The Importance of A Writing Critique

Last night I was expecting some hard love on the chapter of Ark I submitted to my Writer's Circle (pictured here).  After all these years, I still get a bit anxious ahead of receiving feedback from my peers on what I've written, whether it's fiction or RPG. And yet I keep being part of one, because of course, not doing it would be far worse.

Bruce, Torah, Sarah, Peter

Why? Several reasons. Here are a few.

Critiques force at least one more revision. Of course, I'm always doing a little polishing, but there's always one more chance to get a chapter or piece in shape right before you send it off for your critiquers to apply their hairy eyeballs. You'll still end up doing a second draft later on (if you're writing a larger piece). But this doesn't hurt.

Critiques grant you a wider perspective. I try to encompass the perspective of my characters, but in the end, I'm just one person. What my characters think—and how I portray their internal thoughts—is probably a bit narrow by definition. Having other people bring their perspective allows you to open up details or smooth over tripping points that I just figured was common knowledge or that I read past without 

Critiques provide accountability. I'm always looking for mechanisms that encourage me to keep to my deadlines (e.g. the recent creation of my Patreon!). A writing group can provide another impetus to keep moving forward. Because, let's face it, it's awkward if you've gone five months without writing anything and there's nothing to critique. In a group, there's subtle pressure—friendly, one hopes—to get back to your keyboard and write.

Oh, and what about the group's reaction to that chapter? Well, dear readers, they had their issues, but of course, these are all issues I am now going to fix, and make the chapter better.

A Long, Strange Trip to Myth of the Maker

I started writing the novel Myth of the Maker a long time ago. It's been at least 4 years of actual writing, slow though that writing was, beginning in 2013. But the initial, flailing stages of conception probably go even further back. Maybe even to right around the time I decided to walk away from the third book in the Sword of the Gods series after the publisher decided to print the second in the series (Spinner of Lies) in e-book only, which wasn't part of my contract. ("Walk away" means I asked the publisher for a stay on writing the third book in my contract, and they agreed.)

Don't get me wrong; what happened wasn't personal. The same thing happened to most of the Forgotten Realms novels coming out at the time (unless your name rhymed with "are aye suave-a-boar*"). It was a business decision. I remain grateful and honored to have been part of the author bullpen writing books set in FR during that period. I wouldn't do anything different if I had it to do over.

But we can't get around the fact that publishing almost every novel previously slated for print as e-book-only effectively put paid to the Forgotten Realms novel line as it existed at that time, and signaled and end to my nine-book career as an FR author.

So I started working on something different, thanks in part to encouragement from editor and writer Torah Cottrill. I decided to write a science fiction novel. But well before finishing, the ideas underlying it spawned a game line called The Strange that Monte Cook and I co-wrote. Maybe you've heard of it? (If not, check out the video here.)

And now, at long last, Myth of the Maker is finished!

In a universe as vast as ours, with tens of billions of planets potentially supporting life, Enrico Fermi’s famous question—"Where is everyone?”—has never been more relevant. That’s what Katherine Manners learned when she discovered, in a secure server room, the melted form of an unknown man clutching a message of doom from another world. 

A world, it turns out, in orbit of our own. Hidden in the dark recesses of a nether dimension called The Strange. A dimension that hosts countless other micro-worlds, many copies—or recursions—of Earth itself. 

Worlds home to beings sometimes jealous of our own. Worlds filled with dangers and riches, mysteries—and answers. 

But the opening of these worlds also draws the attention of creatures capable of devouring the Earth. Creatures that may have been the doom of every civilization that advanced enough to discover The Strange. Creatures that hunger—and now know we exist.

I read an excerpt of the first chapter of the novel here. Get prepared to be AMAZED at my reading-in-front-of-the-camera abilities ;).

You can read an excerpt of the novel here. I believe it's the entire first chapter!

Amazon
http://amzn.to/2n7H4Uw

Angry Robot (the publisher)
http://www.angryrobotbooks.com/shop/sf/the-strange-myth-of-the-maker/
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-strange-myth-of-the-maker-bruce-r-cordell/1125686165

Powell's Books
http://www.powells.com/book/myth-of-the-maker-9780857666505/62-0

Deluxe hardcover pre-order at MCG
https://www.montecookgames.com/myth-of-the-maker/

*No disrespect intended to Bob Salvatore, of course! He's a mensch. It was his first FR books first few FR books that helped crystalize the realization that maybe I could try to do the same one day.

Picking Names for your Novel Characters

I have a guest blog entry on Shadowhawk's Shade, a site dedicated to reading and enjoying fiction.

An excerpt:

The name Noddysnarg has no resonance with our past experience, while Jack does. Resonance is something that culture and your past reading give to specific names (as well as names that sound similar to other names or words we know). 

Thus I have to choose a character name with at least some resonance with my potential readers. Which is why Jack is better than Noddysnarg. (Or, if I were writing about goblins, everything I just said still applies, except Noddysnarg would be the better choice.)

When writing a fantasy or science fiction novel where real-world names aren’t used, it’s harder to come up with resonate names. When I face this problem, I deal with it by choosing names that at least sound similar to real names and words that have resonance. 

Take for instance Demascus [ . . .]

Read the whole thing here: http://bit.ly/12dY7RY

10 Simple Ways To Support An Author

I've been stuck lately trying to come up with ways to market my novels. In the absence of a traditional publisher's budget that does this sort of thing for select books, I'm sort of left to my own devices when it comes to promoting myself. Wizards of the Coast publishing relies on the strong brand name of the Forgotten Realms to sell its titles. This has worked well in the past, actually.

However you don't need me to tell you that things are changing in the world of publishing. People have less time to devote to novel reading, and more novels to choose from when they do decide to sit down with a book (or whatever ereader they've chosen).

