Support the Artists to Support the Arts - The Consortium

Last weekend I took two days to go hang out with some extended family from the Dallas area for a family reunion. I talked to several people about the Consortium, I got a blog post written in spite of the distractions, and I spent some time studying a major competitor’s product (but more on that later).

For the most part, I hung out, I caught up, and I chilled in the pool with my kids and nephews and nieces. It was quiet and relaxing.

Then, of course, on Monday I got back to work. And on Tuesday I headed to the first class in my new Master’s program. It’s pretty apparent there’s not going to be a whole lot of “quiet and relaxing” in my future.

Reading Lists

Please don’t mistake that for self-pity, though. This week’s post is titled “Loving What You Do,” and it came readily to mind, because I’ve spent the last hectic, crazy week doing just that.

I’m taking two classes this fall: “Category Fiction,” and “Writing the Screenplay.” In category fiction, among others, we’re going to be reading How to Train Your Dragon and The Hunger Games — both books I’ve been told again and again are incredibly good reads.

We’re also going to be reviewing an urban fantasy called Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom. And then there’s Die Trying, a suspense/thriller that involves a kidnapped FBI agent, and an underground group of religious extremists.

I’m going to have to do a detailed analytical paper on that one (and also one on How to Train Your Dragon). Those are the big intimidating papers of the semester. I’ve got to complete 10-15 pages of analysis of the author’s storytelling techniques, drawing conclusions about how well those techniques work in the story and how a writer could apply those conclusions to his or her own writing.

That’s…well, that’s what I do right here every week. For free. For fun! And, sure, I’m going to have to find the time to read all those novels. That’s something that’s been on my To Do list for a couple years now, though. I’m hardly complaining!

Oh, and then last night in my Screenplay class we got the reading list for that class, and in addition to Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Misery, we’re going to be reading and discussing the screenplay for The Princess Bride.

I love my life.

Playing Games

That’s not to say it’s easy. I’m doing a ton of driving, and I’ve still got to put in 40 hours a week at my day job to keep the bills paid. Between that, and pursuing my personal projects, and my Consortium projects, and keeping up family responsibilities, and weekend trips out of town…well, it’s stressful.

I finally caved to that stress about a month ago and bought a copy of Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty for a little bit of a release. I knew full well that I had the right to a little bit of recreation time, but it still felt like a little betrayal of all the things I’m trying to accomplish, every time I turned my back on WIPs and blog post schedules and To Do lists for an hour or two (or twelve) to indulge in a little bit of gaming.

And then this week I was in a meeting with my lead programmer, discussing development schedules for our three current gaming projects, and it struck me with a vicious clarity: I’m trying to build a game development company. I’m not just trying to make games, but I fully intend the Consortium to make games. And, for now at least, I’m the lead designer for those games.

I need to be playing games. That statement is true in lots of ways, but it’s as true for my commitment to the Consortium as it is for my commitment to some level of sanity. Playing games — really great, fun games — is research. It’s my job. It’s a big part of my future.

Sorry, I’ve just got to say it again. Busy as I am…I absolutely love my life.