Exploring how extraordinary stories emerge from ordinary interactions
Humans will pack-bond with literally anything. We give life to the inanimate, and draw incredible stories from mundane interactions. If you’ve ever made up a story while playing game then, sorry to break it to you, you’re a MythHead, too.
Come, join us.
MythMash unearths the emergent narratives that game systems and mechanics afford. It delves into how emergence works and gives you the tools to design for creative people who crave emergent narratives.
“The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.”
- Marcel Duchamp
Who is the MythMash publication for?
Tabletop gamers, loremasters and worldbuilders who can’t stop giving their meeples names and backstories.
Game designers who make games for creative people like roleplayers and worldbuilders.
Academics looking for well referenced info on emergent narrative, and case studies to bolster your research.
Game masters / Dungeon masters who want to encourage creative roleplay and improve their craft.
Writers who want to be part of a vivid community creating wild, collaborative stories with other game designers, roleplayers and worldbuilders.
Why listen to little ol’ me?
Hi, I’m Katie Wickens — Games MA (Norwich Uni of the Arts) with a focus on worldbuilding and emergent narrative. I’ve already got hundreds of thousands of eyes on my work across the web with 5 years experience writing about digital and tabletop games, and the tech that surrounds them.
I’m a PC Gamer alumni, and freelancer for GamesRadar, TechRadar, Dicebreaker and more. You might have spotted some of my tabletop game reviews in Senet Magazine, too!
I designed MythMash, the upcoming storytelling board game for weirdos, and I’ve been running a board game design workshop in Bath for a year now. I love seeing all the innovative stories and board game designs that spring from these.
Got a question or want to commission me?
✨ Just send me a message ✨
What do MythMash free subscribers get?
🎲 Bi-weekly MythFlash 🎲
Over-egged and very silly anecdotes / flash fiction inspired by game systems and mechanics, from myself and guest writers. Including insights around what inspired them, so you can make use of similar game mechanisms.
🎲 Weekly MythSplash 🎲
A place to share and discuss stories that emerge from your own gameplay sessions, and get advice around how to improve your game design craft from myself and a host of innovative designers.
🎲Weekly MythMash 🎲
An ‘exquisite corpse’ story, imagined by my most creative paid subscribers, inspired by weekly prompts to propel the story along.
🎲 Monthly MythClass 🎲
A roundup or guide that’ll give you the tools to inspire emergent stories with your designs. A way to hone your skills in game design for creative people.
🎲 Monthly MythHash 🎲
Game reviews that center around their ability to inspire emergent narratives. From digital sandbox and free-build games, to tabletop war games, and solo RPGs.
What about MythMash paid subscribers?
All the above, plus exclusive opportunities to collaborate.
🎲 Contribute to the weekly MythMash 🎲
Join in and comment your version of the next story segment for a chance to be featured and credited with a link to your Substack/social.
🎲 Contribute to MythFlash as a guest writer 🎲
Send in your short-form flash fiction — anything that constitutes emergent narrative, really — for a chance to be featured and credited in the bi-weekly MythFlash.
