A Call to End Nerd Girl Shaming

A lot of people have written about what it feels like to be a girl nerd. It can be very hard sometimes, and I happen to attract a lot of negativity because of my appearance. This is me:

I clean up pretty good, right? I have been on both ends of the spectrum that this ↓ comic cleverly outlines, and neither side is fun.

However, I have also been fortunate enough to experience the middle ground, the ground where I am treated as an equal and not an item to be worshiped or mocked. As my previous post has shown, I enjoy the Warhammer 40K universe, and I was lucky enough to learn about it from a group of gamers who were patient and understanding. They knew that I was new to the nerd community and treated me like they treat all newbies. I was not afraid to learn as many girls are because I didn’t have to deal with the snide comments or the rolling of the eyes. I knew that I could ask stupid questions and only get good-naturedly mocked before being taught.

In order to become a proofreader for Fantasy Flight Games, I had to take a test to prove I was familiar with the Warhammer 40K universe. Needless to say, I was not. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I Googled it. I figured there couldn’t be that complicated (spoiler: it is). Luckily, the test questions were simple enough to answer and I got the job. I was also so blessed to be working with a friend of mine who lived and breathed Warhammer. He was editing a series of books in the DeathWatch line and that’s where I really started to learn and love 40K. I met with him when he gave me my first chapter to go over the edits and proofreads that I made. I asked him a whole slew of dumb questions about the game and the universe which led to a very interesting and enlighten discussion about how awesome 40K is. He never made me feel like an idiot for not knowing, and that helped me get through the newbie phase and into the obsessed with the universe phase. Now, I am nowhere near an expert, but I can hold my own.

Unfortunately that is not the case for a lot of other girls. Girls who try and learn about new nerd things are often greeted with scorn and rude behavior.  So, let’s all make a pact today, nerds of every gender. Raise your right hand and repeat after me, “I solemnly swear to uphold the sacred oath I am about to take. I acknowledge that nerd girls are people too. I will treat them no differently than any other nerd. They are not ‘nerd girls’, they are just nerds.”

All About Cheese

So, unfortunately, I am sick today. Thus I’m going to be writing a short post so I can go back to bed and get better. You know what’s great, cheese. Cheese is a magical substance that can transform almost anything into awesomeness. So, here are my favorite recipes concerning or featuring cheese because who doesn’t love cheese. (Click on the photos for the recipe)

Baked Fontina Cheese:

Caramelized Onion, Gruyere, and Bacon Spread:

Creamy Caprese Pasta:

Mac and Cheese:

Bacon Cheese Bites:

The Slow Dance Grilled Cheese Sandwich:

Wedding Tips and Tricks: Venue and Wedding Party

I have never personally planned a wedding, but ever since the beginning of college I have been fascinated by them. I am going to preface this blog post by reminding everyone that these are just my opinions, and a wedding is your big day; make it as personal as you want. So, that said, here are some ways to make your wedding spectacular, and some common mistake to try and avoid. (Part 1: Dress and Theme here.)

The Venue:

This, in my opinion, is the one part of the wedding that couples should splurge on. A great venue can make all the other parts of the wedding easier simply because most great venues have tools in place to make weddings seamless.

My tips for the venue:

Do lots and lots of research. Having a couple venue options will allow you to relax a little bit if one of them is unavailable. Also, doing research into typical pricing in your area for the size of the party you are having can help you get the best deal. Researching your area can also help you find a surprising and unique place that you may not have thought of.

Don’t reserve the venue the first time you visit or even the second time. Visiting the venue at different times of the day/year ensures that the atmosphere is really what you want.

Do ask a lot of questions, even if they seem dumb. Does the venue allow outside food? Who is responsible of set up/ tear down? Do you offer any additional services, e.g. flowers, decorations, even a fill fledged wedding planner? What is the maximum capacity? What does the price include (preferably itemized out)? What is the parking situation like? What is the time limit, and what happens if we go over? If it is an outdoor venue, what is the backup plan in case of less than ideal weather? Asking every question you can possibly think of, and some you haven’t yet ensures that you know exactly what you are getting out of your venue.

