Dungeons, Dragons, and Dialogue: Writing for Tabletop Role-playing Games

Over the past decade, tabletop roleplaying games have grown from a niche pastime into a multi-billion-dollar creative industry. While Dungeons & Dragons remains the most iconic TTRPG, major publishers and indie creators launch thousands of games each year to meet the growing demand for new settings, adventures and characters. Whether you’re dreaming of writing your own game or hoping to write for an established publisher, this workshop will give you the tools to get started. We’ll explore TTRPG mechanics, interactive narrative design, worldbuilding, character creation, layout, and module structure. We’ll also dig into the ethics of game writing, how it differs from traditional sci-fi and fantasy writing, and all those pesky rules. Participants will leave with a structural outline for their own TTRPG module, a suggested reading list, and a layout template. No prior gaming experience required; all writers welcome!

About Loghan Paylor

Loghan Paylor is a queer, trans author who lives in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. Their work has previously appeared in Room and prairiefire magazine, and has been longlisted for the CBC Nonfiction Prize. A graduate of The Writer’s Studio program at Simon Fraser University, Paylor has a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of British Columbia and a day job as a professional geek. Their first novel, The Cure for Drowning, was longlisted for the 2024 Giller Prize, named a Globe and Mail Best Book of 2024, and shortlisted for the 2025 Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes. Paylor divides their time between teaching and writing, and is also co-owner of Bookwyrm Games, a Canadian game publisher and tabletop roleplaying company.

About TWS Community Workshops

The TWS Community Workshops are planned and developed, and often hosted, by alumni of the Writer’s Studio at SFU. The proceeds from the workshops support writing scholarships in the Studio’s year-long cohort program. If you would like to know more about the Writer’s Studio, please visit our website. If you would like to submit a workshop idea, please email us at write@sfu.ca.