperback

 
Posted : January 25, 2016 2:36 am
(@s_c_baker)
Posts: 979
Gold Star Member
 

Whatever you do, don't read the Wikipedia article, which is so pro-Puppy it hurts.

Stewart C Baker - 1st place, Q2 V32
My contest history: Semi-finalist, R, HM, R, R, HM, HM, R, R, R, R, HM, R, R, R, R, Winner
My published fiction, poetry, &c.

 
Posted : January 27, 2016 7:09 am
(@emilymccosh)
Posts: 98
Bronze Star Member
 

Thank you both. I'll go read that article. Yeah....I went to Wikipedia a while ago, but I didn't understand most of what I was reading so I just quit. But your advice is noted. wotf007

Contest history: R, R, SHM, R, HM, R, R
1 very hopeful: V34 Q2

oceansinthesky.com | @wordweaveremily

"Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations." ~ Ray Bradbury

 
Posted : January 27, 2016 9:57 am
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2135
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

It's getting a little quiet around here...

wotf013

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : February 20, 2016 1:31 pm
(@olddarth)
Posts: 77
Bronze Member
 

Bet we're all busy writing, writing, writing! wotf011

 
Posted : February 20, 2016 3:41 pm
(@thomaskcarpenter)
Posts: 441
Silver Star Member
 

Marco...

Thomas K Carpenter
http://www.thomaskcarpenter.com
SFx2, SHMx1, HMx12 (Pro'd Out - Q4 2016)
EQMM - Feb 2015 / Abyss & Apex - Issue 50

 
Posted : February 20, 2016 4:12 pm
(@martin-l-shoemaker)
Posts: 2135
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

Polo...

http://nineandsixtyways.com/
Tools, Not Rules.
Martin L. Shoemaker
3rd Place Q1 V31
"Today I Am Paul", WSFA Small Press Award 2015, Nebula nomination 2015
Today I Am Carey from Baen
The Last Dance (#1 science fiction eBook on Amazon, October 2019) and The Last Campaign from 47North

 
Posted : February 20, 2016 4:28 pm
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

That was a long time with no post on this thread.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : February 20, 2016 11:11 pm
(@thomaskcarpenter)
Posts: 441
Silver Star Member
 

Polo...

Well, hello there Mr. Nebula Nominated Martin L. Shoemaker. Smile
wotf010 wotf010 wotf010

wotf009 wotf009 wotf009

If you haven't read his story, yet. Go now!!!

http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/shoemaker_08_15/

Thomas K Carpenter
http://www.thomaskcarpenter.com
SFx2, SHMx1, HMx12 (Pro'd Out - Q4 2016)
EQMM - Feb 2015 / Abyss & Apex - Issue 50

 
Posted : February 21, 2016 9:55 am
(@emilymccosh)
Posts: 98
Bronze Star Member
 

So I have a random question for anyone who might know the answer. The forum statistics at the bottom of the page says "Most users ever online was 136 on Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:16 am". Seriously? The most users I've ever seen online at once is 8. Does anyone know what in the world was going on on Jan 11, 2012??? wotf004

Contest history: R, R, SHM, R, HM, R, R
1 very hopeful: V34 Q2

oceansinthesky.com | @wordweaveremily

"Remember: Plot is no more than footprints left in the snow after your characters have run by on their way to incredible destinations." ~ Ray Bradbury

 
Posted : February 22, 2016 4:37 am
storysinger
(@storysinger)
Posts: 1503
Platinum Plus
 

That is a crazy statistic Emily. Maybe one of the long time forumites will enlighten us.

Today's science fiction is tomorrow's reality-D.R.Sweeney
HM x5
Published Poetry
2012 Stars in Our Hearts
Silver Ships

 
Posted : February 23, 2016 8:37 am
(@thomaskcarpenter)
Posts: 441
Silver Star Member
 

That is a crazy statistic Emily. Maybe one of the long time forumites will enlighten us.

The fact that it was at 3am suggests that it's not real. I don't recall anything in particular around that year that would have led to that many people checking the forum at that time at night. Probably a glitch in the matrix.

Thomas K Carpenter
http://www.thomaskcarpenter.com
SFx2, SHMx1, HMx12 (Pro'd Out - Q4 2016)
EQMM - Feb 2015 / Abyss & Apex - Issue 50

 
Posted : February 23, 2016 9:39 am
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