Dice and Drafts: Enhancing Your Writing Through Dungeons & Dragons

Hello Lovelies,

Today, I’m typing away from my desk, a place that has seen its fair share of battles—both literary and fantastical. My current workspace, adorned with the remnants of various campaigns, has become a haven for character sheets, battle maps, and, of course, my trusty set of Dungeons & Dragons dice.

Being a Fifth Edition Dungeon Master for a group of scattered friends, I’ve found unexpected inspiration within the realms of D&D that spills over into my writing life. Here are three immersive ways Dungeons & Dragons can serve as a constructive muse for your work in progress.

Roll a d20

In the midst of rewriting a challenging fight scene, I turned to a nearby d20 for guidance. Channeling the essence of a Dungeon Master, I asked myself, “What would my character do in this D&D battle encounter?” After jotting down the character’s actions, I rolled the d20, determining success or failure for each move. The unpredictability of the dice adds a refreshing layer to the writing process, embracing the “yes, but” or “no, and” dynamic. This approach, reminiscent of the try-fail cycle, ensures that your characters remain proactive, keeping readers engaged and surprised.

Use a Character Sheet 

Stuck in a creative quagmire? Try creating a D&D character sheet for your protagonist. Assign them a class, a rich history, and connections to deities. This exercise allows you to explore alternative skills, weapons, and magical abilities your character might possess. For instance, if your character loses the use of daggers, delve into their arsenal for hidden surprises. A character buildout via a D&D lens serves as a thought-provoking experiment, offering a dynamic approach to character development without delving into exhaustive surveys or life histories.

Use a Battle Map

Transform your story setting into a legitimate battle map akin to those used in Dungeons & Dragons. Overlay a simple grid onto a top-down image of your setting to gain insights into distances, obstacles, and potential interactions. Whether your characters are navigating difficult terrain or engaged in non-combative scenarios, visualizing the environment as a battle map can unearth valuable details. This technique helps in maintaining spatial awareness, understanding locations, and incorporating immersive elements into your narrative.

As Dungeons & Dragons experiences a resurgence in popularity, many writers are rediscovering its potential as a creative wellspring. Do you incorporate Dungeons & Dragons into your novel writing? Share your experiences in the comments below!