The Side Hustle
By Bruce Neff
Imagination Incorporated presents…
A Moonlighting Adventure
by Dominic Rizzi
As a side hustle, I enjoy creative writing and working with others in the Dungeons and Dragons community to create immersive stories while playing the role of "Dungeon Master" for community and friend D&D tabletop groups. This moonlighting experience started as running a game for close friends, and quickly evolved into helping others in the community find their creative spark and joy in writing and fantasy storytelling.
While D&D gets its roots from imagination and child's play, the game has shown to be an effective tool at helping others cope with stress. D&D offers a safe escape to explore creativity and practice one's improvisation and creative skills. I invite anyone interested in learning more about D&D or how to start a D&D club at your school site to get in touch with me.
I've been a dungeon master now for almost 6 years. I play and host sessions a few times a week, so it has become an integral role in my moonlighting way of life. D&D was something my family, friends, and community were able to thrive in as we learned to play "virtually" through the pandemic. It gave us something to look forward to in socializing with our peer group. It was a chance to escape our daily stressors and explore a character, role-playing in a fantasy world full of adventure, mystery, puzzling, and creative thinking.
The trap door behind the bar opened with a cloud of dust and a thud. "The Gentleman will see you now," says the Half-orc as they appear from below, gesturing for you to venture into the Boss' lair. You clutch the counterfeit artifact in your bag, hoping it will pass as the real thing... your other hand gripped at the hilt of your dagger stowed at the small of your back. Here goes nothing…
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