​Everyone likes free gifts, especially if it’s something you can use. And lucky for you, I know exactly the best gift you could ever want. See how cute and furry it is? Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you were allergic. What’s happening to your face?

Giving a gift in improv is exactly like the scene I painted in your mind. I gave you something cute and fluffy, like a kitten. I then gave something to help you react to the gift… literally. You became allergic to the pet I tossed in your arms and responded in your mind to the gesture. Sorry about the rash. It will clear up soon.


The three questions to ask when giving a gift are:

1. Is it meaningful to the scene?
2. Does it help build character or setting?
3. Can it be used later in the scene?

When doing an improv scene, specifically in the character build-up, it is important to establish certain quirks in each actor. I could have said, “oh, look at that kitten,” which would also add a small gift to the scene. However, with adding and not giving to the scene or your character, the weight falls on you to give it purpose to the scene. A good improviser could pick it up and run with it (and you’re smart so you would probably run out of the scene), yet it becomes more of a burden for you to continue.


As an improv actor, I must improve my partner and help them through the scene. By adding extra character development, and adding a gesture, I helped carry the scene to you. The dialogue becomes meaningful and fun in its own way.


Tossing kittens around may not work all the time (and you’ll get a call from the ethics committee), so that is why we Rolodex the best idea before we give the gift. Once I gave the gift, or threw it in this case, you must choose to accept it and give another. This is the basic concept behind the “Yes, and” rule of improv acting. By the way, here’s some ointment for that rash… ignore the poison logo.

​

So what was one of your best gifts, or scene moments you shared with someone on or off stage?

I met Arden Ellen Nixon at a few conventions in the past. Her artwork always drew my eye toward the darker colors and details. She truly has a gift for paintings. In fact, she even did the cover art for my short story, Paint Me a Picture of Poison. This gift bled onto her typewriter as she crafted an incredible story. Here is my review of her book, Make-Shift Angel, available now on Kindle from Amazon.

​"It’s the simple pleasures in life that can bring us to our vice. But what happens when familiar passions are stripped from you? What happens when it’s stripped from an angel? Rand finds solace in those simple vices as he searches to answer the question of why such things were taken from him. Through his friendship with a medicated comic shop owner and another celestial, Rand searches for his purpose again. However, this is not so easy to come by for an immortal with insomnia.


Arden does an incredible job of bringing us inside one of her paintings. I found myself reading in awe at the masterpiece created by this author and artist. I hope you also enjoy the journey through the dark strokes of a celestial life created in this story. They say a picture paints a thousand words; yet through this story, a thousand images are formed."



I hope you get the opportunity to read it as well and vote up my review here:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R12X64QTTBV22/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01N5HS1B6&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text

​​

​Influenced by his love of God, his wife, and the Renaissance festivals; this collection of syllabic poetry will lighten the reader through its couplets and verse. From his best poems written while attending a Biblical college, to his lighter works from his involvement at local Renaissance Faires, these poems seek to inspire and reach the limits of the mind's emotions. Split into three sections, it is Matthew's desire to have others experience his life's passions: faith, hope, and love.

These lines are a brief glimpse into the soul written throughout this collection of poetry. For over a decade, these poems have helped the author through some of the darkest times to remind him of the Light. Of course, it must include a section for those who would seek to find the more traditional love poem. And for those who like to skip to the end, you will find more of the quirky and specific works for those who share his love for Renaissance festivals and poetry.
For a taste of what you can find in the Musings of over 80 poems, here is one that was written after the compiling of poetry:

​
Culicidae Plague
The cloud descends over all exposed skin
Causing even the saintly ones to sin
Poison burrows in the fleshly recess
As the assailants thrive in the darkness
They squeeze in our locked houses and safe cars
Taking nothing yet leaving pain and scars
One resorts to a primitive reply
Grabbing whatever object is nearby
But the effects leave a sticky layer
Leaving with a numb taste to the sprayer
As we yell for this summer plague to end
Furiously beating abhorrent wind
While lighting our fires to protect and fight
The tiny deviled spirits of the night
Satisfied in their annihilation
When the faithful Deet brings our salvation

What are Role Playing Games?​

Role Playing Game (RPG) is a genre of gaming in which the player takes on a role and plays through the game's story. Digital game examples of RPG games are Fable, World of Warcraft, Elder Scrolls, Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and many others. Typically, in an RPG you create a character and enter the world. Some games have a narrow story line (the Final Fantasy series for example) you follow through to the end. The Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, and World of Warcraft games have different story lines you can interact with, but the order in which you interact with them are up to you. This is what makes an RPG attractive. Yet RPGs on the computer are restricted to the limitations of the developers and their abilities.

