WORDS AND WORLDS

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Screenplay Techniques and Scene Types

Screenplay Techniques and Scene Types

This list has circulated around the net for years; I'm not able to find the names of the original authors. But according to some film theorists it covers all the bases: every type of scene or screenplay technique that can be used in film. That's a big claim, and easy...

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The Perceiver Perceives, The Filterer Filters

The Perceiver Perceives, The Filterer Filters

Our brains are a LOT more interested in filtering out unimportant input than on focusing our attention. We work this way because the amount of data in the actual sensory world is incomprehensibly vast — even the 360 degrees around you right this second — and...

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Just a Thought

Just a Thought

“REAL PUBLISHERS PAY YOU, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND!”
— common lore

By “real” they mean “traditional,” as in traditional publishing houses. It’s true that they pay you. But they also take your copyright.

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UnNatural 3.0

UnNatural 3.0

Today my Playtester patrons are getting version 3.0 of UnNatural - bringing the rules up to CORE 3.0.It's based on that TV show I'm often talking about. The one with the two brothers? I'm sure you know it. Now you can play it!https://patreon.com/posts/71475614

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Book Cover Design Philosophy

Book Cover Design Philosophy

I've been focused on art and design for the new and upcoming books, that's a given. The new cover for Liquid Hitler (above) was created by MidJourney, the notoriously controversial AI art-thing. But the older books will also be available for retail sellers through...

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Description: Less Detailing, More Evoking

Description: Less Detailing, More Evoking

Did you write a scene where your Main Character looks in a mirror and notices details of their own appearance, so you could describe them? STOP IT. The biggest reason that mirror scene is so clearly evidence of a beginning writer is…

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RPG Design, Intent, and Pedagogy

RPG Design, Intent, and Pedagogy

It’s pretty rare for a game design to bother teaching how to GM the experience pedagogically. It’s even more rare for a game to describe the designer’s intended experience of play phenomenologically. The assumption seems to be “an RPG is an RPG” and “you bring your own style to the table.”

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Indented Paras & Grammar Rules

Indented Paras & Grammar Rules

Want some free editing tips about indents? Here we go! Choose two linebreaks between paragraphs OR indented paragraphs. You don't need both. Use the "Styles" feature instead of tabs to indent. Those tabs are a huge pain for your editor/layup artist to remove.The first...

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Commission a Custom PlotField for your Campaign

Commission a Custom PlotField for your Campaign

Want a custom PlotField based on a story of your choice? My commission rate is $50 US. This story may be one of your own, or not. It may be an episode of a TV series, or even a movie! The only requirement is that I must be able to view it online for free. For more...

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It’s Brick-n-Mortar Time

It’s Brick-n-Mortar Time

ARE YOU AN FLGS OR RESELLER OF BOOKS AND GAMES?I want to talk to you! As If Books and Games is moving into wholesale and brick-n-mortar distribution, and we want our products in YOUR store! Contact me here or email tod@asifproductions.com for more details.

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Dynor Level 1 Funded

Dynor Level 1 Funded

Dungeon of Dynor - Project Update WE HIT LEVEL ONE TODAY! LEVEL ONE WILL BE RESTORED! Like many classic megadungeons in history, Dynor gets harder as you go deeper. Level 1 is (roughly) balanced for PCs level 1-2. You can help fund the restoration of all 10 levels...

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Beats and Tone: Action and Affect

Beats and Tone: Action and Affect

AS A WRITER AND EDITOR, I’m a strong advocate of “Cutting to the Beat” — which means for each chapter, you want to start as close as possible to the beat you’re about to establish, establish it, and get out.

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