This may or not not be an artist’s depiction of one of my book signings. š
Iāve made it no secret no secret that Iām a shameless self-promoter. In fact, it could be argued that I sometimes flaunt it. However, this week I had two interesting thoughts related to that this week. Well, more like one thought and one realization.
First, my self-promotion got me in a bit of trouble. I shared my latest blog in a Facebook group Iām in, and not one but two admins messaged me after deleting my post telling me not to do that since the group had a rule against self-promotion posts (because otherwise the members would be bombarding the group with them). It wasnāt the first time this had happened. Admittedly, it was kinda my fault since Iād forgotten about that rule.
One admin asked me why I promoted myself. āIām a writer,ā I replied. āItās what I do.ā She said she wrote haikus but didnāt go around saying, āLook at me! Look at me!ā I had to fight the urge to start an argument.
āWhy?ā you ask. Because the difference between me and this admin isāat the risk of sounding rudeāIām a professional and sheās a hobbyist (as far as I know). I donāt know if she has a blog where she posts her haikus, but if sheās okay with only a few people reading her stuff, thatās fine. I, on the other hand, want to grow an audience because writing is my trade and vocation. If I am to be (more) successful, I must get people to read my stuff. I figured that since Iād built a community in this Facebook group, thatād be a great place to generate interest. Apparently not. I understand why they have the rule, but I didnāt like the attitude I was getting from the admin. However, I can forgive it because she may not understand where Iām coming from. I know promotion can come across as arrogantājust look at Donald Trump (yes, I went there)ābut itās necessary in my line of work. If you have the right attitude, though, it can work. It may seem paradoxical that self-promotion and humility can go together, but I do believe itās possible.
Ironically, I learned that even I have limits on my self-promotion, which brings me to my second thought. I realized that when Iām trying to get people interested in books (or anything I make/do), Iām filled with passionate adamancy. Iām a one-man hype machine. But when people come back to me and say they loved my stuff, I almost want to refuse their praise. Butā¦I have friends who are more talented and/or successful than me! I think.
Yeah, Iām weird.
Iām not 100-percent sure why I think like this. It might be because I feel like Iām the lesser of my peers. Iām in awe of their talent and think theyāre more deserving of peopleās attention and adoration. Or I think that if I was as talented and/or savvy as my more successful peers, then Iād deserve the praise. In other words, I see a disconnection. Does that make sense?
What do you think, True Believers? Do you have similar struggles? How do you deal with these thoughts?
Hi. My name is Nathan Marchand, and Iām a freelance writer/author. You donāt know me, but I shared your recent blog post āAn Open Letter to Rey from Star Warsā on my professional Facebook page, and itās become one of the most shared things Iāve ever posted. Sadly, neither it nor you were getting much love. Heck, one or two people erroneously thought I had written it because we share the same first name. (Guilty by name association. Gah!)
When I first read your article, it did make me stop and think. I, too, am not fond of militant neo-feminism (letās call it āmisandryā) and its effects on modern culture. But after seeing the reactions to your article and discussing it with people, Iāve concluded that, honestly, youāre full of crap.
Your post is full of so much misinformation and misunderstanding, Iām not sure where to start. Perhaps Iāll start with your so-called ābiblical evidenceā since Iām also a Christian.
You cite three versesāIsaiah 19:16, Jeremiah 51:30, and Nahum 3:13āthat describe the armies of nations being judged by God as ābecoming like womenā when facing His wrath. You cite these and 1 Peter 3:7 as evidence of how God designed women as vulnerable creatures. (Ironically, the now more politically correct rendition of the New International Version [NIV] uses the word āweaklings.ā)
First, these passages arenāt meant to denote gender roles. In the ancient world, women usually didnāt fight in the army. They werenāt allowed. Culturally speaking, that was a role for men. In such an environment, they didnāt receive training and/or upbringing that made them into fighters. So, if they were to be accosted by enemy warriors, they should shrink back in fear. But that would be true of men who didnāt receive the same training. Youāve missed the point of these passages. 1 Peter 3:7 describes women as āthe weaker partner,ā which is talking about physical strength. Yes, generally speaking, men are physically larger and stronger than women. In the ancient world, this was why men did the fighting.But at the same time, it doesnāt mean women are helpless.
An artist’s rendering of Deborah from Judges 4-5.
Case in point: you neglect whole Bible stories that feature women being directed by God to take on traditionally masculine roles. Remember Deborah from Judges 4-5? She became the Judge (i.e. leader) of Israel. She liberated her people from King Jabin.
Jael killing Sisera in Judges 4. Art by Felice Ficherelli, 17th century.
Yes, she had Barak as her military commander, but he still deferred to her. It was her who spurred him on to victory. Despite his prowess, he was hesitant to fight. In other words, he was the one acting ālike women,ā as the verses you cited would say. But Judges 4 features another heroic woman: Jael. Deborah prophesied that Sisera, the enemy commander, would be delivered into the hands of a woman, but it wasnāt her. Jael brought final victory to Israel by driving a tent peg into Siseraās skull.
You might argue theyāre the exceptions to the rule, but the fact remains that these women showed that God is more than willing to use women is traditionally masculine roles if no men will step up to the plate. To paraphrase the Other from Marvelās The Avengers, āThey are not the cowering wretchesā you seem to think they are. āI could quote more scriptures about women being vulnerable in ways that men arenāt,ā you condescendingly wrote. āIām not going to bother doing that because you ladies are all capable of reading your Bibles.ā Well, I could say the same when it comes to biblical examples of strong women doing exactly what Deborah and Jael did, too. But I know youāre capable of reading your Bible, right?
