Seventh Sanctum Blog

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?

We're all publisher's now

Originally posted here at Fan-To Pro.

Almost anything we progeeks are into can be considered a form of publishing.  Knowing this is important to our careers.

That may sound strange when your interest doesn't come out as a book or a magazine, so stick with me here as I take a look at just what publishing is.

Almost anything we progeeks are into can be considered a form of publishing.  Knowing this is important to our careers.

That may sound strange when your interest doesn't come out as a book or a magazine, so stick with me here as I take a look at just what publishing is.

Geek Victory has a downside . . .

Originally posted at Fan-To-Pro.

As I noted last week, geek is good, fan is fab, and the nerds have won.  Doctor Who is back,  the Trek franchise is invigorated, anime is hip, video games are everywhere.

Now, however, I'd like to look at the dark side of the Great Geek Victory.

How do companies, writers, publishers, programmers, etc. deal with the broad, new audience for things geeky, nerdy, technical, and cool?

My concern is that the hipness of nerddom is going to actually reduce experimentation.  The broader audiences have certain expectations, wishes, and interests.  These audiences also bring in a lot of cash.

The end result?  Despite geekiness being everywhere, I'm concerned that too many authors, publishers, companies, etc. are going to play it safe to maintain their new broader audiences.

I've often complained of fantasy RPGs having a standard pseudo-European/Toklein setting.  But now with games being big business is that so expected that companies are less likely to experiment, since the "same old same old" brings in these bigger audiences?

Just go take a look at bookshelves and see how we were up to our armpits in vampire romance before latecomer New Moon.

We've got classic superheroes coming to the screens, but can they evolve and grow, or will it be the same old same old because they're geek icons?  Will we be eternally remaking Batman every decade or two?

So I'm very happy my people have won.  But I'm worried the victory has been because a narrow spectrum of geekdom is viewed as successful, so it can become it's own kind of stagnation because people won't want to take chances.

As for us progeeks, well, we can keep aware of these trends and look for ways to break stereotypes (profitably).  But first and foremost, be aware - you may be in for a career where you can do what you love, but doing the same old same old as you make the same stories, video games, etc.

- Steven

Originally posted at Fan-To-Pro.

As I noted last week, geek is good, fan is fab, and the nerds have won.  Doctor Who is back,  the Trek franchise is invigorated, anime is hip, video games are everywhere.

Now, however, I'd like to look at the dark side of the Great Geek Victory.

How do companies, writers, publishers, programmers, etc. deal with the broad, new audience for things geeky, nerdy, technical, and cool?

My concern is that the hipness of nerddom is going to actually reduce experimentation.  The broader audiences have certain expectations, wishes, and interests.  These audiences also bring in a lot of cash.

Appreciating the artist

Originally posted here at Fan-To-Pro.

Let's talk artists.  No, not in the negative.  In fact, I actually think artists get too little respect and too much B.S. from people.  So, that's the subject.

Artists could use more respect.

If there's a geeky profession I see dissed too often it's artists.  They're impractacal, or they're posers, or they're not doing "real" jobs, or they're unoriginal - and of course they're just stupid because they are in a job that won't make them rich.

You get the idea.  Artists can use more respect.

Go into a bookstore.  See all those book covers?  Artists made them.

Like comics and manga - artists.

Video games?  Artists design characters, textures, models, and more.

Like animation - well, duh, that's a given.

Think how much of your environment has been jazzed up by artists, from paintings to sculpture, to just clever use of good carpet and the right furniture.

Artists do a lot.  If anything I think we take them for granted since their work is everywhere.  We get used to it.

There are also very successful artists.  We just don't always know their names unless they have some prominent work.  We don't think about the person who decorated the hotel lobby, we don't read the credits for texture design in our video games, we don't think more than five seconds about the book cover that drew our attention.  They're working away and we forget about them - but they're there working hard and paying the bills and being successful.

So you know what?  If you're an artist or know one, the next time someone disses an artist or doesn't appreciate them, set them straight.

