Seventh Sanctum Blog

Fan To Pro: The Book

And it's done.  The Fan To Pro book I've been working on, blogging about, and mentioning for months is done and out at Lulu.com.  In a few weeks if all goes well, it'll be available internationally.  Fan To Pro is my other hobby, a guide for professional geekery.

It's done.  It still hasn't quite sunk in.

So now, you've got my distilled advice, wisdom, and exercises for turning from geek to progeek, fan to profan, in one handy guide.  From learning to see fandom differently, to career brainstorming exercises, to using fandom as a tool to help you relocate, its all here.

It's been quite a journey - but it's been worth it.  I learned a lot, did a lot, and now I have a single tool that lets me help people turn their geekery into their career.  I can hand them a book and say "start here."

So what's next?  Well I promote the book, I speak at more conventions, and I do what I always have done - help people out.  I believe in the power of careers, and in the powers of geeks, fans, and otaku.

Of course there's other books in the works with some similar goals.

So go on, check it out!

Oh, and I've already collected notes for "Fan To Pro" Second edition . . .

- Steven Savage

Contest Updates

Sorry for the absence of contest updates - been a but busy.  But here's the latest:

• Honey Detonator
• Date Healer
• Curious Card
• Rage Mind

As always the contest is here.

- Steve

Latest Contest Updates

More entries for the contest!

• DEATH BOSS
• Mistress Three
• Twilight 9
• Space X Ocean: Romance Captors

- Steve

Superheroes and the Unlimited Power

Originally posted here at Fan To Pro.

Why Superheroes?

They're in our movies.  Every few years there's a rush of superhero films (and apparently a big rush as of this writing).

They're on television.  We've been having superhero stories for quite a few years now.  We've also had "superheroesque" shows like Buffy and Supernatural, which are superhero stories with other trappings.

They're in games, despite the fact that superhero games have a dismal history with a few shining gems.

They are, of course, in comics.  Comics may expand their themes in North America, but it keeps coming back to superheroes.

So, why superheroes?  Why are they everywhere, and even when they fade, why do they come back?

Originally posted here at Fan To Pro.

Why Superheroes?

They're in our movies.  Every few years there's a rush of superhero films (and apparently a big rush as of this writing).

They're on television.  We've been having superhero stories for quite a few years now.  We've also had "superheroesque" shows like Buffy and Supernatural, which are superhero stories with other trappings.

They're in games, despite the fact that superhero games have a dismal history with a few shining gems.

They are, of course, in comics.  Comics may expand their themes in North America, but it keeps coming back to superheroes.

So, why superheroes?  Why are they everywhere, and even when they fade, why do they come back?

Contest Updates!

Latest contest updates here

• Guerilla Culture
• Ragnarok Stones
• Royal Sanctuary Automation

- Steve

Interviews For You Creative People!

OK you would be artists and authors, I have two posts up on the Fan-To-Pro sister blog where people who made it in art and writing share their experiences.

Marrus, author of 'Lightsurfing' shares her story of living her own, creative life.

Author Leona Wisoker tells her story of getting to publication - and more.

Thanks to these two great ladies for sharing their experiences!

- Steve

B-Movie Contest WInners!

We got the results in!  Thanks for all the judges hard work - and don't forget our new contest!

Grand Prize

• Helen of Troy Goes To Planet X by Keflavik

Runners-Up:

• I was a Modern Day Caligula by ShotQueensOfRhye
• Bloody Groundhog Day by Tymime

This contest appeared to be hard to judge.  What I noticed was most telling was that things that embodied decades did well, especially earlier ones.  We've got 2 cheesy 50's and one classic artsy 70's winner.

Thanks to all who participated!

- Steve

Some folks have asked about the status of the B-Movie contest. Unfortunately some of the results are coming in late. I expect to have the contest judging complete in a day or two.

- Steve

Our Latest Contest: Anime Mania!

This contest runs from February 2, 2010 to Midnight, EST, April 15th, 2010.

We just had some B-movies, and now it's time to move to something a little more animated!

Your goal is to design a poster, promo card, wall scroll, CD Case or similar piece of Anime mania - around an anime that never existed!

Here's what you do!

• Go to the Anime Title Generator and generate titles until you find ones you like

Now when you design your little piece of memorabilia, you also want to give us a summary of the anime:

• The year it was made, and any interesting stories about its creation.
• A description of the plot and characters.
• Any other extra detail to make it more believable!

Rules:

• You may make up to two entries. You may not reuse results among entries.
• You may use other generators if you wish to add more contents or detail to the entry.
• You may submit "for fun" entries as many times as you want. These are entries entered with no goal of them being judged, but to share with others. You may swap "for fun" and official entries at any time.
• You may use ANY medium as long as you can eventually put it on the web as an image - painting, CGI, cosplay, sculpture, baked goods, etc.
• You are responsible for hosting your entry in an image format at your own site, deviantart, photobucket, or another such place etc. Direct submissions of art will be rejected in most cases.
• If your entry has nudity or mature content, you are responsible for warnings or proper classifications on the storage site. There will be a warning on the link from the contest page to the art. Please keep things within reasonable good taste.
• If at all possible, post generator results at your hosting site so people can judge how well you followed them. I must have the generator results there, or sent to me as part of your submission, so the judges know what results you used.
• Entries must be made specifically for this contest - previous entries or other generator-driven art may not be used.
• Please post a link back to this page with the entry.

To Submit:

You may submit your creation in one of several ways. Please note the rules have changed below.

• You may use the "Send Comment" button in the menu to send a link.
• You may email me at SeventhSanctumSite (at-@-sign) gmail.com.
• If your entry is not posted within seven days, please re-submit it..

All entries must include a link to the art. As noted, please ensure the results of the generators used are at the point of storage. Please be sure that there is some way to contact you if you have won so you can get your prize - email, AIM, something specific tied to your submission.

Prizes

• There will be one (1) First Place winner, who will recieve a $40 gift certificate from amazon.com or an appropriate vendor of the winner's choice.
• There will be two (2) Runner-ups. Each will get a $25 gift certificate from amazon.com or an appropriate vendor of the winner's choice.
• Winners may not participate in the next contest, but will instead be asked to judge it.
• If you win three contests here, be it grand prize or runner up, you will be inducted into the The Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame entrants may not enter future contests except "For Fun" entries, in order to encourage new artists to compete.

Just wanted to let you know the last contest is still waiting on one judge. So, I'm holding off starting the next one for a day or two!