Board games come in all shapes and sizes, and run the gamut from frenetic, brief bursts of simple gameplay, like Escape! The Curse of the Temple, to day-long brain-burning grand strategy experiences, such as Twilight Imperium. Some games, however, manage the tricky feat of being both easy to learn and play, and deep in terms… Continue reading Game Review: Splendor
Too Much Story
Storytelling is (sometimes literally) my bread and butter. I lean towards games with strong story emphasis. I often value story of spectacle in movies and television. I write stories in the hope they will be enjoyed by others. A question, however, has occurred to me: is it possible for a game or novel or film… Continue reading Too Much Story
Flash Fiction: Rayo de Baja, Jr
For this weeks Terribleminds Flash Fiction Challenge, we have been tasked to use one of these photos. I chose #47. The sun was blazing high in the sky, and there were no clouds nearby to get in its way. Traffic was far below the rooftop terrace where he reclined, tropical drink in his hand. He… Continue reading Flash Fiction: Rayo de Baja, Jr
500 Words on Vera
I named my car Vera. I think it was almost 5 years ago that my old car had a close encounter of the highway divider kind. I picked up a black Honda Civic coupe from a company called CarSense, and she already had a custom exhaust and great pick-up. Considering she was the very best… Continue reading 500 Words on Vera
Papers, Please – A Love/Hate Relationship
Glory to Arstotzka. Let me be clear right from the off: I adore the fact that Papers, Please exists. For those of you who don’t know, Papers, Please is a video game described as “a dystopian document thriller.” You are a citizen in Arstotzka, a fictional country ruled by an authoritarian regime, and you are… Continue reading Papers, Please – A Love/Hate Relationship
Back on Track
Just a quick update to tell you folks I’m back to a regular workout schedule. I’m alternating between running and lifting again, but I’m lifting at home with dumbbells and I’m back on a beginner-to-5k program to help get into better shape. I kind of let myself go over the winter. Hopefully, I can take… Continue reading Back on Track
Let Your Characters Speak
“Because I say so.” How many times have we heard that phrase? Parents say it to children. Employers say it to their employees. Unfortunately, writers also say it to their characters. When a character does something that seems entirely unreasonable, or makes a sudden change to their behavior based on little more than impulse, or… Continue reading Let Your Characters Speak
Welcome Back, Carter
I know that not everyone is a fan of Marvel’s recent forays into television. There can be an implied obligation to watch the shows to ensure nothing is missed between films, and I can understand why that’s a turn-off. I’m not going to defend either side of the argument, nor am I going to sing… Continue reading Welcome Back, Carter
500 Words on Headspace
Courtesy Floating Robes I hate whining. I loathe making excuses. When I break down emotionally and start blathering about why I can’t keep my shit together, I feel like a petulant 4-year-old, throwing a tantrum because he didn’t get his way. I’m an adult, I should be able to just roll with whatever abuse comes… Continue reading 500 Words on Headspace
The Tank Is Empty
I can’t. I’ve been struggling all week to get something together for this week’s Terribleminds flash fiction, to try and maintain some semblance of a sane schedule somewhere in my life, and… it’s crap. It’s complete shit. It’s directionless and feels lifted from a larger narrative rather than standing on its own. I can’t put… Continue reading The Tank Is Empty