In a tabletop RPG adventure, you are only limited by your imagination and the imagination of the storyteller. In many cases, the system rules will limit your abilities to do certain things. If your rules system or setting doesn’t have guns, then having a character who is proficient in guns won’t happen. Your character design will play a key element in the adventure. Also, how you play your character can also influence the grand scale of a story.

For example, if you develop your character with a low intelligence but a high strength, he may be able to do a lot of damage when attacking. But when it comes to making skill checks, he may not be as good as other characters. Playing off the character traits like this while in an RPG adventure is an enjoyable time.



What is it like writing Tabletop RPGs?

I started writing adventures back with telling stories the players could go through. Some started off as small one shot adventures; others grew into massive campaign story arcs. It’s an adventure of its own coming up with creative stories and trying to focus on one adventure before another one pops into my head.

One shot adventures are those that can be done with a strict time restraint. An hour time slot that you would have at a convention, is an example of a one shot adventure. In most cases, one shot adventures are limited to one story. The key difference between a one shot and a campaign is that in a one shot, the story is over at the end of a session.However, sometimes it may be a small part of a campaign or story arc.  

Campaigns are created with several sessions in mind. Some campaigns I’ve been on lasted over a year, with us meeting once a week before we finished the overall story.  A larger campaign allows the player to be able to flesh out his character by how they interact with the world. Growth of character in a campaign is a fantastic way to explore one’s creative mind.

Finding inspiration for adventures can also be found everywhere you go. I have found inspiration everywhere from the zoo to watching my son play. One game settings I am currently working on was inspired after going to renaissance faires and science fiction conventions.

My projects have me writing an entire game world. Taking a framework built by the original writers, and providing narrative content to it. I have written many beasts with adventure in mind. What makes our dragons different and makes our RPG setting unique? How these creatures interact with the players? Yet, how the players will interact with these creatures is up to the players. While some of that comes through the written story and how the GM chooses to present the material, a player also needs the framework of the world.

A Role Playing Game story can consist of many different themes and elements to the adventure. Similar to how a novel can have different themes throughout the development of the story, and in some cases from book to book.



Suggestions for Writing Role Playing Games

Writing a Role Playing Game (RPG) has a lot in common with writing in other media. Both start with a common idea or theme and are fleshed out as the story develops. One of the major differences is in the presentation of the material. In a novel, the writer writes from the point of view of the story presented to the readers. The story is revealed to the reader to guide the imagination forward. In RPGs, the writer has fleshed out a story and provided a framework for players to explore the world. He has given the Game Master (GM) resources to help tell the story. Being a GM is a difficult task with a lot of rules to remember, a story plot to follow, and characters to present. But ultimately the story can take many different turns; even some that the writer, or the GM, never planned on.

• Outline
  Develop an adventure outline to follow when coming up with a story. My own mixes combat encounters, story encounters, and fluff events. I have developed this through experiencing different world adventures and through writing my own.
  
  
  
• Practice
  Practice your craft. As a writer should read and a game developer should play games, so too should an RPG writer play the games that he wishes to write. If you have an inclination to write for a cyberpunk setting, you should find a cyberpunk adventure to experience that world. Same for fantasy, steampunk, sci fi, super heroes, etc.
  
  
  
• Familiars
  Write what you know and you don't have to change things up. If you are already familiar with a game system like Sixcess Core, Dungeons & Dragons, Pathfinder, Star Wars, or any other rule system; I suggest writing for that system first.
  Caution is warned if you try to publish using the game mechanics already established. There are methods of getting published that you can explore through these companies. When in doubt, do some research into publishing first.
  
  
  
• Compatibility
  Make the game easy to follow and let the GM add the rules set to it. If you have a general idea of an adventure that you’d like to write but don’t have a rule system in mind, this is okay. Make the game system agnostic by adding any system to the story so the game can be played.