- Steve

If there's a geeky profession I see dissed too often it's artists.  They're impractacal, or they're posers, or they're not doing "real" jobs, or they're unoriginal - and of course they're just stupid because they are in a job that won't make them rich.

You get the idea.  Artists can use more respect.

Go into a bookstore.  See all those book covers?  Artists made them.

Like comics and manga - artists.

Video games?  Artists design characters, textures, models, and more.

Like animation - well, duh, that's a given.

Think how much of your environment has been jazzed up by artists, from paintings to sculpture, to just clever use of good carpet and the right furniture.

Artists do a lot.  If anything I think we take them for granted since their work is everywhere.  We get used to it.

There are also very successful artists.  We just don't always know their names unless they have some prominent work.  We don't think about the person who decorated the hotel lobby, we don't read the credits for texture design in our video games, we don't think more than five seconds about the book cover that drew our attention.  They're working away and we forget about them - but they're there working hard and paying the bills and being successful.

So you know what?  If you're an artist or know one, the next time someone disses an artist or doesn't appreciate them, set them straight.

- Steve

Go Farther: The next (big?) thing

Originally Posted at Fan To Pro.

Hoping to be the next JK Rowling, George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry, Gary Gygax, etc.?

I'm concerned in the wake of Harry Potter, and to a lesser extent Twilight, there's going to be efforts to duplicate the success of the same - with dismal results.  I already see people accused of being derivative of Stephanie Myer when they clearly weren't.  I see a lot of imitators of the above people, and little of the passion.

So what are people waiting for?  What's the next big thing (or small thing that feels big)  What does it need?

Synergy.  Three kinds in fact.

Originally Posted at Fan To Pro.

Hoping to be the next JK Rowling, George Lucas, Gene Roddenberry, Gary Gygax, etc.?

I'm concerned in the wake of Harry Potter, and to a lesser extent Twilight, there's going to be efforts to duplicate the success of the same - with dismal results.  I already see people accused of being derivative of Stephanie Myer when they clearly weren't.  I see a lot of imitators of the above people, and little of the passion.

So what are people waiting for?  What's the next big thing (or small thing that feels big)  What does it need?

Synergy.  Three kinds in fact.

BIG post on freeness

Originally posted at Fan To Pro.  Very long, very ranty, but as it relates to business models, I figured some of my regulars, who are considering creative businesses, may be interested.

Right now on the internet there's a lot of discussion on the book "Free", a book exploring, well, the impact of freeness (and the internet's way of delivering it) on business models.  I've not read it yet, I probably should, if only to know where I'm going to fall on what appears to be a lot of inevitable arguments.

The discussions have made me speculate on the future of media - because media is a repository of geeky jobs.  Comics, books, reviews, games, etc.  What does free mean to us in such industries - or those of us who want to go into them.  I will attempt to keep my thoughts somewhat above the level of "ramble".

So imagine you're going online to provide some media - a game, a comic, an online novel delivered in snippets, etc.  You're going to do free because Free gets attention and there's a lot of competition.  Here's what I think it means for you, the professional geek

Science fiction and thoughts

I just finished watching the Torchwood miniseries (no spoilers, but I was quite impressed), and it had me thinking on just what science-fiction is.

One of the issues of the last few decades is science-fiction is often conflated with action-adventure.  I would argue this is really a case of science-ficiton settings and elements being used in an action-adventure story (the new Trek movie is a case in point).  Science fiction itself, soft and hard, often revolves around the idea of SPECULATION, when its used as more than windowdressing.

It's a case of what if, usually centered around technology and/or time-driven changes.  What if we meet aliens, travel faster than light, invent this, wait 1000 years, etc.

Science Fiction is a "what if" centered around technology and change.  I'd like to see more of that hard and soft (I often feel it's being left to the hard science fiction).

- Steve, aka X

Geeky Jobs are HARD

Cross-posted at Fan To Pro.

