Whatever goes up, must come down. That goes for inspiration, luck, and all the positive things that go into making a GM host good games. Sometimes you are going to have a bad week. Sometimes bad things are going to happen. Sometimes you have to deal with it. This week, we're talking about how to pick up the pieces when the inspiration isn't there.
I've had a bad couple of weeks, missing games I'm playing in and missing games I GM. Snowstorms, sickness, internet outages, and a failed Windows Update that trashed my wireless driver all contributed. Underlying all this, I am fighting a bad back that on bad days leaves me bedridden. It's a tough recipe for cranking out compelling NPCs, plotlines, settings, and encounters. Frankly, it's a tough recipe to do anything some days.
So how do you pick up the pieces and move on? First, don't force yourself to do something you don't want to do. It isn't going to be good for anyone. You can't force yourself and expect anything good to come out of it. Instead, focus on things that still excite you. For me, when I can't play, I create. When I can't create, I write. When I can't write, I hit reddit and answer forum questions. Helping someone else is the quickest way to pull yourself back up. Find what you can do and stick to it.
Second, and probably most important, is when you do feel like doing something, do it. Sometimes inspiration hits me for a single sentence, a single idea, a single name, or maybe a whole new world. While it is there, I succumb to it and capture it. It may not be a big thing, but it is something. Small things add up and pull new things into form. New exciting things are keys to get over that bad week. I keep a GM notebook, online notes, even a notepad on my phone, so no matter what, I can capture the ideas I have when I have them.
Third, dump everything that is boring drudgery, If the side questions in your campaign aren't motivating you, get rid of them. If the plot is slow and boring, spice it up. Gaming time is too short for boring. If you want to see this in action, go watch an Acquisitions Incorporated game by Chris Perkins. Every single game normal GMs are saying to themselves, "He gave his players what?" in awe. He doesn't hold back. He breaks out the cool airships, walking robots, beholder mechs and makes his entire game the rule of cool. Campaigns aren't like food; players can eat dessert all the time, and the GM is more excited when we give them what they want. So do it. It's like cooking with Emeril --- BAM! Take it up a notch!
Finally, if those bad days turn into weeks without inspiration and it all becomes drudgery, talk to someone. Sometimes it can be a seasonal thing, like Seasonal Affective Disorder, where lack of sunlight and activity leaves a person down. Sometimes it can be depression. Don't try to face it alone. Your doctor, family, friends, and even strangers can help. After all, we all want you to get back to enjoying life, including gaming.
See you in game,
I've had a bad couple of weeks, missing games I'm playing in and missing games I GM. Snowstorms, sickness, internet outages, and a failed Windows Update that trashed my wireless driver all contributed. Underlying all this, I am fighting a bad back that on bad days leaves me bedridden. It's a tough recipe for cranking out compelling NPCs, plotlines, settings, and encounters. Frankly, it's a tough recipe to do anything some days.
So how do you pick up the pieces and move on? First, don't force yourself to do something you don't want to do. It isn't going to be good for anyone. You can't force yourself and expect anything good to come out of it. Instead, focus on things that still excite you. For me, when I can't play, I create. When I can't create, I write. When I can't write, I hit reddit and answer forum questions. Helping someone else is the quickest way to pull yourself back up. Find what you can do and stick to it.
Second, and probably most important, is when you do feel like doing something, do it. Sometimes inspiration hits me for a single sentence, a single idea, a single name, or maybe a whole new world. While it is there, I succumb to it and capture it. It may not be a big thing, but it is something. Small things add up and pull new things into form. New exciting things are keys to get over that bad week. I keep a GM notebook, online notes, even a notepad on my phone, so no matter what, I can capture the ideas I have when I have them.
Third, dump everything that is boring drudgery, If the side questions in your campaign aren't motivating you, get rid of them. If the plot is slow and boring, spice it up. Gaming time is too short for boring. If you want to see this in action, go watch an Acquisitions Incorporated game by Chris Perkins. Every single game normal GMs are saying to themselves, "He gave his players what?" in awe. He doesn't hold back. He breaks out the cool airships, walking robots, beholder mechs and makes his entire game the rule of cool. Campaigns aren't like food; players can eat dessert all the time, and the GM is more excited when we give them what they want. So do it. It's like cooking with Emeril --- BAM! Take it up a notch!
Finally, if those bad days turn into weeks without inspiration and it all becomes drudgery, talk to someone. Sometimes it can be a seasonal thing, like Seasonal Affective Disorder, where lack of sunlight and activity leaves a person down. Sometimes it can be depression. Don't try to face it alone. Your doctor, family, friends, and even strangers can help. After all, we all want you to get back to enjoying life, including gaming.
See you in game,
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