Do pick a place that fits your theme or is special to you and your partner or both. This is a party celebrating you guys so make sure you have it somewhere that makes you happy. Hopefully, you will be able to afford your dream venue, and even if you can’t you can make your venue a dream with the right team.

Do decide if you’re going to need more than one venue before starting the hunt. It’s possible that you may want a different venue for the ceremony than the reception. If you are doing this, make sure you come up with a plan to get guests from one place to the other. Using just one venue is a generally more cost effective option, but it adds a layer of complexity because the space needs to be changed between the two events. Two venues can be a challenge, but can also provide couples with a necessary gap between the ceremony and reception.

The Wedding Party:

For some, the wedding party is the simplest and easiest part of the wedding, but for others it can be a struggle. Different personal styles, too many candidates, and difficult to please personalities can give even the most relaxed couple an anxiety attack. The number one piece of advice that I want you to give is that you need to remind your wedding party that it is your wedding, not theirs.

My tips for the wedding party:

Do ask the party members at around the same time. This makes it easier on both the couple and the members of the wedding party because it streamlines the process. It also means that you can celebrate with them all at once.

Don’t try to have everyone you know in the wedding party. If you have so many friends that your wedding party could easily be 8 or 9 pairs, maybe consider only having family in it. Or if you want, only have friends you’ve known since childhood. There are other roles that your friends can play like readers and ushers. If someone is unhappy with your decision just gently remind them that this is your wedding and although you dearly want them to come, they don’t have to.
Do take their ideas and tastes into consideration. Try your best to please everyone, but always remember that you probably will not be able to. These people are hopefully your friends and family, you don’t want to alienate anyone. Also, your wedding party can be a treasure trove of ideas if you get stuck.

Do rely on your wedding party. They are there to make your life easier. So, let them. You should allow them to take over on the day of the wedding so that you don’t have to do anything. If they are thrifty or good at DIYs let them help with the center pieces and decorations. The people in your wedding party love you, and want to make your day awesome. Just always remember that.

Don’t forget to thank them. Write them a heartfelt letter; get them a gift; or even just a hug and thank you. These people love you and have probably been there for you through the crazy process of planning a wedding. They were there when you melted down about the venue or had doubts about your flowers. They deserve to be thanked in the most wonderful way.

YouTube Advertising Strategy

YouTube is definitely the future of advertising, as many people have commented.  It is an interesting platform that has millions of potential customers, and most companies are using it completely wrong. The people who are advertising on YouTube at the moment are not thinking about the platform enough. Most companies just take their TV spot and make it their YouTube ad. This can work if the commercial is posted on the company’s page and gets views that way, but as an ad before videos, it will never work. Here’s why:

YouTube videos are generally short, and watching a 30 to 60 second ad before them is just not going to happen if the video is only 90 seconds. Also, the ability to skip the ad after 5 seconds means not, as many believe, that you need to be engaging in those first second to ensure the continued viewership; it means that’s the ad needs to be 5 seconds long. Millenials will more likely than not skip the ad even if it is interesting. That’s just what we have grown accustomed to.

My proposed solution is simple, make a 5 second ad. This may seem daunting and challenging to a lot of people, but as a millennial I would be impressed with a company that made an ad before a video that just said, “We at XYZ Co. support this video and think it’s really great.” The nature of marketing is changing in a very interesting and counterintuitive way. On the one hand, long form commercials that tell in-depth stories can become viral and get a lot of attention for companies. But on the other hand, millenials don’t want their content interrupted and have gotten very adept at filtering out the noise of the internet. I think that this has created some confusion in how most companies advertise, since they aren’t sure which route to take. Unfortunately, a lot of times this just leads them to fail somewhere in the middle. Instead they show focus on making one of the extremes, great. A 5 second add, supporting a YouTube personality can go a long way in the minds of millenials, much further than an awesome 30 second spot that they skip.