This collusion of events troubles me as an author interested in continuing to practice his craft in the part-time fashion I currently enjoy. And the virtuous circle closes--this is why I'm interested in finding new ways to market my novels.

So along comes this great blog post by Jody Hedlund titled "10 Simple Ways to Support the Author You Love." In this post, Jody notes how you can do an author you love a big favor by, in addition to buying and reading the book, by taking your support one tiny step further.

An excerpt:

1. Write a book review and post it on Amazon. If you’ve ever ordered on Amazon then you’re eligible to post a review. It’s very simple to do and incredibly helpful (if it’s a good review!).

2. Copy and paste your review onto other online bookstores. There’s nothing wrong with copying your Amazon review and using it on other sites, like GoodReads, Shelfari, Barnes&Noble.com or CBD.com.

3. Click the “Like” button on a book’s Amazon page. (If you're not sure what this is, head over to The Preacher's Bride Amazon page and you'll find it near the top.)

4. Click on the “Tags People Associate With This Product” on Amazon. If you scroll down on The Preacher’s Bride Amazon page, you’ll see approximately 32 tags. The more tags and the more clicks, the better a book will come up in search results.

Read Jody's full article (and all 10 steps) here:

http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2011/05/10-simple-ways-to-support-authors-you.html

Book Reading

When an author gets a chance to read his or her book aloud to the public, it’s a wonderful yet frightening feeling.

It's wonderful because an author is always excited for opportunities to create greater awareness for his or her fabulous creations.

It's frightening because the author immediately begins to wonder if he or she is up to the task of "acting out" the parts of different characters in the selection. They wonder if they should just go for neutral voice, or if they should try to impart accent, attitude, and pitch changes between characters. If done correctly, doing the later really adds a lot of depth to the reading. If done poorly . . . well, who really wants to sit through a poorly executed southern accent the author thought might be just the thing for the villain? Maybe you do, but I don’t want to be the reader realizing I’ve entered fail-land.

I usually try for some sort of compromise in-between.

Tomorrow you'll have the opportunity to hear Richard Baker and Erin Evans read from their respective novels (Avenger and God Catcher) at the University Bookstore at 7 pm in Seattle (4326 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105). If you show up, as I plan to, you can find out where along the spectrum of acting and reading Rich and Erin decided to come down. I'm hoping acting!
As it turns out, I’ll also be giving a reading tomorrow from Key of Stars (Abolethic Sovereignty Book 3) at Wizards, but this one won’t be public until the recording is turned into a free audible file that will eventually be available for download on the Wizards web site. Once it’s up, you’ll learn how I decided to play the voices of a scribe, a wintry eladrin, and an archfey called the Lord of Bats.

If you’re very lucky (or unlucky), perhaps you’ll get to hear me trot out my southern accent when I read all the Lord of Bats’ parts.

Ebook wars

I love to read, and as I was recently surprised to find out, I love to read ebooks on my phone; the fit is just right. Which means, I love ebooks. As an author of a few novels, with hopefully many more on the horizon, I'm interested in seeing my novels come out in this format. However, all is not rosy in the world of ebook publishing.

It seems that Amazon, in its bid to sew up the industry, may be doing things that harm the author's ability to get paid a reasonable sum for writing (and an author's publisher, too). My being an author aside, this also means that in the medium- and long-term, these activities could impact the number and quality of books I get to read.

An excerpt from Charles Stross's recent blog on the topic:

Last Friday, Amazon.com unilaterally pulled most or all of Macmillan's books from their online store. (You can still find them via afilliates or second-hand stores, but Amazon themselves won't sell them to you. Note that this only affects me via my Merchant Princes books — published by Tor, a Macmillan subsidiary — in the US Amazon store. My Ace titles are safe ... for now.)

Read the entire blog here. Looks like I have another reason to hope Apple's bookstore gets off the ground!

-http://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2010/01/amazon-macmillan-an-outsiders.html

A Terrible Beauty

In order to provide just that much more visibility for A Terrible Beauty, an old bar under new management, I'm going to lift this post in its entirety from designer and author extraordinare, Jeff Grubb (I apologize for the impertinence, Jeff).

I don't write much about my writers' group, the Alliterates, except, of course, to brag about our recent triumphs. It is not that we are a secret society or anything, bent on world domination, but that we do enforce a polite zone of silence on our discussions. Let me lift the lid, however, on one thing about the group.

We are bar-killers. At least, the west coast team is. While the midwesterners have had a very good run at their local bar, we have gone through taverns at relatively quick rate. In one case, we have closed the same bar between four and six times (sometimes it would reopen with new owners but the same name).

The bar in question is located in downtown Renton,201 Williams Ave S. (here's the map for it under a previous name) and should by all intents and purposes be a hands-down success. The location is on the edge of where the town proper meets residential, there is ample parking, and it is situated on the haunches of the new urban townhouses that have been a part of "Rising Renton". The building is a former bank with a drive-in window and high ceilings and the original vault.

The structure had become the Cedar River Brewpub by the time our merry band first arrived, the old lobby dominated by silver tanks. With its demise, it was vacant, then replaced with The Giant's Causeway, its first Irish incarnation, which replaced the tanks with a beautiful bar supposed hauled over from the old country, keeping local and Dublin time. After that it was an Irish-lite pub called Finnegans (perhaps a couple incarnations of this) with a lot more flatscreens showing sports.

And now, in a quick turnaround where one of the former bartenders has bought the joint, it is now A Terrible Beauty.

The name itself comes from a favorite book belonging to the new owner Ireland: A Terrible Beauty, coupled with a chance remark from a friend. And it originally comes from a poem by Yeats, commemorating the 1916 Easter Dublin Uprising:

Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born.

