Greetings!
This week I’ve been working on a new endeavor: a sample story.
I was working on the rules and mechanics but a problem kept reoccurring: there was no definitive vision in mind. I don’t mean that there aren’t clear goals or objectives (there are). And I don’t mean that there isn’t an understanding of the end product (there is). But a clear, consistent vision was missing any time I needed to concoct examples. One problem was lack of congruent theme to draw upon – and part of that was by design (the system is supposed to be genre-less after all). The other problem was since I was literally making up the content for every example, it read as if I made it up for every example. Plus, having a story upfront and using that story for examples would help illustrate to the reader how these rules and templates apply to the end product. They could see exactly how the pieces could come together as they learned about it.
So I’ve been writing a story.
But this can’t be just any story, right? Like, it can’t be about a pigeon trying to roost on a statue and not finding any free spots, right? Right?
The story needs to reflect the type of adventures worthy of CQ StoryHammer, or in the very least: it needs to feature all the elements of the rules and mechanics, particularly so it can be referenced in the samples (since that’s the whole point, right?).
So, the first step to writing this story is to write the goals and objectives of the story – whittle down the possibilities – so it doesn’t end up being about pigeons roosting on statues (though, technically, a StoryHammer story could be about that, I think).
So, in the next update I plan to talk about the process of creating the goals and objectives for this story.
So stay tuned!
-Luke
Oh. Wait. Before you go, there is one more thing about this story I’m working on.
The thing is, there is another goal to doing this story – a secret goal. So mum’s the word about this next bit, okay? Spoiler alert and all that. Okay. Ready? Well, this other reason (the secret reason) I’m writing this sample story (and more importantly: why I’m working on it now) – is that this story can be used as a marketing tool. That sounds a little more corporate-y than I intend it to but it’s ultimately correct. A good story can garner interest which may be all the more exciting to see how rules could reference and draw upon it.
This may somehow affect the goals and objectives for the story. Maybe. We’ll see. For now, keep this last part between us, alright? Thanks! You’re a peach.