Caution should be stressed if you choose to play an adventure you wrote. This is a fun element to writing tabletop RPG adventures but you should be respectful of the GM if it is not you. They may put their own spin on the story, which may be different than what you had planned out. Don't worry. It is a natural occurrence as a GM. They want to make it just as much part of their own world and have fun with it as you do.
​
Writing for tabletop Role Playing Games can be an exciting and challenging endeavor. Don’t try to plan for everything, but make sure to have enough information down so that the GM can run with what you have written.

"What are five new titles for this post?"​
How to Rolodex; Improvodex; 5 Things Connected; All the Ideas; Flippy Paper in My Mind.

​Professional improvists have been using this simple technique to boost their wit for years. In fact, you can watch some of them using it in any outtake on your favorite comedy. Some shows even use Rolodexing as their main form of comedy. Yet, they will flip through some of the fluff that gets weeded out in their mind (don't worry, I will explain how to find the best answer in a moment). But now is the time for a no hesitation game!
 
"Speak before you think" is the idea behind this trick.  It gets rid of those silly inhibitions you may have as you are acting out an improvised scene or if you want to spark some life into your dialogue.

How to play the Rolodex warm-up: 

• Have any number of participants stand together in a circle.
• The leader, Asker, will start by asking a question of five things
  • (i.e. 5 new plants grown in space, 5 terrible pet names, 5 ways to fall down the stairs, etc)
• The next person, Answerer, must then come up with the five answers as fast as possible.
• The Answerer immediately becomes the Asker and must give a new question of five for the next participant.
• Continue this around the circle until everyone has a chance to answer at least once.

​Variations:

• Have the Asker chose a random Answerer
• Change the number of items
• Do it while clapping or using instruments to keep a rapid pace
• If done between two people, take turns going back and forth

"So this is a great way to kill some time on a car ride, but what is the benefit?" 
​
I'm glad you asked for now is the moment we turn five bars of lead into gold.
While answering questions with the Rolodex warm-up, your mind is being conditioned for a plethora of answers to any question or scenario. While performing, this technique is often done in your mind. All you have to do is pick the right answer that offers the most to the scene. Something that will help the others spring the scene forward.
In improvisational acting, you must always give a gift to your partners.
 
So be sure to try the increasingly popular Improvodex: a brand new invention from the minds who brought you Void Violets, Stew the Lamb, and the Bowling Dive. Available now at comedy shows everywhere.
​

​Find it here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PB3A52E/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_351_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=CSWKJ5G5YV70JGD80MJV
​

 I had the privilege of meeting Quincy J Allen at a convention in 2014. He is one of the two authors who inspired me to pursue my writing career with a serious passion. I hope to repay his inspiration in my review of his book Out Through the Attic:
“This buffet of brilliant short stories is perfect for a good read before bed. Each story had its own unique twists and turns to it. Quincy does a wonderful job weaving the Steampunk goodness in his mind to the stories.
It is hard to pick a favorite story out of all of them. I would have to say that the best surprise happened in “17” (I will not spoil it for you! Enjoy his imagination yourself). Each story worked its way around the words at a quick pace. I enjoyed picking up the morsels he shared with us and hope to feast on more of his work in the future.”

I hope you get the opportunity to read it as well and vote up my review here:

http://www.amazon.com/review/RNID2KNX7408Y/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00KVR06XS&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=133140011&store=digital-text
 
You can read more about it by clicking this link.

This story could be classified as a thriller mixed with dark comedy. As a flash fiction story, the entirety of the story is less than 1,000 words. It is a great read during a lunch break or something to make you smile throughout your day.
This story is the start of many short stories that will be happening in the same universe. Please let me know what you think about it on Amazon or in the comments below. I hope you enjoy the future stories and the search for XR-404.

Food eaten, Facebook notifications cleared, messages from mom read, and nearby Pokemon caught... Only 15 minutes left on my lunch break! What to do? What to do?
Why not grab a nice flash fiction story to pass the time? I know you may have a few questions about this style of writing so I’ve decided to answer some common questions to help you enjoy my own "Sci-Fla-Fi" story, XR-404.

A man must choose to save his pregnant wife or his entire civilization in ten minutes.
​

​What is Flash Fiction?
Flash fiction is a form of writing that many have compared to poetry. The wording and action must be very concise and necessary for a complete story in under 1,000 words. Although flash fictions have a well-defined plot, there is much happening off of the page or layers in between that get sorted out the more you read through it. Example: this article is just over 600 words. However, there is no plot so it differs from a flash fiction.