(Add one more piece of fate as the color green belongs now to another uprising, half a world away from Ireland).

The bar itself is greatly improved in its latest incarnation. It has 75% fewer flatscreens, the old bar is still there, and they have resurrected some of the furnishings from its previous incarnations. Its back patio (outside the drive-in-window) has a pair of gas fireplaces (ours blew out - still a couple bugs in the system).

And the food is wonderful, most of the menu cooked from scratch, and ranges from traditional to experimental. Thick cubes of Camembert cheese deep-fried as an appetizer were delicious. I asked the waitress for a recommendation and ended up with "Death by Mac and Cheese", a five cheese and garlic dish that hit the spot perfectly on a cool Monday night.

Now here's the deal - we, the Alliterates, are not enough to keep this incarnation of our local public going on our own. We meet once a month, and face it, we're writers - that means at least one of us is between gigs at any time and therefore on salads and small beer. So it is up to the rest of the motley crew in the Renton area (including those at nearby, say, Wizards of the Coast) who are looking for an after-hours place to check it out.

"The Terrible" is not so terrible. In fact it's a beauty.

Slaves of the Red Goddess

My friend Wolfgang Baur has opened voting for his next round of Open Design. Wolf's RPG writing hearkens back to the patronage in Renaissance Italy when wealthy individuals would commission a single work from an artist and employ him until that work was finished. Yes, he's a modern-day Michelangelo, and he paints with your imagination.

He's previewed the set of Open Design candidates here, if you're interested in becoming one of his patrons and helping to choose which project he next tackles.

I notice that one of the candidates is one of those "The Truth is Stranger Than You Can Ever Know" pieces that I really enjoy :-).

Slaves of the Red Goddess (4E D&D): Bruce Cordell is writing a take on the “Kingdom of the Ghouls”, so it seems only fair that Open Design do a riff on the Far Realms. This 4E adventure features the cult of the Red Goddess, and attempt to summon Things from the Realms Beyond, and an assault on the goddess’s followers stronghold in the Grey Marshes. Adaptable to any campaign, it features a “points of light” approach, a dozen new monsters, and a set of ruthless arcane and divine villains. Possibly some emphasis on the Glass Books, Slave Wands, and other new magical items.

http://www.koboldquarterly.com/kqforums/viewtopic.php?t=229

Book Signing at PAX

I'll be at PAX, the Penny Arcane Expo, in Bellevue, WA this Saturday from 3-4 PM in the Wizards Booth (#1132). I'll be signing copies of Stardeep (#3 in the Dungeons quadrilogy). Of course, if you bring some other novel or D&D product, I'll sign that too. I'm there to sign, and by God I mean to sign something! ;-)

With me in the booth will be fellow authors Erik Scott De Bie (Depths of Madness, Dungeons #1) and Rosemary Jones (Crypt of the Moaning Diamond, Dungeons #4). We're missing only Howling Delve (Dungeons #2) author Jaleigh Johnson.

Come by and say hello if you're in the area!

Arthur C. Clarke

Charles Stross is the bearer of sad news: Arthur C. Clarke has died.

2001, both movie and book, as well as Rendezvous with Rama and the Fountains of Paradise are all books I recall quite fondly. I also particularly enjoyed 2010 (book and movie, too).

Peter Watts' Maelstrom

Ever since I read the spectacularly good Blindsight, I've been trying to get a copy Watts' earlier works, checking off and on at used book stores. The prices were always astronomical.

However, thanks to a gift certificate (and more reasonable prices), I've finally got the first three of Watts' books on the way, beginning with Maelstrom. I can't wait to read these.

Jade Tiger by Jenn Reese

I recently subscribed to a blog called SF Novelists. One of the contributors wrote a blog entry that really made me think. In summary, Ms. Reese would prefer if the way a character fights reveals a deeper insight into that character. Check out the actual blog post here, Pushing Your Punches.

Hey, what an interesting concept!

I decided to learn more about this author, and discovered that after joining up just five or so years ago, she has become a very serious practitioner of martial arts. And, using her new knowledge, she wrote a fiction book called Jade Tiger.

Well, this summary describes me, too (started martial arts about five years ago, and in that time have become more and more into it, and I have a fictional character who puts to use the martial arts I learn in reality).

So I couldn't resist buying Jade Tiger to see what the author did with her character. Here's my short and simple review: This book is a fast-paced, modern day pulp. If you want to be wowed by displays of martial art that supersede our own dull world, Shan Westfall is your heroine.

Stop Reading For No Spoilers
I identified with the male lead, an archaeologist, and probably would have been just as much "in worship" of Shan as he instantly was. Some might find the unfolding relationship these two enjoyed too destined, and too rushed. But I submit the whole book was that way—a rush—in the best sense of the word! It was of a piece with the narrative.

I actually quite appreciated that the story didn't explore finding each and every piece (5 total) of the missing artifacts Shane sought—after one such sideline to discover a piece called the Dragon, the characters relatively quickly find themselves in the conclave of the mad martial-artist-villain. Here we get to enjoy several sweet fights in fast succession, a consummation of the building romance, and a demonstration of the fully armed and operational Jade Circle, in the villain's hands.

I quite enjoyed this story and give it an enthusiastic thumbs up.

