For someone who has been a dungeon master for Dungeons and Dragons (“D&D”) since he was 10 years old, storytelling comes naturally to Steven Ade. Over the years, he has only honed the skill. Yet, Steven could never think of making writing his career option.
That’s despite Steven’s creative writing teacher in high school asking him to consider writing as a career option. In fact, he was told it was a hard career option to truly make money unless he was the next Stephen King.
But Steven was destined to be a writer. At 40, he decided to give it a try after he stumbled upon the audio series company Pocket FM.
“I listened to a few of the series on the app and realized that it was something I could do,” Steven says. “I started writing and then signed up for the Writers Benefit Program. I did not expect to get accepted, but I was, and it took off from there.”
Finally, Steven’s experience as a D&D dungeon master came to use. After all, that experience is how he was able to develop his unique style of storytelling. Steven was introduced to D&D by accident. As a child, he picked up a book by R.A. Salvatore from a flea market.
“I ended up buying every book he wrote. His world-building and character development was always so inspiring,” adds Steven, whose debut audio series, The System Creation: Intergalactic Entry, has already been a hit on Pocket FM and garnered close to 700K plays.
“A few of the main characters in my books are somewhat controlled by my friends,” he adds. In true D&D fashion, his characters’ choices often come from real-life conversations, making his stories dynamic and unpredictable.
Steven’s writing is a direct evolution of the oldest tradition humans have — sitting around a fire, telling stories. “It’s my opportunity to add to that tradition,” he says, comparing his fiction to the great epics like Beowulf and The Iliad.
But Steven isn’t just spinning tales of intergalactic adventures. His past as a musician and clarinet player in high school honors bands adds another layer to his creative expression.
Steven, who graduated from ITT Technical Institute with a degree in computer networking, has also served in the military. He was part of the deployment in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina, which left a lasting impact on him. “I saw both the best and worst in humanity,” he says, adding that the experience gave him minor social anxiety. It taught him to look beyond words and focus on actions — whether in real life or in the stories he writes.
Pocket FM: The Platform That Changed Everything
When Steven first joined Pocket FM, he didn’t expect much. In fact, he was pretty sure he wouldn’t make a dime. But the platform became more than just a creative outlet — it became a lifeline. After moving across the country, the income from his audio series helped him transition to a new home. “Without it, I very well may have been homeless,” Steven says.
With the unexpected success of his debut audio series, Steven is planning his next one, The System Creation: Rise of the Necrolord, which will be a spin-off from his current work that will focus on a single character rather than a band of misfits.
In five years, Steven wants to own a house and start a homesteading operation — some pretty down-to-earth goals for someone who spends most of his time dreaming up otherworldly adventures. He hopes to keep writing, building on his success, and maybe — just maybe — achieve the one thing he’s always wanted but hasn’t had yet: fatherhood.
As Steven says, “Choices have consequences. So do actions.” It’s a theme that runs through both his stories and his life, but Steven’s choices are leading him straight toward success.
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