The Games We Play

I wouldn't have pegged Junot Diaz as a role player/D&D type, but I don't think it's that unusual of an activity for a writer to do as a child. It's the desire to create places and characters, a desire most "creative" writers have. As a child I invented my own country and made myself ruler. Since I was the oldest in the neighborhood, it was easy to bully all the other kids into being my subjects. I guess I always was a control freak (tyrant) because eventually a coup (usually led by the traitorous mutineer, Tender Buttons) would ensue into a civil war.

There were other role playing games I invented, but looking back on them, they're kind of disturbing and say more than I'd like to share about myself here. But they seemed fun at the time. For me at least.