My solution can also be very effective when trying to brand a company because you can show consumers what kinds of things you support. For example, let’s say I am a branding manager for a line of skincare aimed at teens, and I want to show consumers that our line wants to empower girls and promote a healthy body image. One of my strategies would be to find videos on YouTube that promote healthy body images and empower young girls and support them. All I would have to do is film a couple second spot saying, “Our brand thinks that girls are beautiful and cool no matter what. Just like this video.” Not only will this reach the target audience, but it will also reach parents that want to empower their daughters. This, coupled with releasing YouTube videos of our own, and supporting charities and other organizations that empower girls is all you need to brand the product. Obviously, this is a very simplistic example and there are a lot more things that go into advertising, but I think that more companies should understand that YouTube is its own media type and cannot be lumped in with other video types.

The Day My Whole Life Changed pt. 4

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

The first thing I notice when I creep out of that god-forsaken shaft and into the empty field is the complete sensory desolation. The advertising companies had long ago started patenting the smells and sounds of their products. This was not good. Last time I escaped this facility, I had emerged in a bustling town. They must have leveled it.

Crap.

I feel the tears welling up again. The lump in my throat grows and grows.

No! I will not let my brief reprise weaken me like this.

I close my eyes and focus on my breathing. They are better prepared this time, but still not unbeatable. I count backwards from 100 and focus on what I am feeling. The pain in my legs is still very high and I use it to focus my mind. When I have calmed down enough that I know I will not be overtaken with panic, I open my eyes. This is just another security measure I need to overcome. After they leveled the town, they placed a syntho-grid. This particular one was meant to simulate tall grasses that could conceal a person from guards, but I wasn’t fooled. The second I set foot on this grid an alarm would go off.

I take a deep breath and touch the edge of the grid. I need to figure out if it is a pressure trigger or a biological one. As soon as I touch the edge I can see the code that makes up the whole thing. It is a biological trigger set to recognize human. I release the power that built up inside me in order to reveal the code. My vision blurs again and I rest my head against the inside of the tunnel until it clears. It takes longer for me to recover this time. I won’t be able to use my powers very much more. I consider resting here to regain my strength and recharge my powers, but I quickly dismiss the idea. I need to be far away when the mainframe reboots and figures out I’m missing.

Biological sensors are easier to beat than pressure ones, but they’re still no picnic. I hunt around for something useful. The clothes I’m wearing have no doubt been embedded with my DNA so I can’t just wrap my feet up and walk. I glance around until I see a slight dip indicating another opening like the one I am currently looking out of, another grate. It’s too far away to be any use. My only choice is to use up the last of my powers and hope I don’t run into any more trouble today.

I touch the edge of the grid again. The code flashes before my eyes and I examine it to see the ebbs and flows of the sensors. I carefully nudge them to allow a perfectly straight path from me to the edge, but I will have to be fast. I star running in the direction I know will now be trigger free.

As soon as my hand releases the edge of the grid I feel myself falling. My head is spinning and my vision is darkening. I collapse on the grass. I know I have only a matter of seconds to get up and run, but I’m so tired. I try and push myself up, but it’s no use. Using my power drained me too much.

No! Stop pitying yourself, George. You are better than this. You can do this.

I can do this. I prop myself up on a shaky hands.

Just one foot in front of the other, easy.

I plant my feet and push until I’m standing. My legs are screaming in protest, but I have to ignore them. I stare at the edge of the grid and I run, slowly at first but then picking up speed. I feel my old training kicking in and run faster than I have in years. I don’t have the time or energy to check if I missed my window of opportunity. I just keep running.

Part 5

Why You Should Raise Your Kid as a Nerd

I am not a parent. I just want you all to know that before I delve into today’s topic. This is just my opinion and all of my observations come from my years being a nanny and being well, a kid.

Why you should raise your kid as a nerd:

1. Nerds are all about acceptance. If you’re the kid in school who likes Doctor Who, you aren’t going to be picking on some kid because they play sports. Allowing your kid to find something they are passionate about and showing by example that it is better to be happy than conform can increase your child’s happiness and likelihood of success.
2. Being a nerd encourages kids to use their imagination and be creative while also boosting their reasoning and logic skills. Many ‘nerd’ activities are logic based and boost rational thinking in children, e.g. chess, board games, and engineering.
3. Exposing kids to a variety of activities can help them narrow down what they enjoy and what they don’t enjoy. Nerds can play sports if they want to, but they may also enjoy playing Dungeons and Dragons. As a parent, it should be important to expose our kids to as many different activities as you can, even if you don’t particularly enjoy them.
4. Nerds are less likely to get into trouble. Many studies have shown that kids who have engaging activities outside and within school are less likely to have behavioral problems. It is thought that this is because kids that are bored or constrained tend to lash out. Let you child learn new things and find what they like and they will be less likely to be unhappy.

