The first rule of writing drama is to make life hell for your hero, and to make life increasingly hell – the peril must keep ramping up in the way the levels of a game must make life increasingly difficult for a player.

However, just as in a film, the writer cannot kill off the main character – Indiana Jones will always survive – so the game and gamebook writer must not kill off the player. The writer must always send the player back to the beginning to start over.

There’s nothing more annoying in a game or a gamebook to come to a literal dead end, and discover you’ve been summarily killed, without so much as a by your leave. This is the death penalty and must be avoided in your writing.

The exception for this is for the player to kill themselves by their own stupidity. If they opt to jump across the lava lake without wearing boots of protection or possessing a magical ring of flying, well, more fool them. 

The important thing to remember here is that the writer must provide at least one means of crossing the lava lake, whether the player is smart enough to realise it, well that’s out of the writer’s control

I’m thrilled to say my gamebook Game of Runes paperback is now on sale via Amazon!

Game of Runes is a fun and fast-paced fantasy solo adventure which is easy to play yet difficult to win. With original art, a unique combat system and the occasional terrible pun, you’ll encounter traps, monsters, magic and characters that will test your wits and courage to the limit!

Search ‘Game of Runes’ in your local Amazon online store!

Nemo’s Fury is the thrilling gamebook available exclusively from Amazon. Join the mysterious Captain Nemo on board his remarkable submarine the Nautilus and experience a wild voyage of monsters, mayhem and murder!