I was thinking over my last column on why more people don't have geeky jobs.  Something that came to mind that people often forget, and that I left out because I was focusing on personal traits, is this.

Geeky Jobs are HARD.

Want to be a pro writer?  Prepare to either make one kick-ass series, build a fantastic reputation, or write on everything under the sun - and then you still have to promote yourself and need some luck.

Videogames?  Welcome to odd hours, technical challenges you can't imagine from outside, unpredictable sales, and dealing with widespread outsourcing, dependencies, and other oddities.

Voice Acting?  It's considered one of the hardest acting professions to get into by those I know.

Animation?  Limited opportunities, limited geographic opportunities, and the need to have a killer portfolio, killer connections, and both.

An ALL of these?  You need to network, build skills, produce product, and face long hours and challenges.

I could go on, but I'm restraining myself.  Geeky jobs are HARD.

Geeky jobs produce cool things - great software, fun manga, incredible movies, and so forth.  The thing is these things come from a lot of effort, knowledge, and some luck.  The thing that makes geeky jobs so intriguing - the sheer awesomeness of what you deal with - is why they're also so hard.  Awesomeness takes effort.

I usually find that those interested in geeky jobs are not assuming such jobs will be easy.  Instead they make three mistakes.

The first mistake is underestimating the challenges faced.  It's easy to know something will be hard in the abstract - it's quite another to appreciate how hard it actually is.  Worse, you usually don't know until you go and do it - and learn the hard way.  Good research can cope with this, as can good experience - talking to others, internships, etc.

The second is being wrong about the kinds of challenges faced.  As I've harped on before, your ability to do the core work (draw, act, program, etc.) is only part of a larger skillset (people skills, organization, research, etc.).  Good research can help you here - know what you'll be facing.

The third mistake is thinking there's ever a point where you achieve some geek career nirvana and can coast.  Sure it happens to some people (or they make a ton of money), but that's rare, and frankly I expect it will get rarer in the decade to come.  Careers rarely go on autopilot unless you're lucky, well-placed, and well-organized - and with the changing world economy, my guess is that's a factor as well.  Again knowledge and research helps, as does finding ways to do what you LIKE so you don't keep looking for the day you can flip the off switch on your work.

Geeky jobs are worth it.  They are fulfilling.  But they're work.  Coolness requires effort.

If you do it right, you'll make the effort part of your life, you'll enjoy it, get into it.  Even if you work 80 hour weeks, you won't care because it'll be what you care about.  That's where Geeky jobs rule - because you care, because others care, and because it's cool, even when it's a lot of work.

- Steve, aka X

I was thinking over my last column on why more people don't have geeky jobs.  Something that came to mind that people often forget, and that I left out because I was focusing on personal traits, is this.

Geeky Jobs are HARD.

Want to be a pro writer?  Prepare to either make one kick-ass series, build a fantastic reputation, or write on everything under the sun - and then you still have to promote yourself and need some luck.

Videogames?  Welcome to odd hours, technical challenges you can't imagine from outside, unpredictable sales, and dealing with widespread outsourcing, dependencies, and other oddities.

Voice Acting?  It's considered one of the hardest acting professions to get into by those I know.

Animation?  Limited opportunities, limited geographic opportunities, and the need to have a killer portfolio, killer connections, and both.

An ALL of these?  You need to network, build skills, produce product, and face long hours and challenges.

I could go on, but I'm restraining myself.  Geeky jobs are HARD.

Geeky jobs produce cool things - great software, fun manga, incredible movies, and so forth.  The thing is these things come from a lot of effort, knowledge, and some luck.  The thing that makes geeky jobs so intriguing - the sheer awesomeness of what you deal with - is why they're also so hard.  Awesomeness takes effort.

I usually find that those interested in geeky jobs are not assuming such jobs will be easy.  Instead they make three mistakes.

The first mistake is underestimating the challenges faced.  It's easy to know something will be hard in the abstract - it's quite another to appreciate how hard it actually is.  Worse, you usually don't know until you go and do it - and learn the hard way.  Good research can cope with this, as can good experience - talking to others, internships, etc.

