Preview for my Upcoming Horror in Games Class

Hello! I’ve published my first booksofm.com newsletter using Substack. As I mentioned in that post, I wanted to try something different and more personal. This week’s theme is a little treat–a writing exercise I’m discussing in my upcoming “Horror in Gaming” class.

Check out my very first booksofm.com newsletter on Substack!

Take My Horror in Games Class!

Popping in to share a brief message. I’ve got a fun class coming up!

Class: Horror in Games

Class Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020, 9:30-11:30 AM Pacific Time.

In gaming, the answer to “Is horror a mood or a genre?” is “YES!” In this workshop, gaming veteran Monica Valentinelli addresses how to include horror in your non-horror games, how to write horror game material without leaning on problematic tropes, and how safety tools can enhance your horror game’s experience. You’ll also learn a few off-page techniques that help facilitate that feeling of dread from start to finish.

Classes are taught online and require a reliable Internet connection, although in the past participants have logged on from coffee shops, cafes, and even an airplane; a webcam is suggested but not required.

This class will have downloadable slides. It will be appropriate for game writers and for DMs, too! Scholarships are available.

To sign up, visit: Horror in Games at the Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers. You will be signing up for the class with our fearless administer Cat Rambo!

A Listicle for COVID-19/Flu Supply Planning

Heya,

I threw this list together for a friend of mine. We were talking about a reasonable plan to stock up in anticipation of shipping disruptions and price jacking. Hope this helps!

Here’s what I used when I got sick:

    1. Menthol/Vicks Vapor Rub: Opens the chest and allows the bronchial tubes to breathe. It’s an external application, which really helps.
    2. Diffuser: COVID-19 dries you out. Hot water on the stove can, too, but I would add bath crystals or a homemade oil. You do have to be careful because there’s some oils that will harm your pets. I’d do a little research just to make sure.
    3. Cough drops (variety): The best ones I used were Cepacol, but you do have to limit how many you have per day.
    4. Supplements: Zinc tablets, Vitamin D, and a good multivitamin
    5. Gatorade and/or Pedialyte: COVID-19 dehydrates the eff out of you, and you’ll need to drink water constantly. Having Gatorade/Pedialyte, even if it’s low sugar, will give you more mileage out of your fluids.
    6. Bland prepared food: Canned chicken soup and saltines are a good option, but you might get sick of it. Some frozen foods would be good here, too. I’d stay away from spicy, but YMMV.
    7. Painkillers/Fever Reducers: Definitely check your supply of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin.
    8. Digital Thermometer: Always a good idea. There’s some you can get that have extra covers, too. I did see a pulse oximeter on the prep list as well, and we just got ours.
    9. Handkerchiefs: They’re reusable, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly.
    10. Laundry/Dish Detergent: Washing towels/sheets/dishes/hankies in hot water is essential. I absolutely recommend making sure you have extra detergent on hand.
    11. Cold Medicine/Prescription meds: Goes without saying, but adding it to the list for due diligence.
    12. Compression sleeves/socks: If it’s cold enough and you can stand it, they’ll help with your circulation.
    13. Hand sanitizer/Lysol wipes: Tons of places are running low or are completely out; I’d keep an eye on this. If you haven’t tried your local office supply store, do check them out. In place of this, you can convert makeup/baby wipes or make your own. I’d strongly recommend getting decent paper towel if you do; otherwise they fall apart.
    14. Reusable ice packs: Really good if you have a fever.
    15. Brain turn-y/off-y entertainment: It SUCKS getting sick and self-care can be really hard. If you have movies/TV shows you’d like to watch on repeat, I’d absolutely make sure you have those accessible. It’s hard to go looking for things when you’re not feeling well.

Now Available! Coffee Mugs at Raven and Toad Studio

Raven and Toad Studio | An Etsy Store

Hiya! Wanted to give you a quick update that I’ve added some fun, colorful coffee mugs and tumblers to Raven and Toad Studio. The designs are 8-bit and were inspired by my beadweaving patterns. There’ll be more of those soon enough!

Here’s one of the mugs. It’s called “Boos and Hexes” and is filled with spooky ghosts, pumpkins, a bubbling cauldron, and a witch’s broom. Yay!

Boos and Hexes Coffee Mug | Raven and Toad Studios

I’m updating the store weekly, so if beads and 8-bit fun are your jam, do me a favor and heart the shop? Thank you so much!

Post Clarion Write-A-Thon Update!

Hiya!

I am so pleased to mention there were 550+ authors participating in the Clarion Write-A-Thon, and together we raised over $22,000! Thank you so much for sponsoring me and for helping fund this workshop! The Clarion Write-A-Thon is over, but the workshop offers donations year-round. I encourage you to support Clarion West!

My goal was six Italian fairy tale retellings and I was able to write four on top of regular freelancing. I had a great time with the workshop; I managed to revisit my productivity style and goals. What I’ve learned is that I need to go back to word count as my primary metric. I was going by project, but that doesn’t work for me anymore. Sometimes, I’ll write a small thing and call it a day if I have revisions to do, too–and right now I’m focused on productivity. I can’t sleep my way through this pandemic, because I can’t afford to. Instead, I’m going to focus on raw word count on top of whatever revisions I’m going through during the day, too.

Part of my challenge has been: “How do I keep up with blogging and writing?” I don’t know the answer to this right now, but I’ve set a goal of two posts per week–including this one.

I’m dealing with a lot of unknowns right now. The only certainty is my To Do list and whatever form that takes. I have decided to complete the Italian fairy tale retelling project on my own schedule and did add that to the list. So, on to the next To Do!

Other Clarion Write-A-Thon Posts

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Looking for Monica’s books and games that are still in print? Visit Monica Valentinelli on Amazon’s Author Central or a bookstore near you.

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