Shadow Brain and...FAQ fatigue

By Andrew Schultz · January 29, 2010

So I wrote a FAQ for Shadow Brain, leaving open a few small questions. I generally mark them with ?? -- this works with other writing as well, e.g.

??plotbreak
??spell
??vocabcheck

It's normal not to feel the immediate inclination to correct these. What wasn't, though, was that I didn't get any of the maps I intended to, posted to GameFAQs. There are details to fill in but one was in PNG form and I wrote it on my to-do list every day this week.

Maybe I've finally had it with FAQing? Maybe I'm really ready to move on for good? I hoped that I would get to the point where writing-writing took over game writing, but all the same I hope there are spare games to pick off when I have the time.

I have a few miscellaneous games it would be fun to write for. But I'm at the point where staring over a 75% complete manuscript is more worthwhile than being sure I'll get through a game.

Comments 2

honestgamer Staff Jan 29, 2010

I'm sure that it would feel good to finish up those nearly-complete FAQs, and I'd say that it's definitely worthwhile to do so, but I have a few on my computer that I'll likely never return to. FAQs are a big project if there's not an external force providing motivation to finish. As far as thoughts of burnout, maybe you just need a rest? Sometimes I get out of the mood to write about games, but that never seems to last long.

aschultz Blogger Jan 31, 2010

This is more that I realize it's something trivial to do and I've found better things to do. I'm coming back from a break and already need another one. I think my focus has shifted from less significant games others can cover for the NES project to special ones, as there's other stuff I want to do.

That's not to say reviewing or proofreading's out. I enjoy that, and sometimes the normal/staid writing I do lets me feel I have a right to do the more crazy writing that isn't so clear & that I want to save my energy for, the daily stuff that I can't put in blog notes. I think therre's a definite shift of focus though it's sad to give up FAQs.