Welcome to “Deadline Espresso”, a cozy writing adventure from JournalingGames.com. In this adventure, you are a published author who has enjoyed some success. It’s been d4 (roll this now if you like) years since your last book and your agent is getting anxious. Very anxious. In this adventure you will take on the roll of this author and spend your days in a cafe drinking coffee, encountering mishaps and looking for inspiration. Good luck.
- This guide
- A journal, notebook, or something to write in
- A standard set of adventure dice (D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, and D20)
- Your imagination
You need to complete 3 chapters of your book before meeting with your agent in Phase 3. You will stay in Phase 2, visiting the cafe each day until your 3 chapters are complete. Be sure to keep track of your progress in your journal. See “Finishing Chapters” below for details on how to write chapters.
To finish a chapter, roll a 4 on your d4 progress roll. This is noted in the Progress Roll Table. You get one Progress Roll each day, plus extra rolls from special conditions. After completing 3 chapters, finish your day, in the morning you’ll be pitching these chapters to your agent in the final phase. Note: you will gain 1 inspiration point for every chapter completed, even if an effect allows a non-4 roll to complete a chapter.
Rolling the highest number (critical value) on a d4, d10, d12, or d20 roll earns you an Inspiration Point. These points represent unexpected moments of inspiration. Keep track of these points in your journal – you’ll need them during your pitch meeting.
When your food and drink roll gives you a coffee drink (Latte, Cold Brew, Cappuccino, Americano or Mocha), you gain a Caffeinated Reroll. Use this to reroll any one die during that day’s rolls. You must use the new value from a caffeinated reroll. If you choose not to reroll the caffeine fades and cannot be used on the next day.
Feeling inspired? After rolling a 4 on your d4 Progress Roll, you can push your luck with an “On a Roll” roll.
- Roll d4 again—if your roll is lower than a 4, you completed 2 chapters instead of 1 and gain an inspiration point.
- If you roll a 4 again, you loose all chapters earned on this day.
This game has 3 phases: Setup, Writing Days, and Pitch Day. Most of your time will be spent in the Writing Days phase. Details for each phase are below.
- Setup
- Roll all dice at once to determine your character
- Write your first journal entry “A letter to a friend.” Detailed below.
- Days in the Cafe
- Enter the cafe each morning to work on your book
- Roll each adventure die once per day in any order you choose
- Track your progress toward 5 completed chapters
- Track Inspiration points earned.
- Journal about your day’s events and feelings
- Agent Presentation
- Visit your agent once you’ve completed 5 chapters
- Roll all pitch meeting dice at once.
- Spend inspiration points to increase table values.
- Determine your book’s success in the eyes of your character.
- Write a final journal entry about the outcome
When rolling dice, it helps to keep them on one side of your journal or writing area. As you log each roll, reflect on it, or record it in your journal, move the die to the other side. In short, designate an “active” dice area for rolls in play and a “used” or inactive area for those already logged.
See an example, yet real, journal from Deadline Espresso that was made using the Journaling Games Online Writer App. Your journal could look like this or be completely different. There is no wrong or right way to keep a journal.
Roll all six dice (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20) at once to determine your character’s traits using the tables below.
Suggested First Entry: Draft a Letter to a Friend
Your first entry is more of a draft—your character is jotting down thoughts about what they plan to write in an email or letter later. Or, you can feel free to write it like a finished letter if you prefer.
| D4 | Status |
| 1 | In Debt |
| 2 | Broke |
| 3 | Comfortable |
| 4 | Rich |
| D6 | Writing Habits |
| 1 | Writes daily |
| 2 | Binge-writing |
| 3 | Needs a lot of breaks |
| 4 | Meticulous planner |
| 5 | Writes spontaneously |
| 6 | Works best under pressure |
| D8 | Writing Genre |
| 1 | Fantasy |
| 2 | Sci-fi |
| 3 | Mystery |
| 4 | Horror |
| 5 | Thriller |
| 6 | Romance |
| 7 | Historical |
| 8 | Dystopian |
| D10 | Belief in Own Talent |
| 1 | Overconfident |
| 2 | Self-doubting |
| 3 | Insecure |
| 4 | Deluded |
| 5 | Ambivalent |
| 6 | Proud of their work |
| 7 | Reluctantly confident |
| 8 | Hesitant but hopeful |
| 9 | Unaware of potential |
| 10 | Believes success is impossible |
| D12 | Relationship with Other Authors |
| 1 | Competitive |
| 2 | Supportive and collaborative |
| 3 | Envious |
| 4 | Distant |
| 5 | Inspired by peers |
| 6 | Disconnected |
| 7 | Secretly feels superior |
| 8 | Jealous of success |
| 9 | Constantly compares themselves |
| 10 | Desperate for approval |
| 11 | Feels like an outsider |
| 12 | Burned by betrayal |
| D20 | Struggle |
| 1 | Patience |
| 2 | Boundaries |
| 3 | Anxiety |
| 4 | Sacrifice |
| 5 | Guilt |
| 6 | Trust |
| 7 | Fear of Failure |
| 8 | Indecision |
| 9 | Shame |
| 10 | Overthinking |
| 11 | Perfectionism |
| 12 | Regret |
| 13 | Procrastination |
| 14 | Self-doubt |
| 15 | People-pleasing |
| 16 | Resentment |
| 17 | Self-sabotage |
| 18 | Overconfidence |
| 19 | Cynicism |
| 20 | Emotional Detachment |
Begin Journaling: Write an email to friend with the above rolled details in mind.
