The IGDA Writers SIG just had its second book published: Professional Techniques for Video Game Writing. While I didn’t contribute to it directly, Beth A. Dillon interviewed me for the “How to Break In and Stay In” chapter that leads off the book. The book also features chapters from many other wonderful game writers, including my friends Alice Henderson and …
Good-Bye, Bob
Late last night I learned that Robert Lynn Asprin had died early that day. I didn’t know him all that well, but I loved his work. In high school, I devoured both the hilarious Myth Adventures books and the gritty Thieves’ World anthologies. When I went to college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, I knew that Bob …
If You Can’t Go to the Con…
have the con come to you. Because I skipped GTS this year (for the first time in memory), I missed out on seeing a lot of friends that I often only get to see at that show. Some of them, I’ll run into at Gen Con, of course, but that’s a bigger show with so much going on that it’s …
Storytelling and Distance
“Necessary Distance,” my latest essay for Storytellers Unplugged, is up and ready for your enjoyment. This month, I write about how hard it is to come back to read my own writing–and what I’ve found is the cure.
Robomowing
When we moved into a bigger house last November, we needed a new lawn mower. We’re on just under an acre, and our old electric push-mower wasn’t going to manage it. With the cold weather already here in Wisconsin, I wouldn’t have to worry about it until the spring, but the day would some soon. On Black Friday, I spotted …
Good Vibes for Uncle Duke
Word from GAMA and the Miniatures Page is that “Uncle” Duke Seifried had triple-bypass surgery last month (much like my father did last year). Duke got through with flying colors and is now recuperating in his home in Janesville, WI. I sat next to Duke at Gary Gygax’s funeral, and he seemed fine then. As I saw with my father, …
Credits Where Due
As I continue with purging my office of all (well, most) unnecessary things, I discovered I don’t remember everything I’ve worked on. This, again, is the product of a long career in games, I suppose. For instance, I found a bunch of copies of Madness in Freeport, and I couldn’t recall why I had them. Then I checked the credits …
Categorizing the Past
In my old office, I had a bookshelf on which I put one of everything I’d ever worked on. It was one of those slap-together, particle-board cheapies from Staples, taller than me, with five shelves. I filled it up a while back and had started in on a new shelf. I’m proud of my work, and I figured if I …
Spring Cleaning
It’s been quiet on the site here over the past few weeks as I scramble to catch up with deadlines. I’ve had a lot of work tossed at me this year, which I’ll be the last to complain about, but it’s meant long days juggling it all. When I’m crunching on a project, I always hate to post here, as …
Blood Bowl: Killer Contract
I just sent off the script for Blood Bowl: Killer Contract #4 to my editor Ian Brill at Boom Studios. I’m having a ball writing these comics, and I can’t wait to see them in print, which I’m told should happen soon. I’m eager to wrap it all up with issue #5, just so I can see what happens. I …