When it comes to the extremely niche market of the role player, popularity is a moving target. Unlike the wide open fiction market, you don’t become popular by overnight success. This is the turtle vs. turtle, book by book slow saturation of the market that makes you popular. You become known by knowing, by becoming approachable, and by maintaining the appearance of reliability. Instead of being the high flying super author known for creating movie adaptations and wallowing in your own personal version of the Hank Moody life, you are a friend to people who write good stuff. You go out for a beer at the Rula Bula and maybe watch the game at someone’s house.
The fact is I’ve looked at success all wrong for a long time. It isn’t about how many books you sell or how many total strangers know your name. I started writing because I wanted to tell stories that made my friends feel something. Now I feel that is the only sort of popularity worthwhile.
Some Thoughts:
- Waiver Wednesday is likely to be a Madden edition as I unboxed the 25th anniversary edition of the popular game today. Yeah, it is dope again.
- Early shout to my buddy and fellow writer Alex A. He’s going to hit 40 two years before I do.
- My youngest recently asked me if I’d still sit and play games with him when he turns 63. I lied and said yes, but I knew that I would already be dead by then. It is a terrible feeling to know that you won’t always be there for your kids when they need you. At the same time it is somewhat of an inspiration, because it forces me to be healthy for as long as my body is willing to hold out. They deserve at least that from me.