Why Stage 32 Feels Like a Choose Your Own Adventure

If you grew up in the 80s, you’ll remember the thrill of turning a page and being asked to decide your fate.

If you climb the mountain, turn to page 42.

If you stay in the cave, turn to page 87.

One decision could lead to treasure. Another could lead to a dead end. And sometimes, you’d get eaten by a dragon.

As a very proud child of the 80s, I’ve realised something recently - publishing and film feel exactly like that series.

You start with an idea. A spark. A “what if?”

Then the choices begin.

Do you:

• Write a novel?
• Write a screenplay?

I chose a novel. Turn the page.

Do you:

• Pursue traditional publishing?
• Hybrid publish?
• Self-publish?

I chose self-publishing. Not because I knew it was the right answer - but because it was the page that felt open to me at the time.

Turn the page again.

Do you:

• Invest heavily in paid marketing?
• Collaborate with other emerging creatives?
• Go it alone and hustle bookstores, reviewers, and readers yourself?

I chose to hustle.

I emailed. I promoted. I reached out. I learned things the hard way. I celebrated small wins. I took rejections personally. Then I learned not to.

Next decision.

Do you:

• Try audiobooks?
• Try book trailers?

Neither. This girl was BROKE! Another fork in the road.

Do you:

• Continue self-publishing?
• Attempt traditional publishing next time?
• Branch into screenwriting?
• Pitch magazines?
• Try something entirely different?

I chose screenplays and magazines.

Not because it was safer - but because it was terrifying. And sometimes the bravest page is the one you don’t fully understand yet.

Then came another chapter.

With what you’ve learned, do you:

• Host workshops to build trust in your community?
• Run book events?
• Promote other creatives?
• Enter competitions?
• Seek representation?
• Pitch producers?

I chose all of the above. Yes, I know. It sounds like I was throwing spaghetti against the wall… but something eventually landed.

But here’s what I’ve learned.

There is no single “correct” path in this industry. There is no magic formula, no universal blueprint, no guaranteed shortcut. It’s all a series of choices - some strategic, some instinctive, some made simply because you refuse to close the book.

And that’s why Stage 32 feels less like a typical industry website and more like another Choose Your Own Adventure.

Because there isn’t just one door.

Want consistent exposure to executives? Turn to the Writers’ Room. (Click here to sign up!)

Prefer Open Writing Assignments with direct submission opportunities? Turn that page. (Click here to learn more!)

Need to learn the fundamentals? Choose a webinar or certification - some free, some discounted, some full investment - and learn something new. (Explore them here!)

Not wanting to pay at all? Wander into the community lounges. Read the daily blog posts. Engage in conversations. Ask questions. Offer advice. Build your name quietly but consistently.

Each option is simply another page.

And what I love most is this: you’re never told there’s only one way forward.

I was participating in the Screenwriting Lounge one day - just engaging in conversation - when a producer reached out to collaborate on a screenplay. That wasn’t a strategic master plan. That wasn’t me targeting someone specific. That was me turning a page.

I’ve seen writers in this community land representation through consultations and competitions. I’ve seen projects move forward because of pitch sessions. I’ve seen creatives form long-term partnerships simply because they showed up consistently and generously in discussion threads.

None of those outcomes come from standing still. They come from participation. 

But here’s where this piece shifts. Because while career movement matters, relationships matter more.

Today, I learned that a fellow Stage 32 member is facing a serious personal health crisis. I had no idea they were unwell. And yet when I heard, it genuinely hit me.

That surprised me. How can someone I’ve never met in person feel significant enough to affect my day? I literally put my day job on hold to write this blog because it’s what I wanted to do to highlight someone important to me and this community.

Because this platform, when used properly, stops being transactional and starts being relational.

People celebrate your wins, comment on your drafts, encourage your pitches, and check in when you go quiet. They notice when something feels off.

That’s not networking. That’s community.

And in an industry that can often feel isolating - especially when you’re starting out, pivoting careers, or questioning your direction - that kind of connection is invaluable.

The adventure isn’t just about landing the deal. It isn’t just about securing the option. It isn’t just about representation or greenlights. It’s about who you meet while turning those pages. Because sometimes the most important outcome isn’t the treasure chest at the end of the book. It’s the companions you gathered along the way.

So if you’re standing at the beginning of your own creative journey - or halfway through, wondering if you chose the wrong path - remember this:

There isn’t one right page.

There’s only the next decision.

Turn it. Choose Your Own Adventure.

Dedicated to our friend, collaborator, and cheerleader, Maurice Vaughan.

Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below!

Got an idea for a post? Or have you collaborated with Stage 32 members to create a project? We'd love to hear about it. Email Ashley at blog@stage32.com and let's get your post published!

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