An approachable process and framework for conceptualizing, writing, producing, and publishing a one-shot adventure

More than 12,000 ttRPG writers just like you have written their first adventures with us

What is a "one-shot adventure"?

By the end of this workshop, you'll have written, produced, and published a 3,500-word adventure for your favorite ttRPG game system.

A one-shot adventure is a tabletop roleplaying game module that can be played and completed in one game session (think 4-6 hours). A one-shot is a great first step toward writing longer ttRPG content. We provide deadlines and structure so that you can stay on scope, finish your project, and build your ttRPG portfolio!
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The Call of Cthulhu Path

Sponsored by Chaosium

The Storytelling Collective partnered with Chaosium to produce our official Call of Cthulhu path, featuring lessons by prolific writer Paul Fricker!

Instructors: Paul Fricker, Nick Brooke, Nicholas Johnson, Ashley Warren, Christopher Walz, Jessica Marcrum, Yubi Coates
Register for the Call of Cthulhu Path - $49
Chaosium logo depicts a silhouetted dragon with an open maw, facing to the left. Below that is the Call of Cthulhu logo with all yellow letters. And below that is the RuneQuest logo, which is black blocky letters and a row of runes underneath. The tagline reads,

In this workshop, you'll learn how to...

  • Develop a Writing Process

    Make writing an important part of your life with tools and systems that work for you.

  • Outline and Mindmap

    Organize your narrative and mindmap the potential threads of your story.

  • Craft a Narrative

    Write an engaging narrative, including how to create villains, NPCs, and settings.

  • Edit and Revise

    Edit and revise your work, receive feedback, and implement changes.

  • Playtest

    Playtest your module, gather feedback, and make data-driven improvements.

  • Design and Layout

    Design your document and cover, and prepare your adventure for publishing.

Hear from some of our happy writers...

@NandoEdits

"So I did the fall workshop for @StorytellingCol and I absolutely loved it! I found it so incredibly thoughtful in its lesson approach. I learned so much and highly recommend anyone looking to learn how to publish their own DND adventures / Cthulhu Scenarios to give them a look."

@KetracelBlack

"Shout out to the @StorytellingCol - could not have done this without the Write Your First Adventure workshop instructors and participants."

@RomansPopovs

I highly recommend anyone taking the course - whether you are a professional writer, or a #TTRPG enthusiast (like me) - it’s a great experience and publishing my own creation filled me with joy. The course itself is well organised ... and provides plenty of practical suggestions, from tools to project management tips. You may have seen a whole raft of #RPGWriterWorkshop scenarios being published lately, so the process clearly works."

Preparing to Write Your First Adventure guide and workbook

When you register, you'll receive a digital workbook to prepare for your project before getting started in the course

This material will help you brainstorm better, set up your creative toolkit, and complete the necessary setup steps before you start your project.
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Our Creative Framework

Write Your First Adventure has four core units that build upon one another

Unit 1: Ideation and Organization

The first unit will help you solidify your idea and learn about some basic game and narrative design theory, such as exploring themes and determining the main "conflict" in your adventure. Then, you'll write your introduction section (with guidance!) before we move into the next stage.

✅ By the end of this section, you'll have your adventure idea selected and will have created an outline/mindmap to start fleshing out. 

UNIT 1 LESSONS
Lesson 1: Setting a Project Scope
Lesson 2: The Idea of Cthulhu
Lesson 3: Designing Narrative Obstacles and Challenges
Lesson 4: Setting and Locale
Lesson 5: Villains and BBEGs
Lesson 6: Creating an NPC Quest-Giver
Lesson 7: The Structure of Cthulhu
Lesson 8: Writing an Introduction


Unit 2: Crafting an Adventure

This is when you'll write the bulk of your adventure. The lessons in this unit continue to delve into some theory that will inform your decisions, and you'll write each section of your adventure with suggested (but optional!) word count milestones. 

✅ By the end of this section, you'll have your adventure drafted.

UNIT 2 LESSONS
Time to Write: Getting Ready for Part 2
WORD COUNT MILESTONE: 500 Words
Lesson 9: Research for Your Call of Cthulhu Adventure
Lesson 10: Creating NPCs of Cthulhu
WORD COUNT MILESTONE: 500 Words
Lesson 11: Player Choice in Adventures
Lesson 12: Incorporating Player Choice and Avoiding "Railroading"
WORD COUNT MILESTONE: 1000 Words
Lesson 13: The Language of Cthulhu
Lesson 14: The Handouts of Cthulhu
Lesson 15: The Way Out of Cthulhu
WORD COUNT MILESTONE: 1500 Words


Unit 3: Playtesting, Editing, and Design

We'll share the basics of playtesting and some activities to self-playtest. We'll also share tips for editing, and then start the layout and production steps!

✅ By the end of this section, you'll have your self-edited and self-playtested adventure in layout and ready for polishing in part 4.

UNIT 3 LESSONS
Time to Polish Up Your Adventure: Getting Ready for Part 3
Lesson 16: Editing and Proofreading
Lesson 17: Designing for Accessibility - Part 1
Lesson 18: Designing for Accessibility - Part 2
Lesson 19: Primer to Playtesting
Lesson 20: Layout on a Budget - Part 1
Lesson 21: Layout on a Budget - Part 2
Lesson 22: Cover Design Best Practices
Lesson 23: Conveying Mood through Design


Unit 4: Polishing, Marketing, and Publishing

This last part is all about polishing up your adventure and spending this final week making changes to your adventure. We also share some marketing and promotion tips for you to peruse when you need a break from sprucing up your adventure. 

✅ By the end of this section, you'll have a finished adventure and will have completed the workshop! 🎉

UNIT 4 LESSONS
Time to Wrap Up Your Project: Getting Ready for Part 4
Lesson 24: Marketing 101
Lesson 25: Being a Good Community Creator
Course Wrap-Up


Plus, your registration includes:

Support, community, and additional resources

  • Discussion Forum

    Share ideas, receive feedback, and brainstorm with fellow writers.

  • Downloadable Templates

    Download templates and resources to aid in your writing and playtesting.

Receive a Certificate of Completion

Upon completing the program, you'll receive a digital certificate to add to your writing portfolio.

A screenshot of a certificate for completing Write Your First Adventure. The digital certificate is outlined in red and there is a field that reads,

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What do you mean by "self-paced"?

    The lessons in the workshop begin unlocking every day as soon as you enroll! You can complete the activities on your own schedule.

  • What is the format of the lessons?

    In this course, all lessons are written (like blog posts/articles). Each lesson in the workshop's four units includes activities to guide your learning.

  • Where does this course take place?

    Right here on this website. Just simply pop over here to StorytellingCollective.com and log in. The course will be available in your account!

  • Who the heck are you?

    The Storytelling Collective team and instructors are all prolific, passionate ttRPG creators. We've hosted this workshop for more than 12,000 writers since we started in 2018.

Our generous partners make these programs possible

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David Glass Cartography

Join the RPG Writer Workshop Discord

Get help and support from our global community of writers! Our alumni agree that the Discord server is one of the most valuable assets of the workshop.
Join the Discord server
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Free Path

Not sure if the workshop is right for you? Sign up for free to access a few lessons and dip your toe in!