David Hopkins's Blog

In my Stealing from Shakespeare Writing Workshop, in addition to the 20+ lecture videos I created for the online class, I also did a series of bonus video where I talk with actors and directors about William Shakespeare. Here’s the first bonus video where I was fortunate to talk with Raphael Parry.

Raphael Parry is the executive and artistic director of Shakespeare Dallas. In this conversation, we talk about Shakespeare's characters and what writers today can learn from Shakespeare when it comes to creating compelling characters.

For updates on when this Shakespeare class will be available again:
https://writingworkshops.com/

To learn more about Shakespeare Dallas:
https://www.shakespearedallas.org/

I should start by saying this list is completely subjective—and weirdly ‘80s heavy. No advanced analytics were applied to this process. Some of these movies I haven’t seen in a long, long time, and I fear that my recollection might be far too kind. For example, as a kid, I loved Red Sonja. That one released in1985 with Brigitte Nielsen. But I’ve been told repeatedly that it was terrible, so I’m not going to fight it, and it’s been left off my list. However, with movies I’ve seen more recently, I’m willing to take a stand. (King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is good! Rotten Tomatoes be damned!)

Anyways, what fun is a list, if you can’t disagree with it?

Also, I’m not making a huge distinction between “epic fantasy” and “high fantasy.” I’d say The Last Unicorn definitely falls into the slippery category of high fantasy, but I’m still putting it in this list. However, portal fantasies—like Labyrinth, Spirited Away, and (to some degree) the Neverending Story and Pan’s Labyrinth—I’ve excluded. I’m also sticking with a more European epic fantasy setting. Otherwise, wuxia films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon would absolutely top my list. And then, what about Dune? It’s sci-fi, but it certainly feels like a close cousin to the epic fantasy genre.

Trying to compile these films made me realize how difficult it is to pin down the epic fantasy genre. Also, it makes me appreciate how tricky it is to compress and translate the epic-ness of the book genre into a film. It’s much easier to tackle the genre through television, in my opinion, but that’s a list for another time.

10. The Princess Bride (1987)
97% Tomatometer, 94% Audience

Is it epic fantasy? Is it a fairy tale? Is it a parody of the genre? Does the distinction matter?

The Princess Bride is a near perfect movie. Always entertaining and enjoyable for all ages. I feel bad for placing it so low on this list.

The movie is more than “a kissing book.” It’s an ode to the power of storytelling to remove cynicism and instill a sense of wonder. Something I’ve always loved about the genre.

9. Ladyhawke (1985)
68% Tomatometer, 74% Audience

The story takes place in medieval Italy, so I guess this film would be better categorized as “historical fantasy” and not as a “second world, epic fantasy.” So it goes.

Mostly, I remember the curse. Such a great premise. It makes for a beautiful tragic, love story.

Apparently, the soundtrack was rated as the worst of all time—most distracting/obnoxious. It ended the film scoring career of Andrew Powell. Perhaps, the movie would have been better received with a new soundtrack?

8. Conan the Barbarian (1982)
66% Tomatometer, 74% Audience

There is much to say about this quotable, trashy fantasy movie. Let’s never forget the scene where Schwarzenegger punched a camel. Yes, that happened.

Also, I didn’t know this until . . . today . . . but it was co-written by Oliver Stone. Weird.

Created by Texas author, Robert E. Howard, something about Conan’s pulp brilliance just works—and a precursor to other muscular, shirtless, grunty heroes like Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher series.

7. Wolfwalkers (2020)
99% Tomatometer, 98% Audience

Like Princess Bride and Stardust, it’s more of a fairy tale. And like Ladyhawke, Wolfwalkers is more of a historical fantasy (a story that also centers around animal transformation). But unlike those saccharin love stories, this film is about friendship. It’s one of the few movies that truly captures the intensity of young friendship.

It’s an amazing film.

It was difficult to choose between this and The Secret of Kells or Song of the Sea—the Irish folklore trilogy by Tomm Moore. Why choose? Watch them all.

6. The Green Knight (2021)
89% Tomatometer, 50% Audience

I don’t know how well this movie will hold up in a few years. The Green Knight (and our hero Gawain) certainly has flaws. It’s a movie about flaws. The camera work felt indulgent and unnecessary in several places, which left me waiting for the director to get out of the way.

My favorite scenes were the ones where we take in the magnificent setting and scenery. I loved the dark castle shots in the first part. Incredible medieval aesthetic.

And Dev Patel was flawless.

