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Writer Q & A -- Luke Johnson

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:29 am
by Luke Johnson
Yo!

While ordinarily a thread like this would seem narcissistic, rest assured that I do it only to fit in with my fellow writers. Thus, it is still psychologically unhealthy, just in a different way.

I've written some stuff for Goodman Games:

DCC #19: The Volcano Caves.
DCC #42: Secret of the Stonearm.
The secret, unnumbered DCC "The Deep Ruin" in Knights of the Dinner Table #117.

I contributed to DCC #48: Palace in the Wastes.

I've written all the (current) Wicked Fantasy Factory adventures: Temple of Blood, Rumble in the Wizard's Tower, and Against the Iron Giant.

I've also written adventures for other companies, including Dungeon magazine, the World of Warcraft RPG books, the World of Darkness (though they call adventures "stories"), and the little-remembered DireKobold.com.

I've written other stuff, too; for example, my work appears in WotC's Player's Handbook II and in Monte Cook's World of Darkness.

I have a website if you want to look at pictures of my handsome face! http://www.lukejohnson.com/index.html

Ensuing conversation may now commence.

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 11:34 am
by ynnen
Hey Luke - has there been a particular project you credit with being your "breakthrough" into the industry? You've got a long and lengthy list of writing credits to your name...

I'd be keen to know when you felt you had gone from a dabbler or aspiring writer to the genuine article and felt "Gosh, I can do this for real!"

Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:00 pm
by Luke Johnson
When I ascended to "developer" (read: lead designer or editor-in-chief) of the Warcraft RPG line, I thought, "y'know, maybe I can quit my day job." And I did. Then I got a part-time job. But it's still a move in the right direction!

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:20 am
by Harley Stroh
Luke Johnson wrote:And I did. Then I got a part-time job. But it's still a move in the right direction!
*laugh* Amen, brother. Is the part time job the stand up work?

//H

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:37 am
by Mike_Ferguson
How much do the adventures that you write evolve, going from your initial concept to your final draft? Obviously, the basic concept from the approved pitch stays the same - but do you find yourself adding in new stuff and taking things in different directions as you write and playtest, or do things remain pretty true to what you originally imagined?

My own earlier stuff tended to change significantly between "original concept" and "final draft" ... it's only with my more recent work that the changes between the two have been fairly minimal. And considering how much easier the recent stuff has been for me to write, I think it's a better approach - for me.

But I'm wondering if other writers have had a similar experience, or approach things differently.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 9:55 am
by Luke Johnson
*laugh* Amen, brother. Is the part time job the stand up work?
Well, yes, but my primary part-time job is presenting star shows at the local planetarium. "That's the Big Dipper. That's the Little Dipper. That's the Crusades." etc.
How much do the adventures that you write evolve, going from your initial concept to your final draft?
I think they stay pretty much the same. Except on those odd times when I try to pass off an adventure I wrote 10 years ago as something that's actually publishable; those I need to change.

Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 3:42 pm
by Harley Stroh
Mike_Ferguson wrote:My own earlier stuff tended to change significantly between "original concept" and "final draft" ... it's only with my more recent work that the changes between the two have been fairly minimal. And considering how much easier the recent stuff has been for me to write, I think it's a better approach - for me.

But I'm wondering if other writers have had a similar experience, or approach things differently.
Would you be willing to post some before and after maps and explain what changed and why?

//H