ABSTRACT
"That wasn't really what I took away from the game. It is emotionally painful for me to make a mistake. I know why, I know the psychological damage that led to it, but that's not helpful in handling it. It means I over-think the simplest things. Most people learn to play as children. I did not. Play was a luxury I didn't get to indulge in. Now, as an adult, I do, but it's hard. It feels childish and wasteful. I also worry that I'm not doing it right. Drowning an NPC just because sounds awful, and yet. It was playful, and silly, and oh did I pay for it, and oh did we laugh. Colleagues I respected and liked were laughing with me, enjoying the silliness. It was cathartic and wonderful, and one of the highlights of my life."
From growing up in the conservative Christian right to finding her way as an author and editor, this piece explores the use of gaming and geek culture in life, creative direction, and work. It draws on the Hero's Journey, the unique challenges of being a woman in a predominantly male subculture, and the trials and victories of being a writer
