Take chances within reasonable limits. Prepare for nothing to happen 99% of the time. Small, consistent changes everyday lead to a body of work that you can lean on. Put your work in public and support your friends in their endeavors. Have each other's back. Try to have fun because nothing is gained when nothing is ventured!
Yeah, no one really knows what will stick and what won't. I've read so many times that people are stunned by which parts of their output people respond most to ("that song took me 20 minutes to write and they love it, this one took days and no one cares!").
Also, there are probably lessons in the story of TSR about artists and business and how it's tough to get the two perfectly aligned. Apple did it because of Jobs AND Woz at the outset. Woz alone might have shown a cool prototype to the Homebrew Computer Club... and then what?
Like a couple of your readers, Mark, I didn't imbibe in the bones-rolling games mentioned in your well-written piece! In fact, I was on the other side....as a youth minister in the '80s, my challenge was always answering questions about the spiritual ramifications (if any) of what I originally thought was more of a clumsy crustacean thing....Dungeness Draggin's. But, as usual, I digress (and daydream about seafood).
A similar experience with Magic and Pokemon, too, when I was a teacher in the '90s and early oughts. But, with those, it was more dealing with the kiddies and their relentless obsessions with those, and trying to vie with their wee attention spans to do homework and staying somewhat alert in class.
I enjoyed Stephanie's mention of the similar dynamic in the record biz where a huge amount of time might yield nothing, whereas a song written on a napkin in 5 minutes turns out to sell millions!
By the way, I finally discovered, thanks to you, the origin of "Level Up"! When the Houston Astros belched that forth earlier this year as their team motto for '22, I had no idea what it meant, to the point where I wrote as much (if you don't mind me dropping a link...I don't mind exposing my ignorance): https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/level-up-houston-astros-unveil-new
In short, I guess I missed the boat on those amazingly simply-constructed, but maxed-out money-makers, at least as a participant! Well done, Mark, and thanks!
Hey Mark, great article! Specifically as it relates to D&D, I'm curious why you and your friends enjoyed it? At least in this case, what ultimately brought the game into your consciousness?
Take chances within reasonable limits. Prepare for nothing to happen 99% of the time. Small, consistent changes everyday lead to a body of work that you can lean on. Put your work in public and support your friends in their endeavors. Have each other's back. Try to have fun because nothing is gained when nothing is ventured!
Yeah, no one really knows what will stick and what won't. I've read so many times that people are stunned by which parts of their output people respond most to ("that song took me 20 minutes to write and they love it, this one took days and no one cares!").
Also, there are probably lessons in the story of TSR about artists and business and how it's tough to get the two perfectly aligned. Apple did it because of Jobs AND Woz at the outset. Woz alone might have shown a cool prototype to the Homebrew Computer Club... and then what?
Great post, Mark! I’m taking this part with me today: ‘...you lose 100% of the dice rolls you never throw.’ Wise words!
I LOVED D&D - spent far too many hours exploring dungeons and kingdoms and cool places that should exist but didn't. Great post as always!
Like a couple of your readers, Mark, I didn't imbibe in the bones-rolling games mentioned in your well-written piece! In fact, I was on the other side....as a youth minister in the '80s, my challenge was always answering questions about the spiritual ramifications (if any) of what I originally thought was more of a clumsy crustacean thing....Dungeness Draggin's. But, as usual, I digress (and daydream about seafood).
A similar experience with Magic and Pokemon, too, when I was a teacher in the '90s and early oughts. But, with those, it was more dealing with the kiddies and their relentless obsessions with those, and trying to vie with their wee attention spans to do homework and staying somewhat alert in class.
I enjoyed Stephanie's mention of the similar dynamic in the record biz where a huge amount of time might yield nothing, whereas a song written on a napkin in 5 minutes turns out to sell millions!
By the way, I finally discovered, thanks to you, the origin of "Level Up"! When the Houston Astros belched that forth earlier this year as their team motto for '22, I had no idea what it meant, to the point where I wrote as much (if you don't mind me dropping a link...I don't mind exposing my ignorance): https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/level-up-houston-astros-unveil-new
In short, I guess I missed the boat on those amazingly simply-constructed, but maxed-out money-makers, at least as a participant! Well done, Mark, and thanks!
Hey Mark, great article! Specifically as it relates to D&D, I'm curious why you and your friends enjoyed it? At least in this case, what ultimately brought the game into your consciousness?