5. The Last Unicorn (1982)
73% Tomatometer, 86% Audience

I just finished the book by Peter S. Beagle. At several points, the book felt like it really wanted to be a movie. (The book is well written, but it does drag once they get to the castle.) Lo and behold, Peter S. Beagle also wrote the screenplay. Something tells me, this story was always meant to be seen as a film. And it’s a good one.

I’d enjoy seeing a live action version of this film, but I wonder if it’s possible to capture this magic a third time.

4. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
31% Tomatometer, 69% Audience

This movie is good. It’s actually good. I feel like Legend of the Sword was the victim of Rotten Tomatoes bandwagoning. Most critics probably didn’t know what to do with an unconventional Arthur placed within a more fantastical than historical setting. It’s clear that producers were hoping to build an expanded Arthur universe. Alas, it was never meant to be.

If you want a fantasy that isn’t trying to remake LOTR, Legend of the Sword does its own thing—and does it well.

3. Stardust (2007)
77% Tomatometer, 86% Audience

Some may be surprised to see Stardust so high on my list (or on my list at all). You must not know of my love for Neil Gaiman’s work.

I found this movie to be utterly charming, like Princess Bride, but without the parodic tone. Fun, adventurous, and it provides a surprisingly mature look at romantic love. The line: “Ah... and what's she doing to prove how she feels about you?” It gets me every time.

Plus, airships. There aren’t enough airships in our fantasy movies.

2. Willow (1988)
51% Tomatometer, 79% Audience

This film is under appreciated. Maybe because it was directed by Ron Howard and produced by George Lucas, audiences were expecting more? They missed what this movie was: A damn good epic fantasy adventure.

Also, Madmartigan is Val Kilmer’s second best role (obviously, Doc Holliday in Tombstone is his best). He exudes such delightful, chaotic energy.

I’m excited to see the Willow series on Disney+, debuting this year.

1. LOTR (2001, 2002, 2003)
91%, 95%, 93% Tomatometer, 95%, 95%, 86% Audience

Was there any doubt?

In fact, I have to count LOTR as one movie. Otherwise, it would take up spaces 1-3 with Two Towers being my favorite of the trilogy. The gap between this film series and the rest of the movies on this list is awkwardly apparent.

Perhaps we’ve just been waiting for CG technology to catch up. All the stars aligned perfectly to make it happen. Had it been any other writer or director or cast or source material or shooting location—it just wouldn’t have been the same.

You can always buy the fantasy reader in your life more books. That is always an option. But it can be a little tricky. Which authors do they love? Which ones do they hate? Perhaps they already have that book—or they want a particular UK hardcover edition. Fantasy readers can be a picky group. You could get them a gift card, but do you really want to give up that easily?

This gift guide features non-book options for your bookish friends. And yes, some of these suggestions are a bit peculiar.

Enjoy!

60-Minute Hourglass

An hourglass is a subtle, old-world way to set time aside for reading. And honestly, an hourglass just looks cool on a book shelf.

JustHourglasses.com, as the name would imply, has a wide range of hourglasses for any preference, time frame, or price range.

Website | Instagram

Albion Sword

This is an extravagant gift. You wouldn’t buy just anyone an Albion sword. But I’m fairly certain every epic fantasy reader wants a cool sword hanging on their wall—and Albion swords are very, very cool. Cheaper swords exist, but they won’t be cherished and handed down through the generations like this one would.

Website

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Art Print by Michael Whelan

If you’re going to buy a print, buy it directly from the artist (that way you can get it signed)—and why not go with one of the all-time greats, when it comes to fantasy art? Michael Whelan painted the cover art for the Dark Tower series and the Stormlight Archive. And if you don’t know which art print to buy, go with something weird. Whelan is at his best when he’s being bizarre.

Website | Instagram

Tickets to Medieval Times

This gift guide is fast becoming the what-you-should-get-David-Hopkins-for-Christmas list. But am I wrong about Medieval Times? I don’t think so. Epic fantasy readers love a good joust.

Website | Instagram

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Mushroom Lamp

I’ve never been keen on the various adjustable “reading lights” out there. Give me a quiet room and a lamp. I’ll be fine.

Instead of a puny reading light, you should give your fantasy reader a magical mushroom lamp via Etsy. Soft light for late night reading, and it definitely sets the mood.

Website

Booknook

While you’re on Etsy, take a moment and search some of the “booknooks” or “book shelf inserts” available. They’re pretty cool. Since they’re mostly custom made and handcrafted, they can be a little pricey. Also, read the descriptions carefully, i.e. some assembly required.