This is the main game loop. You will roll a days worth of details and then write a journal entry about what happened. Then start a new day. Roll your six dice (d4, d6, d8, d10, d12, d20) in any order. You may use a caffeinated reroll from your previous day on any one die roll, including the Food & Drink die (d10) or effect rolls.
Track inspiration points for critical rolls on d4, d10, d12, and d20. Check for special abilities granted by your rolls. Record your progress, noting any completed chapters and inspiration points then journal about your day.
| D4 | Progress |
| 1 | Brainstormed |
| 2 | Reroll |
| 3 | Outlined |
| 4 | Finished a Chapter |
| D6 | Mood | Effects |
| 1 | Inspired | Gain 2 inspiration points. |
| 2 | Frustrated | Lose 1 inspiration point. |
| 3 | Optimistic | A roll of 3 or 4 finishes a chapter today. On-a-Roll must be lower than the rolled value. |
| 4 | Overwhelmed | You must reroll your progress roll. If you haven’t rolled progress yet, roll twice and take the second result. |
| 5 | Hopeful | You may reroll your progress roll. If you reroll, you must use the second result. |
| 6 | Distracted | Remove and ignore all of today’s rolls except d6 and d8. You cannot use a Caffeinated Reroll on this outcome. |
| D8 | Mishap |
| 1 | Power outage. Stop rolling and end your day. |
| 2 | You forgot your payment method at home and can’t pay for what you’ve ordered or can’t order. |
| 3 | You realize you’re eating or drinking someone else’s order. |
| 4 | You spill your drink, and it drips onto another customer’s backpack. |
| 5 | A noisy customer makes focusing impossible, leaving you frustrated. |
| 6 | Your power cord trips a customer. |
| 7 | The coffee shop’s Wi-Fi goes down. |
| 8 | The barista spills coffee on you. Roll an additional food & drink roll. |
| D10 | Food & Drink |
| 1 | Pastry |
| 2* | Cappuccino |
| 3 | Muffin |
| 3* | Cold Brew |
| 5 | Salad |
| 6 | Croissant |
| 7* | Mocha |
| 8 | Avocado toast |
| 9* | Americano |
| 10* | Seasonal Latte |
* = Caffeinated Reroll
| D12 | Writing Related Event | Effect |
| 1 | A magazine wants to feature you in a "Where Are They Now?" section. | Roll 1 Interview Question from Table below. |
| 2 | Your agent called, stressed about your delays. | |
| 3 | Your publisher announced your book’s release date without your knowledge. | Gain 1 inspiration point. |
| 4 | A former peer just published a book, and it’s taking off. | Lose 1 inspiration point. |
| 5 | You read a review saying your last book didn’t live up to expectations. | |
| 6 | Someone catches your eye. | Change your mood to Optimistic, do not reroll progress if already rolled. |
| 7 | Your parents called and arranged an interview for an office job. | |
| 8 | You bump into an ex at the café, and they seem happy to see you. | |
| 9 | Your agent forwarded an interview request from a media outlet. | Roll 2 Interview Questions from Table below. |
| 10 | You catch someone’s eye. | Change your mood to Optimistic, and reroll progress if already rolled. |
| 11 | An old writing friend left a voicemail asking to meet up. | |
| 12 | You’re a guest on a book podcast. | Roll 3 Interview Questions from Table below. |
| D20 | Cafe Event |
| 1 | Someone mistakes you for another writer. Lose 1 Inspiration Point. |
| 2 | A stranger asks to sit with you. |
| 3 | Someone asks when your book will be ready. |
| 4 | An attractive stranger pitches you a book idea. |
| 5 | A regular asks if you have another job. |
| 6 | You overhear an inspiring conversation. Gain 1 Inspiration Point. |
| 7 | Your ex walks in, looking amazing. |
| 8 | A person asks for writing advice. |
| 9 | Someone smiles at you—twice. |
| 10 | Someone compliments your writing and asks for a selfie. Gain 1 Inspiration Point. |
| 11 | You notice someone sketching you in their notebook. |
| 12 | A café event sparks an idea. |
| 13 | Someone asks if you only write in cafés. |
| 14 | A person offers to buy your coffee. Gain a Caffeinated Reroll. |
| 15 | A café musician dedicates a song to the author in residency. |
| 16 | Someone says you look like someone famous. |
| 17 | A barista asks if they can be a character in your book. |
| 18 | A group invites you to their book club. |
| 19 | Another writer asks for advice. |
| 20 | A fan asks for an autograph. Gain 1 Inspiration Point. |
Continue Journaling: Write about the events of each day as you progress toward you 3 finished chapters.
