After the session

Write the recap before it becomes a second job

A useful game-master recap doesn't need to retell four hours of play. Save the decisions and changed facts that your next session could depend on.

Start with consequences

Write down what changed because of the players' choices. A new alliance, a missed deadline or an improvised promise will matter longer than a turn-by-turn account of the fight.

Separate memory from invention

It's easy to fill a gap with what you meant to happen. Mark anything you're unsure about for review. Don't polish it into a confident sentence until you've checked the original note or asked the table next time.

Keep the rough note close

Add a page, line or timestamp beside each carried-forward item. You can return to the source when a detail is disputed without rereading the entire session log.

Stop when the next game is covered

A private preparation recap can be short. Keep confirmed changes, unresolved commitments and one or two jobs for next time. A polished story for players is a different task, and you don't need one to preserve continuity.