Why Flash Fiction?
I decided to have my first published work in this style as it is an easy way to test the market of self-publishing and become an established author. This story is also a quick glimpse into my writing style and voice. Although the majority of my novels will be told through a third-person limited view, this story has been a good exercise of a first-person present tense story (which I hope to reserve for future flash fiction stories centered in the same universe as XR-404).



Is this story safe for kids?
I do not use any profanity in any of my stories. However, some of the action may be too intense for younger ones. It is not necessarily a YA story, as the description talks about a husband and wife, but may appeal to those dark humor/sci-fi types.



What happens when I purchase the story from Amazon?
You are able to send the download to any of your Kindle devices and read at your leisure



I don’t have a Kindle!?
Don’t Panic. You can download the Kindle app for free on any smartphone and use it to read the story. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can also download an app to your desktop from the Amazon site.



But I don’t have my own computer; I’m at work/library/etc; apps are evil! What do I do?!?!?
Not to worry. You can even read the story from your web browser. Just sign up from your Amazon account (which you used to purchase the book) and go to: https://read.amazon.com/



How can I help?
Write a review about the book, please! No seriously, most of the algorithms on Amazon use books with 20+ ratings/reviews. If you have time to write a paragraph of your thoughts, great! If you only want to leave a sentence or a few words, great! If you just feel like putting a *thumbs up* emoji… you may have to experiment on the Amazon review page… I’m not sure on that… if so, great!



Is there anything else I can do?
If you enjoyed the book, share it with your friends. I have no major publishing company doing any advertising for me so it is dependent on you and me. Tell others about this site, our Facebook page, or Twitter account. I am also available to speak at different conventions or events in the area (IA, NE, KS, MO, WI, MN, etc).

I would love to answer any questions you may have about this sci-fla-fi story in the comments below (Can I say that? Is it okay to acronize science flash fiction in such a way? Did you just learn what acronize means too?).
​

​In an effort to shrink our possessions to fit our tiny adventure, we have decided to start...

Day 1 - August 8, 2016 - "5 items"
The easiest and hardest of days... day 1. We decided to get rid of 5 "sets" of items. Our sleeping bags (that were over 10 years old and thinning to the point of a translucent lingerie of its former comfort), an outside table (that served its purpose on our screened in porch and will be replaced by the Wheel O' Improv  modification), VHS tapes (now obsolete and to be converted to digital), some excess books (things started to sting a little at this point), and the record collection
(that had become part of my soul; now a gaping void of a memory). Such items we deemed unnecessary or unfit for our new lifestyle. Records get heavy to maintain and it has dwindled to the best of the best. Here rests the final ones that survived the many purges of my over 300 collection (I hope they are adopted to a new loving family).


Day 2 - August 9, 2016 - "Countertops"
The challenge today seemed odd as we try to keep our counters tidy. However, with the recent guests (love you mom and dad!) it had a stockpile of dishes and remnants of leftovers. We polished those off and fried the fish (caught from the purified waters of Minnetonka) from our upstairs neighbors/homeowners. Cleaning together is one of the most blissful things a couple can do together... trust me on this. We managed to slim down our stirring spoon and spatula collection. Tomorrow we meditate... or take a nap... which usually happens while trying to meditate.


Day 3 - August 10, 2016 - "Meditating"
We skipped over this one as we both believe in the power of prayer over meditation. We had Bible study last night as well so lots of praying!


Day 4 - August 11, 2016 - "Junk Drawer"
I must confess, we have junk in a trunk... not a drawer. Actually, it was spread out in a couple different boxes we had yet to unpack from our previous move. We used this time to sort through our tool box and emergency kit. After checking the batteries on a bad flashlight that leaked acid on me, we decided to upgrade our survival box a bit (don't worry, I used lots of water). We fit all of our tools and "junk" items into a heavy duty container that has easy access if we need it. Our survival kit is still in its own box so not to worry mom :)


Day 5 - August 12, 2016 - "Clothes"
This challenge came to us earlier as we began our downsizing. As it is, my wife and I share 1 dresser (I have 2 drawers, she has 3) and 1 small closet. I found a few stained shirts and extra white undershirts to cycle out. Our mantra has become "one in, one out."