Realms of War Realms Anthology

If you haven't read about this on one of the other author blogs below, well, allow me to let you know that the Forgotten Realms story anthology Realms of War is now on sale. You'll find the following stories included:

"Continuum," Paul S. Kemp
"Weasel's Run," Lisa Smedman
"The Last Paladin of Ilmater," Susan J. Morris
"Black Arrow," Bruce R. Cordell
"Too Many Princes," Ed Greenwood
"The Siege of Zerith Hold," Jess Lebow
"Mercy's Reward," Mark Sehestedt
"Redemption," Elaine Cunningham
"Changing Tides," Mel Odom
"Chase the Dark, Jaleigh Johnson
"Bones and Stones," R.A. Salvatore
"Second Chance," Richard Lee Byers

Realms of War Teaser

Paul Kemp provides the opening scene for his story in Realms of War as a preview.

Realms of War is slated for release in on Jan 8th.

Following Paul's example, here is the opening piece for Black Arrow, my short story for Realms of War.

The letter dates to a conflict that occurred some 300 years before the current timeline in Faerûn, when the nation of Impiltur was reunited by Imphras the Great. My story is about what a young man named Jotharam Feor did in the city of Sarshel before this letter was written.

Sarshel, 11 Tarsakh, 1095 DR
Dear Madam Feor,

I have heard an account of the Last Battle for Sarshel’s Wall, and of the valor of Jotharam Feor in particular whose deeds proved instrumental in Sarshel’s victory.

I regret to inform you your son died bravely in the line of duty.

I know how devastating these brutal words must be that bear news of a loss so overwhelming. But know that I and reunited Impiltur itself thank you for your son’s precious service.

May Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater assuage the grief of your mourning, leaving only cherished memories of your son. May they grant you solemn dignity and peace in return for your costly sacrifice given unasked, a sacrifice that preserved Sarshel against its enemies, and which may yet conclude the Kingless Years.

Yours, sincerely and respectfully,

Imphras Heltharn

Google Seems Great!

I use google all the time, for all my searches, for my directions, for my reviews, for my email, and now, for my blog! It works, and I love it! Plus, we all know the famous Google catch phrase, "Do No Evil." Sort of a nice security blanket. And why not, Google has so far been awesome. Not only have they initiated the Google Lunar X-Prize, they've also thrown their hat into the alternative energy field. Go Google!

But what if some future incarnation of Google departed from that philosophy?

Perhaps you'd get something like this Cory Doctorow story, Scroogled. Take a read, it's a quick 4 pager, and brr, slightly chilling.

Improve Your Life By Reading

This sounds good at first blush:

The National Endowment for the Arts finds in a current report, To Read or Not To Read, that frequent readers are more likely to vote, participate in sports, visit museums and get high-paying jobs [...]

The problem is, the quote goes on to say:

[...]-- but that with cable TV and internet competition, the rate of "literary reading" (i.e., reading books out of interest and for personal pleasure, rather than because one must read them for school or work) is falling in all American age-groups.

Turns out that reading rates in America have dropped 10% in a little over two decades. Read the rather depressing report here. Let's hope that we've found a new bottom, and that it's not a trend that'll continue too much further.

Unless of course this report fails to take into account all the reading people do online. I wonder what the statics for voting, high paying jobs, and museum visits are for folks who spend an hour or so a day reading blogs, news sites, and writing there own?

Halting State by Charles Stross

I'm in the middle of reading Halting State. I had to laugh at the homage Stross paid himself when the protagonists were attacked by slaad in an online RPG. It wasn't really like a snake biting itself on the tail after 20 years of circling, but, you know, something like that.

But hey, if that doesn't make you smile, I bet this will:

Earthcore Minireview

I just finished listening to Scott Sigler's free audio novel Earthcore.

The fact that the book was free influenced me to try it, I have to admit. I listen to a lot of audio, and sometimes I need a diversion from the regular lineup. However, I ended up enjoying Earthcore so much that I donated $6.00, about the cost of a paperback. I think Scott ends up with 75% of that. Pretty good compared to my royalty percentage.

Anyhow, I recommend this book, probably give it 4 of 5 stars. I don't want to go into the plot, because I actually enjoy movies and audiobooks a little more if I know nothing about them when I begin; prevents my mind from spinning its own story. So, I knew nothing about Earthcore when I started listening. Well, there was a picture of a weird, crescent shaped knife on the download page.

Give it a listen, it's free!

(iTunes download here; I looked around a bit for somewhere else to download this from, but came up withing nothing. Sorry, time is short, I need to write the last 1,500 words of a novel of my own today!)

Should Writers Be Paid for Online Content?

This is how a striking Daily Show writer answers this question . . .

Design Credits / Bibliography

Cypher, Numenera, and The Strange

Cypher Character Rulebook, MCG 2026 (Cypher 2.0 is a beautiful new ruleset for all genres!) 

Come Hell or High Water, MCG 2026 (I wrote the adventure "Dr. Nathaniel's Traveling Marvelment")

Make Your Statement, MCG 2026 (I developed all these Magnus Archives adventures)

The Darkest Woods, MCG 2026 (cross-game system horror)

All Your Gods are Dead, MCG 2025 (Old Gods of Appalachia tie-in)

Gunslinger Knights, MCG 2025 (Arthurian Dark Tower)

The Mother of Storms, MCG (Gunslinger zine)

Neon Rain, MCG 2025 (cyberpunk)

High Noon at Midnight, MCG 2025 (weirdest west)

Wanted: Hexed or Alive (High Noon tie-in zine)

Midnight Deck (custom card deck!)

The Magnus Archives, MCG 2024 (RPG based directly on the podcast!) [UKGE 2025 Judges Award] [Techraptor Best Tabletop Game of the Year (4th)]

Adventures in the Cypher System, MCG 2024 (includes a new adventure for The Strange!)

Cypher System Bestiary, MCG 2024 (updated take on monster manual)

Rust and Redemption, MCG 2024 (post-apocalyptic genre book)

The Weird, MCG 2023 (thousands of ideas for any game) [UK Games Expo 2024 Best Accessory, Origins 2024 Nominee]

Planar Character Options CS, MCG 2023 (CS planar spells, subclasses, items, and more!)