The second is being wrong about the kinds of challenges faced.  As I've harped on before, your ability to do the core work (draw, act, program, etc.) is only part of a larger skillset (people skills, organization, research, etc.).  Good research can help you here - know what you'll be facing.

The third mistake is thinking there's ever a point where you achieve some geek career nirvana and can coast.  Sure it happens to some people (or they make a ton of money), but that's rare, and frankly I expect it will get rarer in the decade to come.  Careers rarely go on autopilot unless you're lucky, well-placed, and well-organized - and with the changing world economy, my guess is that's a factor as well.  Again knowledge and research helps, as does finding ways to do what you LIKE so you don't keep looking for the day you can flip the off switch on your work.

Geeky jobs are worth it.  They are fulfilling.  But they're work.  Coolness requires effort.

If you do it right, you'll make the effort part of your life, you'll enjoy it, get into it.  Even if you work 80 hour weeks, you won't care because it'll be what you care about.  That's where Geeky jobs rule - because you care, because others care, and because it's cool, even when it's a lot of work.

- Steve, aka X

A bit of something from fan-to-pro and some thoughts.

Networking for geeky types - how to get into it and make it fun.

Since I meet a lot of pros and hopeful pros here, this is another thing I wanted to share - tips on Networking for progeeks.

A lot of you who use this site are potential professionals or professionals, and very seriously networking - connecting with and maintaining connections with people - is invaluable for life AND your career.  It's really seriously one of the most important things you can do for jobs, friends, and your own sanity.

The problem to me really is that Networking has been considered a "business thing" because, well, the term is used in business a lot, and discussed prominently.  But really it's a life thing.  We need to connect with and keep up with people.

- Steve, aka X

In Praise of Stupid Fun

Cross-posted at Fan To Pro.

I am all for using your hobbies professionally.  Indeed, I think the ideal life is one where your hobby and job don't exist - what you'd call "hobbies" and "jobs" are so fused you just have a "life" where the things you like make you money and give you social involvement.  To me the holy grail of professional geekdom is like that - a life with no outside (or inside).

A flaw that afflicts some progeeks, and that many don't speak to, is that it's too easy to slide into the idea that just because you're a fannish professional, just because what pays your bills also is the reason you have an extensive action figure collection, that you have to take everything seriously.  In short, every "fun" thing has to be calculated to some financial benefit.

I'm here to say that's wrong on two counts.

First, just because your hobbies and jobs are fused, it doesn't mean everything has to have some kind of calculable benefit, such as a monetary value.  Many things are worth doing for non-financial reasons, and to see dollar signs in everything is to turn things into "jobs" and loose the sense of fun.

Secondly, let me also note there is a place in life for fun, and even for dumb fun.  In fact, let me praise dumb fun.

It's OK to work on epic video games then go and play a mindless game of violence and relax.  It's OK to compose brilliant reviews and news articles, then go read trashy romance manga (or even really good ones).  It's fine to enjoy your horror films before you compose that epic website.  There's no problem in having fun, even totally dumb fun.

We all need to relax, and sometimes we need to take our brains further off the hook than at other times.  Even if you live an ideal lifestyle where there's no difference between job and hobby, you need to relax and get away from your own personal rat race - even if you like the rats.

It's fine because it refreshes you and resets you, because now and then you need to step away, and you'll often find new insights.

It's OK to have fun because you can bond with people - in fact if you're a hardcore progeek (like myself), you can fall into talking "business" too much because it IS fun for you - but not necessarily for other people.

In fact, and I advise giving this a try if you're too uptight, I go out of the way to FIND dumb fun or just plain fun.  I actually find things that would be guilty pleasures and go out of my way to enjoy them (I have a weakness for shojou anime myself, especially romantic sword-and-sorcery).  This way I actually just go and ENJOY myself.

So, never let go of fun.

- Steve, aka X