My Personal Project: A Book for GMs on How to Improvise

I have been working on a manuscript for a book that is a guide for GMs to learn how to improvise game sessions. I do not want to go into all of the details, but I want this to be a quick and easy guide that offers both general advice as well as formulas, tactics, and tips which can be applied immediately to any improvised game session.

What makes me think that I am qualified to write such a text? I have been running completely improvised game sessions using various game systems for years now. Seriously, if you see me at a convention and ask me to GM an RPG for you if I have the time I will. At Gen Con for the last two years I ran one improvised event each day, and each event was a success.

I have given a seminar at Gen Con called “Improvising: The GM’s Backup Plan!” for three years now that has always drawn a full audience, and I put my money where my mouth is by giving that seminar on the fly (here is an audio recording of the 2010 seminar). This year I am taking a break from all but one Gen Con seminar, but this seminar will return in 2012.

I have also written a few articles on improvising for GMs over at Gnome Stew:

• How to start an improvised game with a kickoff event.
• Focus on transition events when improvising.
• How to prepare for the improvised game.

A short book feels well within my grasp. I have the passion needed in order to write a book on the subject, and I have the experience. More importantly, I have a network of experienced people to call upon for feedback and input to ensure a high quality product.

This book will be ten chapters approximately, and the first two have been written. Once the manuscript is completed the hard work will begin, and luckily I have friends who have already sailed those murky waters that I can turn to for help. I will not be providing anymore details regarding the publishing of the book until proper arrangements are made and confirmed.

So why mention this project here? It frees me up to talk about any progress that I make on the manuscript, and it also holds me to the fire. Once you say that you are going to do something to the entire world you will look foolish if you do not see it through, and I want to see this through to the very end.

What do others think of this project? Leave a comment below and let everyone know how you feel.