By Jaye Sonia

It’s hard to believe I’ve been writing for bazaar magazine for a full year, without missing a beat. In fact, it’s sort of ironic. You see I almost – almost –missed the deadline for this issue. I won’t go into details, but it involved an interview and a very cool new MMORPG – and it fell through at the last minute. Worse, because I have been so busy working with a game design studio in New York (and setting up my very own game design company, as well), I found myself overloaded on far more fronts than I’m accustomed to. I kept meaning to sit down and write something – and something kept coming up.

Then it hit me as I was looking through old issues of bazaar. I was looking for a common thread, that one thing that would bring a full year’s work altogether on a single page. But it wasn’t a topic I had covered or a game I had reviewed. It was the entirety of the process; it was realizing and recognizing my own dedication. Even if it meant burning the midnight oil (and it did), I’d get this article written.

I suppose this is a bit of an opinion piece in that regard; a reflection of sorts. You see, when I first started writing for bazaar, I never intended for it to become what it is today. No, I just wanted to talk about gaming with the general public and this was the best place to do it. Between the Kuwaitis and expats here, gaming is a big deal. So, I thought, “heck, why not.”

But I had no intention of writing a column.

Then one of the staff members asked me if I wanted to follow up the March issue (of 2011) with another piece in April. So I did.

Then a little magic happened. I found that I actually enjoyed the less technical side of writing a column. You see, unlike a lot of my other writing (which is very structured and requires a certain level of technical skill), writing for bazaar had an entirely different feel. I had one of those moments (the aforementioned “magic”) that I think all writers lust after – a moment best described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi as flow. The article just came together. All of you writers out there nodding your head up and down – yup, we know.

Of course, the more I thought about it, the more the idea of a column started to grow on me, too. Besides, bazaar and I had already been out on two successful dates. Why not go for three? Plus, I knew I’d get a chance to talk about the games I loved (and suspected a few of you loved, as well). So I stepped up and continued to write. It didn’t matter if it was about my new iPhone, some apps I was exploring, or how I was trying to maximize my time so I could write, game, and still hit the gym. I’d make this happen. And, I have.

There’s a certain pride in following a thing through – whether that thing is finishing Zelda: Skyward Sword, running 5k, or completing an article. When we finish the things we love, its even better. I suppose that’s the part of it, too. You see, while bazaar isn’t the first magazine I’ve ever written for (shssss… she doesn’t like to hear about my exes), it’s definitely the one I’ve enjoyed the most. It’s also the first place I’ve ever had a regular column. I think that’s pretty cool, too.

So, what do I have planned for the next year?

Well, I have a lot, actually. I’ve a few games I’ll be playing, including the Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning that I suspect I’ll definitely want to chat about. I’ll also be looking at some consoles – including the PS4 (which isn’t slated to release this year – but some of the stuff I’ve seen suggests we may be pleasantly surprised). In the fall, I’ll be snooping around another major con (cough, Gen Con 2012, cough) – and this time I’m bringing people from Kuwait with me! I predict a freakish high level of geek, that’s for sure!

Well, I’m once again coming to the end of another article. Thanks for letting me celebrate a little and especially for reading. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be writing this article!

Here’s to all you bazaar readers out there; wherever you are!