——

Basically, what I’m saying is that non nerd parents tend to close off this whole other universe of activities from their kids because they don’t enjoy it. That universe, however, is amazing and diverse and should be accessible to every child. I have seen a slightly alarming trend in parents trying to prevent their kid from being bullied by forcing them to conform to what some people dictate as ‘cool’.How about, instead of forcing kids to conform, we teach them that being different is okay and much more fun.  Hopefully, if every parent allows their kids to be nerds, they won’t have to worry about them being bullied. Also, look how cute they are!

An interesting article about the geek brain:  http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200807/field-guide-the-nerd-its-all-geek-me

Some resources for anti-bullying :  http://www.stopbullying.gov/ ,  http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdph/supp_info/violence_prevention/bullying_prevention.html

Bacon in All the Things, A.K.A. The Lithuanian Motto

Today’s post is again brought to you by LAWNDHAA, the Lithuanians Are Weirdly Not Dying of Heart Attacks Association. Here is a list of 6 Lithuanian foods that should kill me, but haven’t yet.

1. Kepta duona:
   • This, at its simplest, is black bread fried in oil and rubbed with garlic. Easy, right? Not by a long shot, the best way to make this bread is to fry it in oil, then put it in a Ziploc bag while still hot with minced garlic and salt. Shake the bag a couple times and then leave for an hour or so to let the garlic soak in completely. As you can see, there are no precise measurements to this recipe. This is very common in Lithuanian food, because it’s all made to taste. Generally, the ratio is about 3 or 4 cloves of garlic per loaf of bread.
2. Kugelis:
   • The most important line of the whole things though is, “Do not discard the drippings.” Just putting bacon bits in kugelis isn’t good enough for us Lithuanians; you gotta put the bacon fat in too.
3. Lašiniuočiai:
   • This is a lovely little side dish for every family. They’re basically like normal dinner rolls, but with bacon inside, drippings and all.
4. Bulviniai Blynai:
   • The traditional way to cook these pancakes is in lard, or some other form of rendered fat. Just let that sink in. These are basically flat french-fries, and you eat about ten of them in one sitting, or 4 if they’re the size of plates…. Which they sometimes are.
5. Cepelinai:
   • These are dumplings with potatoes on the outside instead of dough that are the size of a human hand. Then you pour a mixture of melted sour cream and bacon on top. ‘Nough said.
6. Krustai:
   • And finally we come to dessert. You will be happy to know that there is no bacon involved, there is fat but only because these pastries need to be deep fried. And we did kind of negate the no bacon by adding alcohol…

Well there you have it, 6 Lithuanian dishes that should’ve probably killed me by now. If you’re in the Chicago area, you can visit Racine Bakery to try out the baked goods, or Cafe Smilga to try out the hot dishes. Gero Apetito.

Wedding Tips and Tricks: Dress and Theme

Hello lovely people. Sorry about my lack of post yesterday, I was irrefragably uninspired. Today though, I’m very excited to present to you a post about weddings. I have never personally planned a wedding, but ever since the beginning of college I have been fascinated by them. I am going to preface this blog post by reminding everyone that these are just my opinions, and a wedding is your big day; make it as personal as you want. So, that said, here are some ways to make your wedding spectacular, and some common mistake to try and avoid.

The Dress:

I’m going to make a lot of enemies by saying this, but the dress is not that big of a deal. Yes, you want a dress that flatters you and makes you look stunning, but getting hung up on finding the ‘perfect’ dress can add stress and pressure to the wedding that doesn’t need to be there. Also, spending an exorbitant amount of money on a garment that you will be wearing one day is a little silly. You can get a great dress that isn’t necessarily designer or unique and still have a great wedding.

