by Writing Barn Intern Hannah Roark
Writing Barn Intern Hannah Roark explains that Dungeons & Dragons is a potent source of creative inspiration and a potential remedy for writer’s block.
As a life-long writer, the struggle of writer’s block is deeply familiar to me. We all know the only way out is through, but sometimes it’s impossible to stare at that blank page for another second. What do you do then?
Recently, I realized that there are other ways to work through writer’s block without having to watch my cursor blink on yet another empty document. Having recently regained its cult following, Dungeons & Dragons has given me an amazing outlet for my creative blockage.
As a role-playing adventure, the gameplay allows for collaboration in building a diverse, exciting world full of magic and adventure. What I love most about the storytelling of D&D is that it keeps you from getting too into your head. Unlike more formal writing, there is no expectation control the flow of the story as a whole. Instead, as a player, all you have to do is decide what your character would do in each situation. It’s much like improv in that it forces you into more spontaneous creativity.
Of course, if you’re more ambitious, maybe you’d be interested in taking up the mantle of Dungeon Master, or DM. As DM, you take on the role of all the story’s non-playable characters and keep the story moving. While you don’t have to write an entire adventure from scratch, it’s a really fun way to practice writing. Otherwise, pre-written adventures are easy to find, and you can still make them your own with creative wording and characterizations.
Whether you choose to be a player or a DM, I recommend giving this classic table-top roleplaying game a chance. There are plenty of ways to play online (Editor’s Note: Check out #3 on our Holiday Gift Guide for more story-based gaming!), and it’s a great way to connect with friends while staying socially distanced. If you want to learn more, check out the official website. It’s simple to start and even if you aren’t a writer, it’s still fun to play with friends!
About Hannah Roark:
Hannah Roark is a senior at Southwestern University studying English and Sociology. Growing up all over central Texas, books were her best friend growing up and she has loved writing since she started creating stories for her Barbies to act out at the age of five. Now she spends her days trying to read and write while also cuddling her cat, playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, and panicking about grad school applications.