"A Disturbance at Bridge House," MCG 2023 (new adventure & pregenerated characters added to FREE CS Rules Primer)

Path of the Planebreaker CS, MCG 2023 (CS planar sourcebook)

10 Years of Adventure, MCG 2022 (adventure compilation)

The Origin, MCG 2022 (Cypher System setting: conspiracy-horror meets superheroes!)

First Responders, MCG 2022 (Cypher System book on real-world disasters and heroes)

Break the Horizon, MCG 2022 (Numenera book on travel and vehicles)

Claim the Sky, MCG 2021 (Superheroes genre book)

Ptolus: City by the Spire, MCG 2020 (for CS and 5E)

Edge of the Sun, MCG 2021 (Numenera sourcebook of stellar importance)

Liminal Shore, MCG 2020 (Numenera sourcebook)
Voices of the Datasphere, MCG 2020 (Numenera sourcebook)
The Stars Are Fire, MCG 2019 (sci-fi genre, including a new setting: The Revel)
Cypher System Rulebook [revised], MCG 2009

Salvage Deck, MCG 219
Explorer's Keys, MCG 2019 (10 more instant adventures)
Numenera Ninth World Bestiary 3, MCG 2019
Teratology, MCG 2019 (a "monster manual" for Invisible Sun!)
Slaves of the Machine God, (a campaign super-adventure) MCG 2019 [ENnies 2019 Nominee]
Building Tomorrow, MCG 2018
Numenera Discovery & Destiny, MCG 2018 [Origins 2019 Nominee] [ENnies 2019 Nominee]
Numenera Discovery & Destiny Player's Guide, MCG 2018
Jade Colossus: Ruins of the Prior Worlds, MCG 2017
Ninth World Bestiary 2, MCG 2017 (160+ new creatures)
Expanded Worlds, MCG 2017 (new genres)
Into The Outside, MCG 2017 (Numenera alternate dimensions) +Review
Numenera Character Options 2, MCG 2016
Gods of the Fall, MCG 2016 [ENnies 2017 Nominee]
Into The Deep, MCG 2016 (Numenera in the sea)
Encyclopedia of Impossible Things, MCG 2016 [ENnies 2016 Nominee]
Strange Revelations, MCG 2015 (10 Instant Adventures)
Into The Night, MCG 2015 (Numenera in spaaaaace!)
Worlds Numberless And Strange, MCG, 2015
Cypher System Rulebook, MCG, 2015
In Translation: The Strange Character Options, MCG, 2015
Ninth World Guidebook (Numenera), MCG 2015
The Strange Bestiary, MCG, 2014 [Origins 2015 Nominee] [ENnies 2015 Nominee]
The Dark Spiral, MCG, 2014 (96 p campaign-style adventure for The Strange)
THE STRANGE, [ENnies 2015 Winner (Setting, Best Game, Art)] [Golden Geek Nominee] [Origins 2015 Nominee] (lead design)
THE STRANGE player's guide, MCG, 2014 (co-designer)
Numenera Ninth World Bestiary, MCG, 2013 (co-designer)  [ENnies 2014 Winner]
Read the blogs introducing The Strange, when possibility became reality!

5E (under the Open Game License)

Path of the Planebreaker, MCG 2022 (5E planar sourcebook)

Planar Character Options, MCG 2023 (5E planar spells, subclasses, items, and more!)

Planar Bestiary, MCG 2022 (5E planar monsters!)

City of Adventure, MCG 2022 (bundles "Doctrine of Ghul" with 2 more Ptolus adventures written by Sean K. Reynolds and Monte Cook)

Doctrine of Ghul, MCG 2021 (5E—and Cypher System!—adventure for Ptolus)

Where the Machines Wait, MCG 2021 (5E science-fantasy mega-adventure)
Beasts of Flesh and Steel, MCG 2020 (science-fantasy creatures for your 5E game)

Beneath the Monolith, MCG 2020 (the world of Numenera translated to 5E)
Arcana of the Ancients, MCG, 2020 (with Hills of Crooked Sleep adventure module)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D 5th Edition)

Player's Handbook, Wizards of the Coast 2014 [ENnies 2015 Winner]
Monster Manual, Wizards of the Coast, 2014 [ENnies 2015 Winner]
Dungeon Master's Guide, Wizards of the Coast, 2014 [ENnies 2015 Winner]
Ghosts of Dragonspear Castle, Wizards of the Coast, 2013
Read my 5E D&D Design Blogs from the summer when everything seemed possible!

Video Games
Bard's Tale IV, InExile Entertainment, 2018 (level design, "The Specter's Crypt")

Cypher System PDF-only Adventures and Supplements

Like A Boss - A Book of Boss Encounters, (charity collaboration), Samurai Sheepdog, 2023