My tips for the dress:

Do some research into your body type online before going shopping. There are some shapes that fit better on your body than others, and you want the most flattering shape possible. If you really get stuck or overwhelmed ask the sales associate at the bridal salon to help. They are incredibly knowledgeable and they are a great resource.

Don’t buy your dress without trying it on first, or if you are getting it online make sure there is a return policy if you are not satisfied. The dress might look killer on the model but not on you, or the fabric might be different than expected and uncomfortable. Buying online can save you a lot of money, but it can also cause a lot of grief. Some websites will send you two sizes to try or ask for our measurements to custom make the dress which helps a lot, but make sure that they have a 100% refund policy. You don’t want to get stuck wearing something you hate.

Do buy a classic style. Going with a trendy dress might seem like a good idea now, but ten years down the road you might not feel the same. There are some things that never go out of style: like clean lines and a shade of modesty.

Do make it personal. Even if you’re buying a dress that hundreds of other women have bought, you can and should add your own personal touch. You can add a fun tulle lining, or a sash, or even get lace or beading added to the dress. If you want to go really original, get a dress in a different color or have it dyed. Buying a more generic gown and then personalizing it is a much cheaper way to go than trying to find the perfect gown straight up.

Do get it tailored. This is vital. A good tailor can make even a subpar dress spectacular. If you’re going to splurge on anything regarding the dress, splurge on this.

The Theme:

This is my favorite part of the wedding. A good theme can elevate the night in a way that the guests would’ve never imagined while a bad theme can ruin the whole wedding.  Themes can be simple or complex depending on the person and how much planning they want to actually do. The theme is one of the ways to make your wedding really yours.

My tips for the theme:

Do pick a theme that is personal. Be it something as simple as you and your fiancé’s favorite colors or as complex as your favorite parts of Lord of the Rings. This day is about you as a couple, and sharing something you love while you celebrate your marriage with your family and friends can make the day really special.

Don’t pick a theme because it’s funny. Obviously there are exceptions to this rule, but if you pick a theme because you think it would be funny to have a wedding with that theme, it will more often than not come out tacky.

Do incorporate your theme throughout the event. I’m not saying make everything pink if your theme is pink, but making sure that every aspect of your night has a little bit of the theme in it will wow your guests. Some simple ways to incorporate the theme without being over the top are: signature drinks, personalized bouquets, printable (e.g. Menus, programs, and place cards), and something that I think a lot of people forget, food.  It doesn’t need to be dyed or anything, but coming up with clever names for the different dishes can be entertaining to your guests and also tie in the theme.

Don’t go too over the top. It can be really fun to incorporate the theme as often as you can, but beating your guests over the head with it can be overwhelming and gaudy. On the flip side, try and not go too subtle. You want your guests to know the theme, and a wedding that is too plain can be boring.

Don’t break your budget for the theme.  Having a great theme that is incorporated throughout the night and the event space is awesome, but if it costs you half your budget to do it, it is probably not worth it. I think that couples sometimes forget that this is a celebration and no one is going to blame you for going simple. Your family loves you and just wants to see you happy.  Also, being ‘perfect’ is most likely not going to happen. So, don’t break the bank trying to get there.

Tune in next week for my tips and opinions on the wedding party and the venue.

The Day My Whole Life Changed

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3:

The metal is cold against my back. My eyes fly open and I see that they have moved me. Oh, they tried very hard to convince me I am in the same room, but I can see the edges of the illusion. They must not know that we were train to see through these parlor tricks. They cleaned me up and gave me new clothes. I was either out for longer than I thought or they did in fact heal me a little because the pain went from a 9 to a 7. Big mistake. They reduced my pain enough to no longer incapacitate me and in fact narrow my focus. I need to escape. I hope that my initial weakness seems like a ploy to them, no need for them to know that I had gone soft. They boosted the gravity in this room so I can only move a little and very slowly. Perfect. I let myself smirk and hope that they are watching. Then, I wait.

Being alone with my thoughts is not a new experience for me. Part of our training was being locked up in a cell much like this one for months at a time to learn how to control our emotions and not go insane like most people would. I don’t have to wait long. I hear the door open and the man with the too pretty eyes walk in. He must be a Sigma because the gravity doesn’t seem to affect him at all. He stares at me. I roll my eyes.