Day 6 - August 13, 2016 - "Digital Cleanse"
I had to look this one up. Apparently you are supposed to abstain from any digital devices... which makes blogging about it awkward. We're going to say this means going through files and folders on our pc. Maybe organize my externals as well.


Day 7 - August 14, 2016 - "Accessories"
The accessories in my life have become minimal in my life previous to this challenge. However, I have noticed my writing accessories may have taken over more than one bag. Time to slim it into one!


Day 8 - August 15, 2016 - "Shoes"
We have already shrunk our shoe collection to the necessities. Lisa was able to get rid of one pair... I'm glad I married someone who wasn't a shoe hoarder ;)


Day 9 - August 16, 2016 - "Pamper Yourself"
Olympics, cheese, chocolate mile... podcast: www.twitch.tv/shad0fx


Day 10 - August 17, 2016 - "10 Items"
The 10 items we have away were hard for me but easier on my wife... It was our camping gear. I quickly learned that she is not a happy camper and my back/insomnia for not agree with sleeping in a tent. They did find a good home. We spent some time reorganizing and sorting items in boxes (we'll pamper more later). Those items we counted in the 10 as well which put us over. So far, so good.


Day 11 - August 18, 2016 - "Social Media"
We talked about getting rid of some of the sites we no longer use but have minimized as much as possible... Took a break from posting here. Does that count?


Day 12 - August 19, 2016 - "Use Up A Product"
"I ate the last of the salsa... And you drank the last of the spiced rum..." my wife commented while reading our challenge tonight. I have also used the last of the beard butter (found a better/natural one from Ren folk) and am hoping to use up the rest of the body wash stuff I don't use often.


Day 13 - August 20, 2016 - "Pantry"
Our "pantry" consists of a small bookshelf. We did manage to clear/condense most of it into the upper shelves. Lisa used some baskets to keep things organized. It was also Ren Fest day!


Day 14 - August 21, 2016 - "Pots & Pans"
Do we even have those things anymore? Our life is started to get stored away into boxes. We spent most of today packing for the move.


Day 15 - August 22, 2016 - "Wake Up 3o Minutes Early"
Failed. It's Monday.


Day 16 - August 23, 2016 - "Linens"
The first thing that came to mind was my renaissance shirts. I do have some left over material I should go through. Maybe that's what they mean. It's a good day to repair and reorganize my garb ;)


Day 17 - August 24, 2016 - "Cleaning Products"
A.k.a. dishes again and more packing...


Day 18 - August 25, 2016 - "Journal 15 min"
I try to journal/edit for more than 15 minutes a day but I suppose this counts. I should rephrase the title to say "updated sometimes" as we have started moving things. Since those who read this are probably already aware, we are moving to Iowa next month. Which means (on top of moving) we are job hunting. I have had a few nibbled but no good bites as of yet for a full time job. Hence why I am also strapping myself the the writing chair. Poetry book by winter or bust! So this is where we are again, jumping the fence between settled and moving. If you did not know we are moving yet... Tada!


Day 19 - August 26, 2016 - "Skin Care"
We had to rush home after work to get to the wedding rehearsal! No time to worry about minimizing this weekend... all about the happy couple. I did get rid of some facial wash and get better beard stuff.


Day 20 - August 27, 2016 - "Make Up"
Wedding day for friends in Rochester. We had too much fun to do this!


Day 21 - August 28, 2016 - "Go For A Walk"
We enjoyed wandering around Rochester and spent a lot of time getting things packed for the move


Day 22 - August 29, 2016 - "Medicine"
Still packing... (and Monday... bleh)


Day 23 - August 30, 2016 - "Mail/Paperwork"
It's in a box somewhere... Just kidding. Packing/moving brain is real now. I do have a few things to sort through and we worked on getting some bills/financial paperwork organized for the move!


Day 24-30 - Moving Days - "Things are in a box"
We managed to get everything down in 3 van loads. Still hoping to reorganize and minimize our lives. It's not about what you get rid of so much as what you do not horde. I guess that means we are for the Alliance now? For Azeroth! Sorry, sidetracked...

​I hope this venture we embarked on helps you in your search for living a more simple life. What are some of the things you could not get rid of?