Basic storytelling -- Understanding audience: An introduction to thinking of the players of an RPG as the audience for the story -- State Objective: An explanation of how creating clear goals aids collaboration -- Story- or System-led creation: An explanation of how game mechanics are used to create narrative -- Session zero: A guide for having a conversation before you start playing a formal game to help your group work together -- Understanding text: An explanation of how specific words shape a group's understanding of the narrative and ability to collaborate -- Make choices important: An explanation of concepts from improv and how they apply to games -- Pacing: Multifaceted advice on what drives the audience experience of an RPG story and how to pace it effectively -- Engagement: Explanation of vulnerability and enthusiasm as a driving force in narrative games. Alternative methods for encouraging those core drivers -- Advanced playing techniques -- Introduction to GMing style and making choices with intentions: An explanation of different stylistic approaches to GMing and advice on how to cultivate a personal style -- Themes: A guide to understanding themes in RPG stories and how to use them to create a cohesive piece -- Imagery: An explanation of how to use themes to create imagery in your narration -- Playing to change: An explanation of how PCs are different from protagonists in other media and advice to help you play characters who feel dynamic -- Looking for trouble: Advice for eschewing traditional approaches to playing a PC in order to introduce compelling conflict to a story. -- Delegating creativity: Advice to allow GMs to delegate parts of their role to make a game more collaborative and engaging -- Playing for experience -- Finding a voice: A drill for generating and practicing character voices -- Limiting choices: A storytelling exercise challenging players to creatively overcome obstacles while limiting their choices -- Same rock, different world: An exercise using shifting genre and theme to change descriptions of objects in different settings -- Building the group mind: Three exercises adapted from improv to develop collaborative skills in an RPG group -- Unpacking desire: A self-analytical tool to aid players in understanding which aspects of RPGs they enjoy -- Narrative rewards table: A tool to help GMs generate story hooks as rewards for quests rather than loot -- Pacing scorecard: Tools to help GMs outline sessions by breaking down different factors that affect a game's pace -- Mood lighting: Similar to Same Rock, this exercise guides readers to use the same details to make a room appropriate for different moods, tones, and scene types -- Side scenes: Three exercises based on improv and fan fiction to help players explore their characters outside regular game sessions.