This weekend is a UK Bank Holiday, providing an opportunity to relax and enjoy an extra day away from work. With only minimal plans, the question of which direction to take my roleplaying game projects is looming large.

On the one hand, I have no scheduled games with friends. One option is to sit down and play solo for a few hours, which is the strongest temptation simply because it offers me enjoyment of imaginary worlds and the rolling of dice with no strings attached. Playing alone means you get to play whatever and however you choose.

On the other hand, I have some ongoing writing projects – notably the Dungeons of Thaarl and Webster’s Modern Monster Hunters (I really need a better name) – which both deserve some love and attention. Working out my ideas and writing them up is another enjoyable aspect of the hobby and something that is its own reward.

The likelihood is that I will put some time into both sides. An hour or two spent writing is easy to juggle alongside a similar time spent at the solo table, giving me the best of both. Experience tells me that it’s possible the writing will fuel the gaming, or vice versa. Remaining open to the possibilities and shifting my focus as my intuition guides me is my modus operandi.

Why would any of this matter to you though?

Perhaps the point is that, as opportunity for play opens up in your schedule, it’s important to choose an action and take it. In objective terms, it doesn’t matter which option I choose – whether I play or write – as long as I do something that I enjoy. Too many times in the past I have vacillated and dithered to the point where time has moved on, leaving me motionless.

What’s the next thing you need to do in your games? Find the next move and make it. It’s useful to remember that even the tiniest action is still moving us forward, and tiny actions are doable.

Add a room to the Dungeons of Thaarl? Stock one location? Write one more short paragraph? Roll up a character? Run a quick fight scene? These are each enough to begin.

The key is to keep ourselves in the game.