Role-Playing Games and Narrative Identity as Pedagogical Tools in Teaching Fiction

This reflective chapter explores how tabletop role-playing games (RPGs) can be harnessed as pedagogical tools for teaching fiction writing, with a particular emphasis on character development. Drawing on Narrative Identity Theory, it argues that RPGs offer students a structured yet imaginative framework for exploring how characters emerge, evolve, and embody human complexity. Through classroom exercises that integrate character creation systems, such as those in Dungeons & Dragons , students engage in the recursive processes of self-reflection, storytelling, and role inhabitation. These activities help bridge abstract writing concepts with lived experiences, allowing students to examine the mechanics of personality, motivation, and backstory in both fictional and real-world contexts. The chapter combines theoretical grounding with practical classroom applications, offering a compelling case for how RPGs can deepen creative writing instruction through collaborative, character-driven inquiry.