All around hoopy frood Todd Wheeler has come up with an interesting concept, the Writer RPG, complete with skill levels and experience points.
Now, I do have a disagreement with some points (if you're writing, you're a writer, do you need external validation? Neo-pro and Pro have definitions that aren't related to word count, etc) but over all I think it's a fun idea. Of course, I'm on the look out for Bracers AC0 against Editorial Rejection, and I think he also needs to develop a Saving Throw table (roll d20 against your Wit to stave off a relative who thinks you're engaging in "Mental Masturbation"). There also needs to be magical items, a +3 Word Processor Spell Checker for instance (it can tell you the word your really meant to put there, not just spell check the homophone you typed). Or maybe a Magical Scroll Contract with +5 Exposure and full resale rights. There could also be Cursed Items, such a Publish America Iron-Clad Contract, -5 on Querying Agents and Publishers.
Ha ha, yes, my vorpal sword does snicker and snack, thank you very much.
He's also looking for a good name for it. The title of this post is my suggestion. What's yours?
5 comments:
Not being much of a gamer, I would find this idea more useful as a way to keep track of my progress as a writer and use the points to compare myself to others.
Actually, I see it being sort of mentioned in passing in writer circles. "Oh, I got a few more hundred points this week when I sold to Analog." Instead of a few thousand words.
Reminds me of when I was a kid, we used to refer to pedestrians as point value targets. "Old lady that's a hundred points."
Old Lady, and we take the groceries, 300 points. Double bonus if her dog passes over the car without touching the roof.
Hmm, wouldn't know that game at all. :)
Thanks for the mention Steve!
I'm going with 'Call of Chaucer'.
Yeah, the status levels are more fun than descriptive. Although, I think I calculated neo-pro at about what would be achieved by 5K word story written and accepted.
Todd, no worries. I think it's a cool idea. You might also, say, want to share that excel macro, you know, for us techno geek wannabees.
This is a fun idea. I commented a bit on Todd's blog with some random thoughts on it...
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