But a booknook can be a welcome addition to someone’s fantasy book shelf.

Website

Hogarth Hills Artisan Soap

Soap made by nerds for nerds. These soaps are handmade with high-quality ingredients. I love the thought that’s put into each product. For example, there’s a seasonal soap inspired by Stephen King’s IT called “Winter Fire,” based on the poem about Bev. It's a blend of smoldering cedarwood, leather, tumbleweed, with rich amber, cashmere musk, terracotta and more. There’s also a Doctor Strange inspired soap (“Sanctum Sanctorum”) and a Lord of the Rings soap (“Undying Lands”).

Website | Instagram

Swag from the Splintered Wand

A wizard pub just opened in Seattle. Let me say that again: a wizard pub just opened in Seattle. If you live near Seattle, take your fantasy reader friend to the pub. Buy them a drink. Be wizards! However, if you don’t live near Seattle, I imagine they will eventually have swag. And wizard pub swag sounds like a pretty cool holiday gift to me.

Facebook | Instagram

The Pratchett Convention T-Shirt

Sir Terry Pratchett wore this t-shirt, whenever he made a convention appearance (as mentioned on Buzzfeed). You can buy a facsimile of the famous t-shirt, because you can buy anything online. This gift falls under the category of “If You Know, You Know.”

Website

Membership to Tolkien Society

Members get the newsletter, Amon Hen, six times a year—along with the annual Mallorn, which comes out on Christmas. This gift keep giving! I’d opt for the postal print version because it’s fun to get stuff in the mail. Also, now your fantasy reader friend is part of an organization promoting the work of Tolkien since 1972.

Website | Instagram

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Subscription Box

I said this gift guide wouldn’t include books, but I’m making an exception with this subscription box from the iconic Strand Bookstore. Each Strand box includes a signed first edition and other goodies.

Other subscription boxes are worth looking into. Illumicrate seems to have great exclusives for fantasy readers—although it’s shipping from the UK, which can be tricky and increase the price. And Fae Crate also looks good. Based in the US and more YA oriented.

Website

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Cameo

The kitsch of Cameo reached its zenith sometime in 2020, but I still think it’s cool to get a brief “Greetings, Fellow Human” video from someone you admire. Sadly, there aren’t many authors on the site. (Come on, Neil Gaiman, Robin Hobb. Where are you?) However, if you’re into Game of Thrones, Vikings, The Expanse, LOTR, Doctor Who, etc, those actors are ready and available. And who wouldn’t want a call from Sean Astin or Felicia Day?

Website | Instagram

I ramble about some of the books I've read this year (so-far). :

Questions:
1. Best book you’ve read so far in 2021
2. Best sequel you've read so far in 2021
3. New release you haven't read yet, but want to
4. Most anticipated release for the second half of the year
5. Biggest disappointment
6. Biggest surprise
7. Favorite new author (debut or new to you)
8. Newest fictional crush
9. Newest favorite character
10. Book that made you cry
11. Book that made you happy
12. Most beautiful book you've bought so far this year (or received)
13. What books do you need to read by the end of the year?

The wonderful thing about the fantasy genre is that there’s no shortage of amazing books you can read. Find a prolific author you love—Ursula K. Le Guin, Brandon Sanderson, N.K. Jemisin, Robert Jordan, Robin Hobb, Ellen Kushner, Terry Brooks, Terry Pratchett, Terry Goodkind (so many Terry’s)—and you have enough books to occupy a few years.

My list is a little different. I want to suggest some talented authors—the up-and-comers, the youngsters, the indie authors, the under appreciated conquerors—who aren’t as well known and aren’t named “Terry.”

The Unbroken.

I was first introduced to C.L. Clark’s work during a FIYAH Magazine livestream last year. She read one of her short stories—and my god, I was moved. I became a fan, and read more of her short stories. Imagine how excited I was when I discovered she had a novel coming out in 2021? You can’t imagine. Not until you read her work for yourself. Her prose is masterful, but she also knows how to tell a badass fantasy story. Drop whatever you’re reading on March 23rd, and read this instead.

The Blacktongue Thief.

I have a friend who knows Christopher Buehlman through Scarborough Faire. (Buehlman worked as “Christophe the Insultor.”) I’m trying to figure out how Buehlman and I can become friends without it getting weird. I’m still brainstorming. Regardless, you should absolutely check out this book if you’re wanting something fun and witty and well paced.