The Room With No Door, (Cypher Play Numenera Season 19-1), MCG 2019
Glimmer Burst: Locations MCG 2019 (supporting Liminal Shores)
Glimmer Burst: Cyphers, MCG 2019 (supporting Liminal Shores)
Building Amber Keep (Cypher Play Numenera Season 18-2), MCG 2018 [ENnies 2019 Nominee]
Dread Expectations, MCG 2018 (previously exclusive superhero adventure now widely available)
The Hum, MCG 2108 (previously exclusive adventure now available for all)
Words of Power, Cypher Play Season 2017-3 for Cypher System (fantasy genre)
The Cawdor Complex, MCG 2017 (adventure)
Way of the Dinosaur, MCG 2017 (converting Predation to Numenera & The Strange)
In Alternate Dimensions, MCG 2017 Numenera supplement
Exploring Numenera: Strand, MCG 2017 Numenera supplement
The Thief, The Clave, and the Ultimatum, MCG 2016 Numenera adventure
After The Nightfall, MCG 2016 (tier 2 adventure for Gods of the Fall)
Gods Beyond, MCG 2016 (converting Gods of the Fall to Numenera & The Strange)
Thirst, Cypher Play Season 0 for Numenera, MCG 2016
Cults, Factions, and Syndicates MCG 2016 (weird organizations)
Extreme Cyphers, MCG 2016 (super-powerful cyphers, yo)
Dread Expectations, Cypher System "superheroes" adventure for Asset Team, MCG 2015
Impossible Vehicles, MCG 2015 (Cypher System sweet rides)
Alternate Origins, MCG 2015 (Cypher System racial descriptors)
Mastodon, MCG 2015 (adventure for The Strange that premiered at Gen Con 2015)
The Estate Dossiers (The Strange), MCG 2015
Swordbreakers: An Elite Organization of The Strange, MCG 2014
The Hum, MCG 2014 (adventure for The Strange)
Eschatology Code MCG, 2014 (adventure for The Strange that premiered at Gen Con 2014)
When Worlds Collide: Converting Numenera & The Strange MCG 2014
Artifacts & Oddities 1, MCG, 2013 (co-designer)
Cypher Collection 1, MCG, 2013 (co-designer)

Novels 
Myth of the Maker, Angry Robot Books, April 2017 [Audiobook]
Spinner of Lies, Wizards of the Coast, 2012  [Audiobook]
Sword of the Gods, Wizards of the Coast, 2011  [Audiobook]
Key of Stars, Wizards of the Coast, 2010  [Audiobook]
City of Torment, Wizards of the Coast, 2009  [Audiobook]
Plague of Spells, Wizards of the Coast, 2008  [Audiobook]
Stardeep, Wizards of the Coast, 2007  [Audiobook]
Darkvision, Wizards of the Coast, 2006  [Audiobook]
Lady of Poison, Wizards of the Coast, 2004  [Audiobook]
Oath of Nerull, Wizards of the Coast, 2002 (My turn to be T. H. Lain)  [Audiobook]

Short Stories
"Rune or Reconciliation," The Well RPG, Shoeless Pete Games 2021

"All Tomorrow's Songs," Building Tomorrow, MCG 2018
"When The Night Stole Her," Beyond The Ninth World, MCG, 2016
"Breath of God," a story set in the Gods of the Fall universe, MCG, 2016
"Perfect Toy For A Nine Year Old," Tomorrow's Cthulhu, Broken Eye Books, 2015
"The Fixer," Tales of The Strange, MCG, 2014
"Recursion," Tales of The Strange, MCG, 2014
"Four Winds," The Paradox Room, MCG, 2013
"Wandering Stones", Realms of The Dead, Wizards of the Coast, 2010
"Black Arrow", Realms of War, Wizards of the Coast, 2008
"Not all that Tempts", Dragon's Return, Malhavoc Press, 2005
"Hollows of the Heart", Children of the Rune, Malhavoc Press, 2004

Shadow of the Demon Lord
A Year Without Rain, Schwalb Entertainment 2015 (Demon Lord starting adventure)

Apocalyptic RPG
Gamma World Role Playing Game, Wizards of the Coast, 2010 (co-designer) [ENnies 2011: Honorable Mention]

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D 4th Edition)
Dark Sun Campaign Setting, Wizards of the Coast, 2010
Dark Sun Creature Catalogue, Wizards of the Coast, 2010
Players Handbook 3, Wizards of the Coast, 2010 [ENnie award]
The Plane Below, Wizards of the Coast, 2009
E3: Prince of Undeath, Wizards of the Coast, 2009 (lead designer)
E2: Kingdom of the Ghouls, Wizards of the Coast, 2009 (lead designer)
E1: Death's Reach, Wizards of the Coast, 2009 (lead designer)
P3: Assault on Nightwyrm Spire, Wizards of the Coast, 2009 (lead)
Arcane Power, Wizards of the Coast, 2009 (design contribution)
Open Grave: Secrets of the Undead, Wizards of the Coast, 2009 (lead)
Draconomicon I: Chromatic Dragons, Wizards of the Coast, 2008 (lead)
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide, Wizards of the Coast, 2008 (lead)
H1:Keep on the Shadowfell, Wizards of the Coast, 2008 (co-designer)
D&D 4th Ed. Monster Manual, Wizards of the Coast, 2008 (contributor)
D&D 4th Ed. Player's Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2008 (contributor)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D 3rd Edition)

