The ongoing sequence of how stories develop and change during narrative roleplaying is called the narrative cycle. The method was created based on how stories have been told, in multiple forms, including oral traditions, written fiction, on stage, and on the screen, for millennia.

The current reality is that I can work on one thing, or one type of thing, at a time. That’s not bad, it’s just different.

Narrative play is a form of collaborative storytelling where the participants portray fictional characters. Like most stories in other media, such as books and films, it begins with an unstable situation shaped by pressure, consequences, and human interaction. Narrative roleplaying focuses on the characters’ perspectives, their decisions, the evolving relationships between them, and the ways their actions reshape the story through a constant cycle of consequences and change.

Patreon: early-access narrative roleplaying downloads, and the archive for a monthly fee

Substack: the central body of work, with articles and paid content

Website: archive, articles, and storefront

Most people learn the ins and outs of narrative roleplaying the way they increase their knowledge of literature, film, music, painting, or any other creative practice: through exposure to it, observation about what’s happening in this medium, reflection on what things mean, and active participation in the form.