“Just tell me what you want, or at least stream some TV or something in here.”

No response, definitely Sigma.

“I’m assuming you know who I am, so why don’t you tell me about you. Who do you work for?”

Nothing.

“Why did you bring me here? What do you want with me?”

Perfect.

He moves a little closer to me and stares into my eyes. Now that I know he’s a Sigma I can see him monitoring my brainwave activity and trying to read me.

“That’s not going to work. Even earlier in my weakened state it didn’t work. That reading was beat out of me a long time ago.”

I slowly sit up so that I’m almost eye level with him.  Its slow going because of the increased gravity, but it will be worth it. I keep talking.

“You have lovely eyes, I don’t think I mentioned. Did you get them custom made? I’ve never seen another with them.”

Finally I’m face to face with him.

“Do you know why I ended up here?”

I look him straight in the eyes and focus.

“I’m dangerous.”

I see the shift in his gaze. I get the rush of feeling when I realize, I’ve still got it. I slowly bring my arm up above his head. And I let it drop. The increased gravity adds force to my arm and I hear a soft pop when it hits his head. Sigma’s are intricate, wonderfully complex machines that have many small movable parts, and a hit in the right place can incapacitate them just like a human being. I close my eyes again and feel the familiar rush of power that comes from the laser like focus of pain. I can feel the sensors in the room monitoring life signs. They never learn. I slowly get up from the table and feel the sensors try and report the change to the command module. Instead, I send a message of normalcy. The module will not realize I am gone until I am well outside their reach. I casually walk towards the door that I know the Sigma used. I open the door without opening my eyes and step through. There I pause, walking on my injured legs and feet has increased my pain and I can feel the focus slipping. I need to regain control if I want to get out of here. I take some deep breathes and focus again. I close the door behind me and send a signal to the module that the Sigma has left and will report in shortly. I open my eyes.

I am standing in a stark corridor that has doors along both sides. Typical AIG prison. They change the layout of each one to prevent escapes, but now that I am outside the room I can tell that I have been in this one before. The route has been saved in my mind ever since then. I turn left and walk briskly down the hall. The pain is increasing and I can feel my focus slip. I walk faster. Left, right, straight, right, right. I reach the grate that will set me free. It is secured more firmly that last time.

Crap on a stick.

I lean against the wall and breathe.

Focus.

It’s been awhile since I’ve had to use my upgrade and I already feel drained, but I know I have this one last thing in me. I feel the bond between the grate and the wall. It’s a simple molecular bond and a little zap of electricity releases it. I catch the grate before it hits the floor and triggers the alarms and everything goes a little sideways. I lean against the wall for support and wait for my vision to clear.

When this is over, I’m going to start working gout again. For real this time.

When I feel steady enough to move I crawl into the air shaft and make my way upward to the surface. I know exactly where this shaft leads, and it’s not going to be pretty…

Part 4

Beginner’s Guide to GMing

Hello lovely people! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Today I’m going to talk about the wonderful world of GMing. For those of you that don’t know, GM stands for game master. This title is given to the person in tabletop role-playing games, or RPGs, that runs the whole shebang. When I started GMing, I was kind of just thrown into the mix and had no idea what I was doing. Thus, this is the quick and dirty beginner’s guide to being a GM.

Step 1: Pick your game. There are tons of universes and game systems to choose from, and choosing the right one to fit your own style and the style of your players is key. Some systems are easier to get started in than others, and some universes are easier to approach than others. My advice is to talk to your future gamers and see what setting they would like to play. Here are some of my suggestions:

Fantasy – if your players want to play a traditional fantasy setting, I would suggest playing the old standby, Dungeons and Dragons. The newest installment of this system has premade characters as well as adventures to make newbies comfortable. However, it is also highly customizable and easy to manipulate if the GM or characters wish. This system is ideal for GMs that like involved stories as well as killing monsters.

