Building for Longevity, Not Virality
The Manifesto 🌓 4 April 2025
The first quarter moon asks us to notice where we're headed and whether our roots can actually support that direction. That's what I've been sitting with this week. Long-term vision, sustainability, and what it means to build something that lasts without burning out the person doing the building.
There are so many things I want to write about in depth. I want to talk about how this year's changes reflect a deeper shift in focus. I'm building for longevity, not virality. Every decision, from formatting updates to the quieter release rhythm, is about creating something that can endure. Not a business that spikes and fades, but one that's still standing a year from now, five years from now, ten years from now.
I want to write about the email Meredith Placko, CEO of Steve Jackson Games, sent out about how trade war tariffs will affect their business and the board game industry. It was thoughtful and clear. These tariffs won't affect Lightspress directly, but the ripple effects will still be felt. When bigger companies adjust, it shifts things for all of us.
I want to explore what's selling well, what isn't, and how that's reshaping my publishing priorities. Some things are moving forward, some are on hold, and some may quietly disappear. Guillotine Protocol is still in motion. A Lantern in the Ivy, the cozy fantasy roleplaying game, is deep in development. The Order of the Magpie's long-term plans continue to evolve. I want to tell you more about each of them.
But the truth is, I can't write all of that right now. I'm tired. Not fully burned out, but too close for comfort. I know what happens when I reach this stage and try to push through. I get sick, I make dumb mistakes, and it's harder to keep my naturally brusque, curmudgeonly energy softened by this quiet little moonlit glow. So I'm stepping back, just a little, to rest and return with a clearer head.
This newsletter is short. But it still counts. I'll be back soon with more. More insight, more clarity, and more of the work I'm proud to share with you.
Take care of yourself. Rest when you need to. The work will still be here. We'll carry it forward, together.
I hope you’re doing well today.
Berin