A Sea of Pearls & Leaves.

If you want to try a book by an independent fantasy author, Rosalyn Briar is a great bet. She continues to build a loyal fanbase with A Sea of Pearls & Leaves, her second novel. I’ve always admired the care that she puts into her projects. This novel is a twisted retelling of the Grimm's "The Three Snake-Leaves."

For the Crown.

Melissa Mitchell represents a new generation of writers who started off on Wattpad. It was on Wattpad where she developed her “Dragonwall” world. Her series had over two million reads before she published it officially. Let me say that again: TWO MILLION. She has my respect. At 371 pages, For the Crown is the shortest of her Dragonwall novels—and the most recent—but I think it stands alone very well as an engaging fantasy romance.

A Master of Djinn.

As a Nebula and Locus winner, P. Djèlí Clark is not flying under the radar. (I wouldn’t be surprised if his 2020 novella Ring Shout earns him a Hugo.) Anyone who has read Clark knows he’s a truly skilled writer. But I think his Fatma el-Sha'arawi Series (alternate history steampunk-esque Cairo in early 1900s) represents his most exciting work. I loved “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. This upcoming 400-page novel will give us a deeper look into this fascinating world.

A Wind from the Rift.

Romance storylines are so ubiquitous to female protagonists that it’s refreshing to discover a book without one. Gwyn is powerful, complex, and she’s nobody’s romantic subplot. You should probably start with book one, The Ninth Sorceress, but I’m going to go ahead and recommend book two. I predict Bonnie Wynne will become a breakout author, if she continues to be productive, which I do not doubt.

Glimmerglass Girl.

Yes, I snuck a book of poetry onto my list. But it’s fantasy poetry, so I feel justified. I’m finicky about poetry. However, I love this poetry. It’s also a convenient way for me to mention that the same Holly Lyn Walrath has agreed to help as developmental editor on the Dryad’s Crown series, starting with book three. No pressure on me. At all. I’m fine. I’m fine. Why are you looking at me?

The Frightened Fox.

I’ve known Miranda New for a long time. (True story: Due to a last minute travel conflict, I stepped in and officiated her wedding.) What I didn’t know, for the longest time, was that she’s an incredible novelist. These two books in the Sammy Silvertooth series are the evidence. Sometimes your friends will surprise you. I look forward to reading more from Miranda.

Is it because my work isn’t good enough to get traditionally published?

Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know. (That’s a rude question!)

Traditional publishing is a temperamental creature. It’s not always about the quality of your work. It comes down to this question: Will the book sell? Publishers are in the forecasting business. They’re making an informed guess. Brandon Sanderson couldn’t get his work published for the longest time because publishers wanted him to be “more like George R.R. Martin.” And yet, Sanderson’s work is incredibly popular right now. The publishers are doing their best to forecast on trends, but who knows?

And even before you get a publisher, first, you need an agent. The agents are trying to figure out what the publishers want. So your work isn’t always being judged by its merit alone. Instead, it’s a forecast of a forecast. The agents and the publishers are hoping your work is malleable enough to twist and rework into something they think can be marketed and sold. It makes me wonder if The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings would have been published by today’s standards. (Tolkien is many things, but getting to the point within the first 10 pages is not his strongest attribute.)

However, this isn't about Tolkien or Sanderson, it's about me.

I tried to find an agent for Wear Chainmail to the Apocalypse. I spent about a year searching. I’m not gonna lie; it was rough. I had another author tell me, “The publishers aren’t accepting apocalyptic stories right now.” And she was 100% correct. (Coincidentally, a year later, COVID happened. The apocalypse is back, baby!) For my sanity, I decided to give up on traditional publishing and self-publish the novel. Lo and behold, people liked Wear Chainmail to the Apocalypse. It wasn’t a bestseller, but that’s not the point. It found an audience.

For The Dryad’s Crown series, traditional publishing wasn’t an option. I’m writing an epic fantasy set in an “open source” world. That means, while I own my story and my characters, I’m choosing to not own the setting itself. It’s available to anyone who wants to contribute to it. My assumption is that publishers wouldn’t want to buy something they couldn’t own. Thus, we’re self-publishing.

My hope is that The Dryad’s Crown finds its audience too—and over the course of the next few years, that this ten-book series will find a large enough audience to where self-publishing isn’t simply an option of last resort, but a preferrable path. With Patreon and other crowdsourcing platforms, becoming a full-time author is doable. I’ve done the math. Granted, it’s very basic math, but I’m not far off.