Science Fiction – As much as I would love to suggest my favorite RPG universe Warhammer 40K, I can’t with good conscience suggest it for new players because it is a fairly advance style of gameplay and universe.  If you want to play a sci-fi universe, I would suggest the Star wars RPG. This system is easy to pick up and a universe that most people are at least a little familiar with. There are premade characters and settings available for the game system as well which makes it easier for new GMs and gamers. This game is ideal for people that like fast-paced game play and interpersonal intrigue.

Horror – This is a tricky one because it’s not a very popular genre, but Call of Cthulhu is a great place to start. This game provides fewer premade settings and no premade characters, but the horror aspect of the game is well thought out and definitely creepy. This system is great for people who like getting creeped out and don’t mind their characters dying in the game.

Step 2: Learn as much as you can about the game. The easiest way, in my opinion, to do that is to Google the game system and read the Wikipedia page. Then, buy the book. Most systems have a book specifically for GMing, but even if there isn’t a book just for the GM there is always an introductory book. Once you have the book, read the whole thing. It may get tedious and annoying, and you definitely won’t remember every bit of it, but you will get a really great feel for the game. This is important because different games require different types of GMs. (For example, a survival horror GM needs to scare the characters and one way to do that is to be barely cooperative with the players while a D&D GM needs to be fully cooperative with the players.)It will also probably help to inspire you if you are creating your own story. The other vital reason that you need to learn about the game and not just GMing the game is that your players will be looking to you for answers. When they create their characters and when they play you need to be the reigning authority on rules. Of course, GMing is a collaborative process and listening to your players is important, but they will also be coming to you for answers when they get stuck.

Step 3: Plan out your game timeline. At this point in your prep you need to figure out when you’ll actually be playing. Is this going to be a weekly game? A one shot? Do you need to meet up once just to make your characters and introduce the setting? If you’re playing with new gamers I would suggest devoting an entire meeting to setup and general troubleshooting. You can even run a mini-campaign to help your gamers get a feel for their characters and the setting. The timeline also helps you figure out how much time you have to prepare and how deeply you need to delve into the game. If you plan a one-shot campaign you don’t need to have as in-depth a plan for the game as a multi-week campaign, obviously. Also if you are busy outside of the game, maybe planning to meet biweekly or once a month would be better because you would have more time to prepare.

Step 4: Plan out your actual game. This can be as simple as picking the ‘boss’ monster that your players will be fighting and a series of stronger and stronger minions to get them there. Or it can be as complex as a fully realized dungeon with multiple outcomes based on the players’ choices. Each gaming system has its own ‘rules’ for the ideal game, but feel free to play around with them. It also helps to know your gamers and find out what they like. Always remember, however, to remain flexible. Gameplay will rarely go exactly as you plan, but allowing yourself to be fluid will make it much more enjoyable for both you and your players. It is also important to plan out various tiers of difficulty. If your players are killing everything too easily it will become boring, but if the characters are dying too easily the game will end too quickly. Even in a survival horror game, the main draw is the suspense of almost dying not the dying itself.

Step 5: Gather your supplies. It is important to be fully prepared for the game. I suggest making sure you have: lots and lots of dice that pertain to the game system you are using, the rulebook on hand, an empty notebook and lo of pens and pencils, extra character sheets, and extra paper and pens. It is always better to be over-prepared.

Step 6: Play the game. The main advice I have for this stage is to remember that you’re doing this to have fun, and the players are most likely your friends. This can be hard because you probably spent a lot of time on your campaign and it might flop with your players, but it’s always important to remember that it is just a game. Also, I suggest having food readily available. Most campaigns take a couple hours and having something to munch on makes the gaps between a player’s turn much more enjoyable.

Step 7: Evaluate and adapt. This is especially important in long campaigns. Adapting your story to fit your characters will make the game go smoother and be much more fun for everyone involved. However, I think it is also important for one-shot campaigns because evaluating your game can make the next one-shot you do even better. For a first time GM it might also be useful to get feedback from your players especially if they are RPG veterans. When I was first starting out I got the best advice from my players. They provide a useful perspective on the game that you can use to make future games better.

Step 8: Plan your next campaign! Be it the next campaign in the series or the next one-shot, once you GM once you will inevitably want to do it again.