Elder Evils, WOTC, 2007 (design direction and creature concepts) [ENnie silver, Best Monster]
Ruins of the Wild, Wizards of the Coast, 2007
The Sinister Spire, Wizards of the Coast, 2007 (Lead Designer)
Cormyr: Tearing of the Weave, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (Co-Designer)
Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (Co-Designer)
Player's Handbook II, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (additional design)
Complete Psionic, Wizards of the Coast, 2006 (Lead Designer)
Tomb of Horrors 3.5, Wizards of the Coast, 2005
Races of the Dragon, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Developer)
Magic of Eberron, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Designer)
Weapons of Legacy, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Designer)
Dungeon Master's Guide II, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Developer)
Sandstorm, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Lead Designer)
Grasp of the Emerald Claw, Wizards of the Coast, 2004
Libris Mortis: Book of the Undead, Wizards of the Coast, 2004 (Lead)
Planar Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2004 (Co-Designer)
Hyperconscious, Malhavoc Press, 2004
Expanded Psionics Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2004
Underdark, Wizards of the Coast, 2003 (Lead Designer)
Miniatures Handbook, Wizards of the Cost, 2003 (Co-Designer)
When The Sky Falls, Malhavoc Press, 2003
Mindscapes: Beasts of the Id, Malhavoc Press, 2003
Mindscapes: A Psion’s Guide, Malhavoc Press, 2003 [ENnie award]
Epic Level Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2002 (Co-Designer)
Call of Cthulhu, Wizards of the Coast, 2002 (Designer contributor) [ENnie award] 
Bastion of Broken Souls, Wizards of the Coast, 2002
If Thoughts Could Kill, Malhavoc Press, 2001 [ENnie award]
Enemies and Allies, Wizards of the Coast, 2001 (Co-Designer)
Heart of Nightfang Spire, Wizards of the Coast, 2001
Manual of the Planes, Wizards of the Coast, 2001 (Co-Designer) [ENnie award]
Tome and Blood, Wizards of the Coast, 2001 (Co-Designer)
Psionics Handbook, Wizards of the Coast, 2001
Sunless Citadel, Wizards of the Coast, 2000 [most played 3rd edition adventure]

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (D&D 2nd Edition) 

Die Vecna Die!, Wizards of the Coast, 2000 (Co-Designer)
Reverse Dungeon, Wizards of the Coast, 2000 (Co-Designer)
Bastion of Faith, Wizards of the Coast, 1999
Dragotha's Lair, Wizards of the Coast, 1999 [free digital download!]
Return to White Plume Mountain, Wizards of the Coast, 1999
The Shattered Circle, Wizards of the Coast, 1999
A Guide to the Ethereal Plane, Wizards of the Coast, 1998
Return to the Tomb of Horrors, Wizards of the Coast, 1998 [Origins Award]
Dungeon Builder’s Guidebook, Wizards of the Coast, 1998
Dawn of the Overmind, Wizards of the Coast, 1998
Masters of Eternal Night, Wizards of the Coast, 1998
A Darkness Gathering, Wizards of the Coast, 1998
The Illithiad, Wizards of the Coast, 1998
Sea of Blood, Wizards of the Coast, 1998
Night of the Shark, TSR, 1997
Evil Tide, TSR, 1997
College of Wizardry, TSR, 1997 (read a 2007 review here, 10 yrs later!)
Gates of Firestorm Peak, TSR, 1996 [Introduced the Far Realm to D&D]

Other Games

Magic the Gathering, Wizards of the Coast (a handful of card names and flavor text)

Betrayal at House On The Hill, Wizards of the Coast, 2005
Hecatomb, Wizards of the Coast, 2005 (Contributor)
The Killing Jar (Darkmatter), Wizards of the Coast, 2000
Diablo II: The Awakening, Wizards of the Coast, 2000 (Co-Designer)
Tangents (Alternity), Wizards of the Coast, 1999
Creatures & Monsters (Rolemaster), I.C.E., 1995 (Design Contributor)
Space Master Companion II (Spacemaster), I.C.E.1993 (Design Contributor)

Random
United States Tsunamis, National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration, 1989 (I wrote the intro!)

MCG Articles

Please Do (Not) Open, MCG 2026 (promoting Do Not Open for Magnus Archives)

Hands of Fate, MCG 2024 (promoting High Noon at Midnight)

Break on Through to Another Plane, MCG 2022 (design diary for Path of the Planebreaker)
Our First Ten Years: The Strange, MCG 2022 (a look back at my start at MCG)

The Origin Unveiled, MCG 2022 (why you should try The Origin!)

Claim the Sky Playtest Report, MCG 2021

Edge of the Sun, MCG 2019
My Love for RPGs Led Me to Numenera, MCG 2019
Numenera Crafting Made Easy, MCG 2018
Your Best Game Session Ever (seminar, GenCon video), MCG 2018
Inside The Stars Are Fire, MCG 2018
Running Your Game Like A Boss, MCG 2018
Shaking up Followers, MCG 2018
Numenera Salvaging and Crafting, MCG 2018
Arkus, Delve, and Wright—Designing New Numenera Types, MCG 2018
Broadcasting from Studio Colossus, MCG 2018
Trail of the Dream Titans: Playtesting at MCG, MCG 2017
Follow the Synthsteel Road: Followers in Numenera 2, MCG 2017
Designing for the Cypher System: Cyphers, MCG 2017
Path of Notes, MCG 2017 (Invisible Sun)
Strange Answer to Fermi's Paradox, MCG 2017
Gods of the Fall Now In Cypher System Creator Program, MCG 2016
Guests of Dragon Con, MCG 2016
Inside the Infamous Black Cube, MCG 2016
Transcending Level 10 in Gods of the Fall, MCG 2016
Bodies In Translation, MCG 2016
Welcome to the Gods of the Fall, MCG 2016
Breathing Life Into Your Encounter, MCG 2016
Beyond The Book: Static Or Evolving Recursions, MCG 2015
Strange Revelations Pairings, MCG 2015
A Glimpse Into The Outside, MCG 2015
Using The Strange Character Options for Numenera, MCG 2015
Using Numenera Character Options for The Strange, MCG 2015
Using Props in RPG Games, MCG 2015
...and many more posts (which I will link individually as time allows), MCG 2013-2015