And if I can build a dedicated readership through my self-publishing—whenever I do decide to write something again for traditional publication, it will be a no-brainer for any agent. (“His independent work sells . . . how much? Let’s set up a Zoom meeting.”) As a self-published author, I become delightfully dangerous because I can always walk away from a bad offer, knowing I have an alternative.

Why do I self-publish? Flexibility, a faster turnaround, freedom to choose my team (designers, illustrators, cartographers and editors), and the freedom to make outrageous creative choices.

You don’t read a self-published author to get more of the same.

Another reason is the simplicity of the exchange between author and audience. First, foremost, and always, I care about my reader. Yes, it would be nice to have an agent who spends their time thinking about how to best launch my career. It would be nice to get a multi-book deal from a company that has published some of my writing heroes. It would be nice to walk into a bookstore and point to my work—to have exposure with more reviewers, to set up more book signing events, and to be considered for more awards. These things are just not easily available to self-published authors. But as long as I am still serving my reader and giving them something they can enjoy, I’ve done my job. And that’s enough.

You could read and find out for yourself if it's any good.

This video (originally posted to Twitch) is a brief history of my life as a reader and provides suggestions on how to be a better reader.

Today, I want to focus on the work of other writers.

Firstly, I would encourage you to read these words by Tochi Onyebuchi in his essay, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream: The Duty of the Black Writer During Times of American Unrest.

Secondly, you should definitely check out this amazing work I’ve listed below. (Full disclosure: I haven’t read Ring Shout yet—because it’s not available until October. However, I have read P. Djèlí Clark, and he’s incredible. Easily one of my favorite authors right now.)

The Devil in America by Kai Ashante Wilson

In this Tor.com original, scant years after the Civil War, a mysterious family confronts the legacy that has pursued them across centuries, out of slavery, and finally to the idyllic peace of the town of Rosetree. The shattering consequences of this confrontation echo backwards and forwards in time, even to the present day.

"There’s so much here to appreciate and admire, fine storytelling with a clearly-realized setting and characters." — Locus

(I haven’t read The Sorcerer of the Wildeeps, also by Wilson, but it looks great. It’s on my to-read pile for this summer.)
 

Fiyah (Summer 2020, Issue 14): Magazine of Black Speculative Fiction

So give us your Black elves, your Black space captains, your Black heretics standing against prophecies and insurmountable odds. Send us your Black wizards and Black gods, your Black sergeants fighting on alien planets. Give us all of your horror, SFF, and relevant subgenres. Because the future of genre is now.

And the future ain’t going to write itself.
 

Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi

Ella has a Thing. She sees a classmate grow up to become a caring nurse. A neighbor's son murdered in a drive-by shooting. Things that haven't happened yet. Kev, born while Los Angeles burned around them, wants to protect his sister from a power that could destroy her. But when Kev is incarcerated, Ella must decide what it means to watch her brother suffer while holding the ability to wreck cities in her hands.

Rooted in the hope that can live in anger, Riot Baby is as much an intimate family story as a global dystopian narrative. It burns fearlessly toward revolution and has quietly devastating things to say about love, fury, and the black American experience.

Ella and Kev are both shockingly human and immeasurably powerful. Their childhoods are defined and destroyed by racism. Their futures might alter the world.

“[Tochi] Onyebuchi has woven a story as uplifting as it is heartbreaking, an epic ode to the future and past, tiny acts of resistance, love, and the wild unstoppable sweep of revolution.”—Daniel José Older
 

Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (available October 13, 2020)

In 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die.

Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to Hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up.

Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?
 

You Perfect, Broken Thing by C.L. Clark

When I leave the kill floor, my legs are wasted. I shuffle to the women’s locker room. I can’t stand anymore, but I know if I sit, I’ll never get back up. At least, not for another hour.

I prop myself up on my open locker. My hands are shaking, too. My fingertips are blue, my skin receding from chawed-down fingernails.

“You don’t look good.” Shell, one of my training partners, spooks me from behind. Her blonde hair is half-brown with sweat. “You can’t afford to train this hard, Coach. You won’t have anything left for the race.”
 

Black Leopard, Red Wolf (The Dark Star Trilogy) by Marlon James

Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a hunter: "He has a nose," people say. Engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three years earlier, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group that comes together to search for the boy. The band is a hodgepodge, full of unusual characters with secrets of their own, including a shape-shifting man-animal known as Leopard.

