Write More with Simon K Jones

A deep dive into my writing process, and how Scrivener helps me stay on track with long-running serial fiction projects.

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Does self-publishing spoil your chances of being published traditionally? Read more at https://simonkjones.substack.com.

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I’m a bit of a collector when it comes to storytelling forms. I want to know all of the structures, all of the mediums, all of the formal languages. It’s why I flit back and forth between comics, games, novels, film, TV, theatre and so on.

Just over a year ago I experienced tabletop roleplaying for the first time, joining some friends in their long-running Dungeons & Dragons escapade. I didn’t know what to expect. I’d been a reader of fantasy for decades, and I’d played many roleplaying video games, but I’d never had an opportunity to try out the live, collaborative storytelling that is D&D.

I knew there would be rules and dice rolling and numbers and combat scenarios. That’s the bit everyone knows about, from Stranger Things or from earlier, more mocking depictions of the game. What I hadn’t expected was the depth of story and character that’s built into the experience, and the complexity of the conversation between the dungeon master (the host/storyteller/referee/etc role) and the players.

At its best, when you have a master DM running the game, Dungeons & Dragons is oral storytelling at its most sophisticated. It’s telling tales around a fire, developed to its ultimate form. It’s improv theatre. It’s pure creative discovery, with the DM and players combining their imaginations in unpredictable and thrilling ways.

It’s a lot more than rolling dice and punching orcs.

I had to know more about how it works, and how on earth a DM holds it all together. The man who runs the game I’m part of is one Jon Kempton. Jon is a teacher of history, politics and English and is Director of External Relations at Langley School here in Norwich, UK.

Due to a complicated series of events, my interview with Jon was recorded in the presence of his dog Indie. Needless to say, Indie had opinions on what was being discussed. I suggest making a game of noting how many times you can detect background snuffling, a tail whacking the microphone or a canine toy being squeaked.

Hope you enjoy the chat! A transcript is also available.

Write More with Simon K Jones is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes you need reminding of which way is up. Read more at https://simonkjones.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe

In the video I guide you through how to make your publication feel like yours and make sense to your audience:

* Choosing a name

* Writing your short description

* Setting your square image, cover image and wordmark

* Structuring and writing your About page

Update: I’ve removed the paywall and made this video free to watch. Paywalls make me feel a bit icky. Enjoy!

Oh, and thank you to Mike Sowden, Alex Dobrenko`, Kelly Thompson and Nishant Jain for providing inspiration through their varied and excellent work. 👍

Thanks for watching. If you find the video helpful please do pass it along!

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe

There’s been a proliferation of platforms vying for the attention of writers (and readers), which has made it an increasingly complicated scene to enter and navigate. This is my first attempt to find my way through the maze, and hopefully it’ll help you as well. Read more at https://simonkjones.substack.com.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe

The first in a new video series exploring writing software Scrivener.

Find out more at https://simonkjones.substack.com.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe

Today I'm thinking about the uncertain foundations writers often find themselves on.

Here's that article on serial storytelling that gets mentioned: https://open.substack.com/pub/simonkjones/p/different-types-of-serial-storytelling?r=3rwg&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Read more at https://simonkjones.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe

Today I'm taking a look at my top 10 articles from 2023. There's lots of useful / interesting / quirky stuff in here for writers. You can subscribe at https://simonkjones.substack.com, and here are links to the articles:

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/what-actually-is-substack

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/understanding-your-substack-stats

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/why-i-left-wattpad-for-substack

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/how-to-fix-substacks-fiction-experience

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/quickstart-guide-for-substack-fiction

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/different-types-of-serial-storytelling

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/you-dont-need-my-advice

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/how-to-read-tales-from-the-triverse

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/the-story-loom

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/visualising-your-plot-threads

https://youtu.be/4ZPQ57gPO2E

https://simonkjones.substack.com/p/please-stop-panicking-about-enthusiasm

Hosted by Simon K Jones.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonkjones.substack.com/subscribe