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (DRAGON Magazine Articles)
Strange Constellations, another warlock pact article, Dragon #403, Sept 30, 2011
D&D Adventure Format, Design and Development 2011
Consult Limb Loss Subtable, Dragon #400, 2011 (foreword)
Gamma World development, Rich and I talk Gamma World Design, Dragon #392,
Necropolis of the Sword, Dungeon #191, 2011
Sword of the Gods Design & Development, April 19th, 2011
New Damage Types, April 1st Article, 2011
Dark Sun Threats, Dungeon #187, 2011
Modrons (Creature Incarnations), Dungeon #186, 2011
"Revenge of the Marauders," Dungeon #183, 2010
Exploring Gauntlgrym, Dungeon #183, 2010
The Dreamheart: an artifact, Dungeon #182, 2010
Winning Races: Wilden, Dragon #388, 2010
Bestiary: Monsters of Mythology, Dungeon #178, 2010
Playing Shardminds, Dragon #387, 2010
Red Shoals of Dkar, Dungeon #174, 2010
Drow Insights, Dragon #382, 2009
Moon Catchers, Dragon #382, 2009
City of Aboleths, Dungeon #170, 2009
Gontal: Dominions of Nehu, A Forgotten Realms supplement, Dragon #375
Origin Stories, Dragon #371, 2009
Claws of Tyranny, Roll vs Role, Dragon #366
Wish Upon A Star, new warlock star pact options, Dragon #366
Rose Keep, a Red Wizard enclave, Dragon #366
Gontal, a new region of the Forgotten Realms, Dragon #366
Coils Below, Roll vs Role, Dragon Magazine
Alchemical Imbalance, Roll vs Role (with Chris Sims), Dragon Magazine
Cruel Shadows, Roll vs Role (with Chris Sims), Dragon Magazine
Zhent Headless Horseman, Realmslore
The Wailing Dwarf, Realmslore
Countdown To The Realms, Forgotten Realms preview article
Blood Road, Roll vs Role (with Chris Sims), Dragon Magazine
Wizards, Design and Development
Elves, Design and Development
Tomb of the Astronomer, Realmslore

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (DRAGON Magazine Articles, pre-digital)
Psicrystal Substitutions, Dragon Issue #345
Enter the Far Realm, Dragon Issue #330 (Return to the Far Realm)
30 Greatest Adventures (contributor) Dungeon issue #116
Erudite: Scholar Thieves of Thought, Issue #319 (Expanded Psionics Preview 5)
Expanded Psionics Preview Article #4, Issue#318 (larval flayer, shadow eft)
Expanded Psionics Preview Article #3, Issue#317 (new psionic powers)
Expanded Psionics Preview Article #2, Issue#316 (New psionic feats)
Expanded Psionics Preview Article #1, Issue#314 (new race: Synad)
Oath & Order: Monks of the Oath of Nerull, Issue #299
Expand Your Mind, Issue #287 (Psionic Feats)
Vs. Vampires, Issue #286
Adventure Hooks in Campaign Corner, Issue #284
Arcanopath Monk: Calm Amid Storm, Issue #281 (Githzerai in Limbo)
Vs. Goblins, Issue #275
Sheens Revisited, Issue #270 ("Revenge of the Sheens")
Profiles: Bruce Cordell (by Stephen Kenson), Issue #268
Armed And Dangerous, Issue #259 (supporting Alternity)
Mage Vs. Machine, Issue #258 (Introduction of Sheens)
Greyhawk Adventure Seeds
Weapons of Fallout

Below the Tomb of Horrors, Issue #249 (Return to the Tomb of Horrors)
Mind Stalkers, Issue #245 (Illithid Hunters)

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS (5th Edition D&D Design Blogs)
NOTE: Apparently, my design blogs for 5E D&D got lost. No worries; I have the originals. I've created "new" posts (back-dated to original publication date) for all these, and threw them together under the handy tag 5E D&D Design Blogs. (I had to pull a couple of these off the Way Back Machine.)

The Advantage of Rolling Dice, June 20 2012
The Spy who Fireballed Me, June 15 2012
Ranger Design Goals, June 7 2012
Variations on a Monstrous Theme, May 25 2012
Paladin Design Goals, May 18 2012
Goblins Care Only About Your Axe, May 10 2012
Wizard With A License To Kill, May 4 2012
The Resilient Hero, April 25 2012
Crypt of the Ninja Queen, April 4 2012
Imagination and the Grid, April 11 2012
Complexity vs Ease of Play, March 23 2012
Iconic D&D Clerics, March 15 2012
Favorite Class, February 29 2012
A Quick Look at High Level Play, February 22 2012
What's In a (Spell) Name? February 15 2012
A Close Call With Negative Hit Points, February 8 2012
Holy AND Radiant Damage? January 18 2012

Awards and Honors
ENnie nominee 2019 for Explorer's Keys for Best Adventure
ENnie nominee 2019 for Building Amber Keep for Best Organized Play
Origins nominee 2019 for Numenera Discovery & Numenera Destiny
Origins nominee 2018 for Expanded Worlds as Best Roleplaying Supplement
ENnie award 2015 for 5E D&D corebooks for all sorts of things
ENnie award 2015 for The Strange RPG as Best Setting
ENnie award 2015 for The Strange RPG as Best Game
ENnie award 2015 for The Strange RPG as Best Art
Origins nominee 2015 for The Strange RPG as Best RPG
ENnie award 2013 for Numenera Ninth World Bestiary as Best Monster/Adversary
ENnie honorable mention 2011 for Gamma World as Best Game
ENnie award 2010 for Player's Handbook 3 (4e) as Best Supplement
ENnie award 2008 for Elder Evils as Best Monster Product
ENnie award for 2003 for Mindscapes, A Psion's Guide as Best Electronic Product
ENnie award 2002 for If Thoughts Could Kill as Best Adventure
ENnie award 2002 for Manual of the Planes as Best Rules Supplement
ENnie award 2002 for Call of Cthulhu as for Best d20 Game
Origins award 1998 for Return to the Tomb of Horrors as Best Roleplaying Adventure