This blog originated as part of a bet with Chris. We each promised to write an article every week, and whoever failed first would pay the other 1 SOL (~$100 at the time). I mostly wrote about game economics, but I threw a few oddball articles in about yoyos and the roman calendar to keep the content flowing. Now that I’ve gotten a few reps in, I think it’s worth reflecting on why I want to write this blog, aside from the extrinsic motivation.
First and foremost, this blog is an exercise in one-shot writing. Every article will be written in a single session. Like video games, writing is best done in a flow state. The single session promotes cohesion and consistency. On the flipside, sometimes I have a great idea that I want to communicate, but it languishes in drafts and edits and revisions until it loses steam or I push a disjointed mess out the door. Even when edits and revisions are needed, the best first drafts are written in one-shots.
That is not to say all the work is done in a single session. One-shots require premeditated research and planning, fleshing out the ideas, arguments, and structure ahead of time. But the choice to sit down and write is very deliberate, only done once all preparations are complete.
Second, this blog is an exercise in expository writing. This isn’t a personal journal or creative fiction exercise. Text-based communication is increasingly important, especially with the rise of remote work. I aim to be clear, concise, and engaging to better get my points across. In particular, the “engaging” aspect I think I have undervalued relative to concision. Readers are more likely to finish short articles, yes, but they are also more likely to finish articles that are entertaining and eloquent.
Third, this blog will share game economics ideas to make better video games. My career goal is to make video games better with economics theory and data. Knowledge in the private sector is often scattered and siloed, with the same ideas being rediscovered and forgotten. This blog aims to better share and spread those ideas. I will focus on topics where I think I have some particular insight, but may occasionally do a summary or reaction piece.
Fourth, this blog aims to promote my personal brand. I know it’s cringe, but I’m just trying to keep it real. In my decade of working, I was repeatedly surprised by how much reputation matters for hiring decisions. This seems doubly true in the freelance world, as Phil and web3 have exposed me to. People hire people they know. It’s a rough job market in the games industry, and I have a family of four I need to support, so this blog is a bit of long-term hedging.
Note that these are in priority rank order, and there is quite a large gap between their importance. Every article will absolutely be written as a one-shot. But their topics might vary wildly, and I’m more than happy to trash my personal brand for the sake of some good content. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how large my 4yo daughter’s turds were, and maybe that’s something I need to get out of my system.
To you, dear reader, I promise to provide a consistent stream of content and not to paywall anything. In return, I ask you for more feedback please, especially critical writing feedback.