As Tracker follows the boy's scent--from one ancient city to another; into dense forests and across deep rivers--he and the band are set upon by creatures intent on destroying them. As he struggles to survive, Tracker starts to wonder: Who, really, is this boy? Why has he been missing for so long? Why do so many people want to keep Tracker from finding him? And perhaps the most important questions of all: Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?

Drawing from African history and mythology and his own rich imagination, Marlon James has written a novel unlike anything that's come before it: a saga of breathtaking adventure that's also an ambitious, involving read. Defying categorization and full of unforgettable characters, Black Leopard, Red Wolf is both surprising and profound as it explores the fundamentals of truth, the limits of power, and our need to understand them both.

It's the end of the world! We’re all gonna die. Load up on reading material, and enjoy the journey. What are my top 5 favorite apocalyptic books? Find out in this video! Definitely not an attempt to promote my own novel: WEAR CHAINMAIL TO THE APOCALYPSE.

A few weeks ago, I attended Origins Game Fair with three of my closest friends. (Full disclosure: All of us are fairly experienced DMs. Thus, we have a lot of opinions on Dungeons & Dragons. I consider myself a writer—first and foremost—and view any DMing as an extension of my desire to scratch that storytelling itch. But that’s a blog post for another time.) During our week at Origins, I played six sessions of D&D. The first night, Amy Lynn Dzura ran an adventure for us, which she had written. It was our best game experience of the week, by a long mile. Amy was great. The other DMs were all experienced and talented, and they each brought a different approach. But the experience wasn’t quite the same. Why?

Setting the Expectation

Amy did something the other DMs did not do. She started by saying (paraphrasing here), “I’m really looking forward to running this game. This is going to be fun.”

It’s amazing how this simple statement can improve the D&D experience. Let the players know that you’re happy to run this game and that you think it’s going to be great. I’m sure some of the other DMs were thinking this, but they never verbalized those expectations. Tell your players that you’re looking forward to the game. This statement requires little effort on your part, and it makes the biggest impact.

From some of the other DMs, I got explanations about how tired they were; I got reports about other events they were looking forward to; and worst of all, enthusiasm at the possibility of wrapping up the game early. What does it communicate to a player when you essentially tell them, “I can’t wait for this to be over?”

If you play a lot of D&D, maybe you’ve gotten jaded or bored? Another dungeon. Another dragon. Another group of players I will soon forget. In other words, I’m just here for the free badge and hotel room. While you might have run the same adventure over and over again, presumably, it’s new for the people at your table—and they are hoping for something amazing.

We need to reclaim that sense of wonder around a shared storytelling experience.

In many ways, Dungeons & Dragons is a flawed game. Rules upon rules that are constantly changing, encounters that are impossible to balance effectively, a logistical nightmare with seven people crowded around a tiny table in a noisy convention center . . . it’s a mess. However, D&D does ONE THING very well. It creates a shared imaginary moment—a perilous cathartic adventure that we must survive together. And when everyone is on board for the ride, it is one hell of an experience. But the game will inevitably fall flat if the DM looks like they don’t want to be there.

Practice this statement: “I’m really looking forward to running this game. This is going to be fun.” It’s your way of removing distractions, being in the moment, and creating a space where the people in front of you matter.

The DM is Not the Sole Arbiter of Fun

All this being said, it’s important to note that the DM is not the Professional Entertainer who operates merely for the amusement of the players. “Entertain me, Dungeon Master! Make this experience special, dammit!” I've sat next to players who made certain games sing. Engaged players can make the game fun, even with a lazy unmotivated DM. In fact, I’ve seen active players who are able to shake DMs out of their routine.

It’s important for everyone to take ownership of the experience. But the DM is going to set the tone. For DMs who have run this game year after year, we need to rediscover that enthusiasm, which first brought us to the table. Players may never know you’re having an “off day,” especially when you don’t tell them you’re having an off day.

Being Present

The game works, despite itself, because relationships are so vital to the experience. As a DM, you are letting people know that for the next few hours they will be heard and valued. That’s powerful. Even if you aren’t a celebrity all-star DM, even if you aren’t great at voice acting, even if you don’t know all the rules, even if you aren’t a masterful tactician, even if you don’t own thousands of dollars worth of terrain and miniatures, you can make a huge impact just by being present with your players.

Good news! I’m only $275 away from my 2019 goal for Extra-Life, an amazing organization that supports children’s hospitals.

If you like what I do, consider donating $10 to my fundraising page. You will receive a special “sneak peak” beta-version of the low magic fantasy campaign I’m developing. It’s my way of saying “thank you.”