Creativity in Motion: Reflection, Reviews, and What’s Next
The Manifesto 🌕 14 March 2025
Why I Stopped Caring About Ratings
At the time of this writing, I have a 4.7 out of 5 publisher rating on DriveThruRPG. It looks impressive, but does it actually mean anything? I’ve let that number shape my decisions, even when I know it shouldn’t. I’ve kept books in print that I don’t believe in anymore because they’re highly rated. I’ve hesitated to create something different because I assume the things people rated highly are all they want.
And yet, I don’t even trust those ratings. Most of them are just numbers with no written review for context. A three-star review could mean fine but forgettable or deeply flawed. A one-star review might be a valid complaint or someone lashing out. A five-star review could mean this changed my life or I just like to be nice. Without explanation, the numbers are meaningless, but they still carry weight.
We’ve all seen absurd reviews. A book arrives with a bent cover, two stars, as if that has anything to do with the content. A product takes an extra day to ship, one star, as if the book itself caused the delay. Then there’s the ideological backlash, where something gets trashed for daring to exist. Look at any Star Wars or Marvel project from the past decade that features women, people of color, or queer characters in prominent roles, and you’ll see what that looks like.
In my circles, we call this phenomenon the Bag of Oranges. The name comes from the genre of review where someone bought a product labeled, described, and presented as one thing, say, a crate of apples, then left a one-star review because they were somehow expecting something that wasn’t promised, like oranges. The title was clear. The description was clear. Everything told them exactly what it was. But they wanted something else and were angry that it wasn’t what they imagined. The Bag of Oranges is a metaphor for every review where someone ignores what was clearly stated and then complains that the product wasn’t something else. You can’t control it. You can’t fix it. All you can do is ignore it.
But what about valid criticism? That’s where things get complicated. In theory, when a book is released, it’s finished. In practice, digital books make it easy to tweak files, correct errors, and release new editions. A typo that affects meaning should be fixed. A contradiction or missing explanation is worth addressing. A disagreement over design choices isn’t a flaw, it’s perspective.
I once wrote a game where, if you had an infinitesimally small chance of success and somehow pulled it off, you got the best possible result. I thought it was funny, dramatic, and cinematic. We loved it at our table. One person thought it was broken, that characters who were bad at something should always fail. They gave it one star because it wasn’t what they wanted it to be.
A bag of oranges.
With digital books, making changes is easy. But we’re moving back into print, and that changes things. There’s no quick update, no patch, no easy revision. A print book needs to be right the first time because once it’s out in the world, it stays that way.
I can’t let ratings or expectations hold me back anymore. I’m not here to chase five-star reviews. I’m here to create the work I believe in, in the way I believe in, for the people who understand what I’m trying to accomplish.
A Moment to Reflect on Creativity
The full moon shines brightest, illuminating what we’ve created and where the journey has taken us so far. It’s a moment of clarity, when we can step back and see the work we’ve done, not just the rough beginnings of the first quarter moon, but the shape that’s starting to emerge, the promise taking form.
This phase of the creative process is one of discovery. The act of creating often reveals surprises, ideas we hadn’t planned for but can’t imagine leaving behind. The full moon invites us to pause and honor these moments, the unexpected connections, the breakthroughs, the places where the work has started to speak for itself.
It’s also a time to celebrate progress, even if the vision isn’t complete. Creation is rarely straightforward, and perfection is a moving target. But the work we’ve done so far matters, even if it feels incomplete. It’s easy to fixate on what isn’t working or what remains unfinished, but the full moon reminds us to recognize the beauty in the process itself, to find joy in the act of creating.
For me, this phase often brings a mix of pride and humility. Pride in what has taken shape, but humility in knowing there’s still more to do. The full moon lights up both the triumphs and the challenges, and in that light, I can see the choices ahead more clearly. Do I refine what’s already there? Explore a new direction? Or simply sit with the work as it is, letting it breathe?
For you, this may be a time to look at what you’ve created, whether it’s a story, a project, or even an idea, and ask: What is this becoming? What has surprised you along the way? And what might it need next? Creation is a dialogue, not just with the work itself but with the world around it, and the full moon is a perfect moment to listen.
This phase is also a reminder to share. The full moon doesn’t hide in shadows; it offers its light freely. In the same way, the creative process is at its richest when it’s shared, whether that’s showing your work to others, seeking feedback, or simply allowing someone else’s perspective to inspire you. Creation thrives on connection, and the full moon invites us to reach outward, to let the work we’ve nurtured be seen.
So let’s honor this moment. Let’s celebrate what we’ve built, even as we acknowledge what’s left to do. Let’s embrace the light of the full moon, not as a finish line, but as a milestone. The creative process is ongoing, a cycle of growth, refinement, and discovery.
What will you do with this light? How will it guide your next steps? The answers don’t have to come all at once. For now, let’s simply let the moon shine and see what it reveals.
I hope you’re doing well today.
Berin
Between Phases
Some weeks are for releasing new work into the world. Others are for pausing, for sitting with what’s already in motion, for giving the creative process the space it needs to breathe. This is one of those weeks. There are no new releases right now, not because nothing is happening, but because this moment calls for stillness before the next phase begins.
The work continues, taking shape in ways that can’t be rushed. The next releases are already on the horizon, each in its own stage of completion. Random Adventures Volume I: Shadows and Pursuits is nearly ready to step into the light, offering new ways to explore the unknown. Journaling Theory: A System-Agnostic Sourcebook is waiting to be shared, a reflection on storytelling through personal records and private worlds. And then there’s the successor to DoubleZero, which is ready but waiting for the final legal clearance before its name can be revealed.
There’s a time for momentum and a time for patience. This week is the latter. The full moon reminds us to honor where we are, to look at what’s already been created, and to trust that the next steps will come when the time is right.
Did You Know?
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Thank You
Thank you for standing with us as we push forward. With each step, your support fuels our efforts, helping us overcome challenges and stay on course. Together, we’re building something unique, bringing ideas to life with resilience and determination. We appreciate every bit of your support.
This week’s discount code is ORANGES. Use it to enjoy 20% off your orders at the Lightspress shop until the next issue of the newsletter come out.
Our next issue will be released on the day of the next first quarter moon. See you then, and as always, I hope you’re doing well today.
The Manifesto is the official source for news on upcoming releases, articles and opinions, and assorted ramblings on our games and our philosophy of roleplaying. New issues are released four times a month, on the new moon, first quarter moon, full moon, and last quarter moon, with special quarterly issues for each equinox and solstice. Stay connected and subscribe to The Manifesto now!
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