| D20 | Interview Questions |
| 1 | What happened with your last agent? |
| 2 | How do you handle critical reviews? |
| 3 | How do you balance writing and personal life? |
| 4 | Is your favorite genre to read the same as what you write? |
| 5 | How did you get started as a writer? |
| 6 | How do you handle critical reviews? |
| 7 | What inspired your most recent book? |
| 8 | What have you been doing since your last book? |
| 9 | Do you write every day, or take breaks? |
| 10 | Who are your literary influences? |
| 11 | Do you feel you are still relevant in this genre? |
| 12 | Has love or relationships influenced your writing? |
| 13 | There are lots of new names in your genre, any favorites? |
| 14 | How do you maintain relationships while writing? |
| 15 | Do you think our genre is starting to decline? |
| 16 | How do you stay productive as a writer? |
| 17 | Has romance ever impacted your creative process? |
| 18 | Your old agent is now repping the star writer in your genre, what do you think about that? |
| 19 | How do you navigate publishing industry pressures? |
| 20 | What’s this new book about? |
| D4 | Interview Outcome | Effect |
| 1 | Major Technical Issues | Lose 1 inspiration point. |
| 2 | Mixed Reactions | |
| 3 | Minor Praise | Gain 1 inspiration point. |
| 4 | Noteworthy Buzz | Gain 2 inspiration points. |
The PR Piece: You call your agent to let them know the 3 chapters are finished and you’re ready to meet. They’re thrilled and ask you to answer a few questions for a PR piece that will run next week. She asks you to prep a short written response or talking points to a few questions—just a few words, nothing major. Use the interview question table above to add your third-to-last journal entry. Roll d4 to see how many questions you should prepare thoughts on. Then roll the interview outcome table once to see how it went.
Continue Journaling: Write your interview preparation answers and some thoughts on how the interview went.
Roll a d6 three times to determine the initial outcome of your pitch meeting. This will help shape your agenda and the media’s view of your book. However, they don’t know everything yet, as the book is still unfinished—only 5 chapters are done, and these groups, while sometimes right, are often wrong. In the next part, you’ll use your inspiration points to decide what actually happens. Journal your thoughts in your second-to-last entry. You can write another draft letter to a friend noting your thoughts on how the meeting went and what the initial buzz is like.
| D6 | Your Initial Reaction |
| 1 | It’s awful |
| 2 | Maybe works |
| 3 | Not bad |
| 4 | Pretty good |
| 5 | Really proud |
| 6 | My masterpiece |
| D6 | Agent’s Initial Response |
| 1 | Lukewarm reception |
| 2 | Cautiously optimistic |
| 3 | Genuinely excited |
| 4 | Wants immediate revisions |
| 5 | Calls other agents to look |
| 6 | Starts making calls immediately |
| D6 | Social Media Buzz |
| 1 | No traction |
| 2 | Few Comments |
| 3 | Daily Mentions & Shares |
| 4 | Trending for a day |
| 5 | Ongoing Trend |
| 6 | Viral |
Roll a d4 for each inspiration table. Then, spend inspiration points to increase results. Points can be split between tables but are spent permanently upon use.
In your last journal entry, it’s six months after your book has come out. How did it do? How are you doing? Where is your career headed from here?
| D4 | Other Opportunities |
| 1 | Writing workshops |
| 2 | Podcast appearances |
| 3 | Speaking engagements |
| 4 | Book tour |
| 5 | Comic/Graphic Novel adaptation |
| 6 | TV show option |
| 7 | Indie film option |
| 8 | Animated adaptation |
| 9 | Feature film deal |
| 10 | Theme park land based on book |
| D4 | Surprise Attendee |
| 1 | Your regular barista from the cafe |
| 2 | Another author who was writing at the cafe |
| 3 | High school crush who’s now a marketing exec |
| 4 | Your old english teacher |
| 5 | Famous author you admire |
| 6 | Social media influencer who loves your genre |
| 7 | Your ex who works in publishing now |
| 8 | Rival author seeking collaboration |
| 9 | Celebrity who wants to star in any adaptations |
| 10 | A cafe customer who you’d been sharing glances with |
| D4 | Critic Quote |
| 1 | It wasn’t for me. |
| 2 | A decent read in a pinch |
| 3 | A good book |
| 4 | Perfect for trains or planes |
| 5 | A great vacation read |
| 6 | One of the best books this year |
| 7 | The best book of the last several years |
| 8 | A book that will stand the test of time |
| 9 | A classic that will touch hearts and minds for decades. |
| 10 | Will live in the hearts and minds of the world for all time |
Finish Journaling: Write on last journal entry about how your book was received and what doors it opened or closed.
Deadline Espresso was written and designed by Aaron Robbins for JournalingGames.com. You can learn more about Aaron and hear his thoughts on journaling games, storytelling, and marketing on the Journaling Games YouTube channel, or visit his website at http://aaronrobbins.com.