Which brings me to this point: women, especially in the modern world, have had to learn to take care of themselves. Not because theyāre raging feminists who think they donāt need men, but because they have to. Theyāre single and donāt have a man to protect them. They might live in a dangerous neighborhood. So, they go learn martial arts and/or self-defense. Most hope this is a temporary situation, but even if they do get married, their husbands canāt be with them 24/7 to make sure theyāre safe. A married woman could be mugged while walking home from work. What should she do then? Nothing because it means sheās violated her so-called ābiblical gender roleā? Absolutely not!
Speaking of martial arts, you seem to think that fighting is all about strength. It isnāt. As this video shows, itās also about speed and technique. Martial arts like judo and jujitsu teach practitioners to use the power of their opponents against them. This is why women learn this and similar martial arts to defend themselves (read this article for more). They donāt require practitioners to be stronger than their opponents. These could be used by small men, too, by the way.
You seem to think that āaction heroinesā started with Ellen Ripley in the original Alien. This shows a gross ignorance of literature. Perhaps it started in pop culture with her, but female warriors date all the way back to ancient mythology. Ever heard of the Amazons? Theyāre just one of many examples dating back millennia. Need I also bring up Susan from The Chronicles of Narnia and Eowyn from The Lord of the Rings, both of which were written by devout Christians (C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, respectively)? If I had daughters, Iād want them to look up to fictional heroines like that. (Heck, Iāve considered naming a daughter Eowyn for that reason!)
You note that many of these action heroines fall back into their ātraditionalā/ābiblicalā roles as mothers because itās their God-given nature. You cite Ripley defending Newt like a mother in Aliens and Black Widow in Avengers: Age of Ultron regretting that she was forcibly sterilized as examples. You bring them up like theyāre proof that something was violated. I donāt think so. There are countless examples in nature of mothers violently defending their young (ever try to anger a mother bear? Youāll regret it). Human females will also fight to defend their children. The fact that childbearing is biologically wired into them is an undeniable part of their identity, but it isnāt their entire identity.
But this happens with male characters, too. Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings isnāt just a rugged warriorāheās also a tender lover. That seems to go counter to hyper-masculine heroes like Rambo. Some might even call it feminine.
You want to argue with the great C.S. Lewis about creating an action heroine?Witch King: “No man can slay me!” Eowyn: “I am no man! You look upon a woman!” ::stab::
You wrote, ā[Men] certainly donāt feel very inspired to fight for a woman trying her best to be just like us.Ā Sheās worth dying forĀ used to mean something.Ā If thereās nothing precious or exalted about women, why should men bother?ā This is difficult for me to address because I have known women who fit this description. I even went on a date with one. I donāt think Iād have described that girl as ātrying to be just like a man,ā but she was a lady pastor who knew martial arts. Her position, biblical knowledge, and self-defense skills were intimidating because she seemed so self-sufficient, I didnāt know what I could offer her. She seemed to have all the major bases covered. Iām not saying I have to be smarter, stronger, and/or more capable at everything than a wife, but I do want to feel like what we offer each other is equal. So, in other words, I can see where youāre coming from, but I think you take it too far. If anything, it seems like an expression of self-deprecation and self-loathing, which is sad and kind of pathetic, to be honest. I donāt know if youāre married, but if you arenāt, I think I know why. (I hate to make personal comments like that because I despise ad hominems).
Are the heroines you speak of influenced by misandry (or militant feminism)? Possibly. Some have certainly been claimed by neo-feminism. However, all good stories are written in such a way that individual readers/viewers can interpret the characters through their own lenses. I donāt see Rey or Ripley or Black Widow as feminist icons that declare, āI am woman! Hear me roar for I hate men and donāt need them!ā Rey is young girl trying to survive alone on a harsh desert planet. Ripley is a space trucker whoās forced to defend herself against a hideous monster. Black Widow is a secret agent trying to recover her humanity after it was stripped away from her. Those are universal human struggles. The fact that theyāre women is immaterial. There are many, many examples of the same sorts of stories featuring male characters.
I could probably say more, but this blog has already gone long, and Iāve spent way more time writing it when I should writing my next short story or novel.
I bet you’d *love* my first novel!
(Speaking of which, Mr. Alberson, I should send you my first book, Pandoraās Box. Itād make your head explode because it features a tomboyish, redheaded, butt-kicking but still feminine heroine).
If you read this, thanks. I hope it gives you some things to think about.
Iāve written many times before about time management and how I tend to take on more projects than I possibly could. Well, this week, that bit me in the buttāhard. Remember how I was supposed to have a book signing at the North Webster Public Library Monday?
I completely forgot about it.
You read that right. I didnāt even show up at my own book signing. Thatās never happened before. Iām the kind of person who keeps his commitments. I feel terrible if I donāt. I donāt like letting people down. Yet despite seeing promotions for my signing and even blogging about it, it completely slipped my mind. Since I was scheduled to work at my day job, I couldnāt even show up late. I spent the next 24 hours beating myself up over it until I talked with the librarians this afternoon and found out all is well. Iāve been rescheduled for June 6 from 3:30pm-6:30pm.
Me yesterday when I got the call from the library.
I had no excuse or justification for forgetting it. The problem is Iāve had a hundred other things on my mind, from writing/creative projects to family concerns to a ballroom dance showcase this weekend, and everything in between. Something was bound to get lost in the shuffle, to fall through the cracks. Itās not the first time itās happened, but it was never something this major. It was usually just something like forgetting to blog (Iāve apologized many a time for that) or neglecting my writing time (a greater crime for writers). Never have I neglected an entire event centered on me that was promoted for several weeks, if not longer, beforehand. My only solace is the library is too nice to make me wear the proverbial bag of shame over my head whenever Iām there.
At the height of my metaphorical self-flagellation over this, I told myself I should just cut out everything that isnāt work or writing from my life to avoid more gaffs like this. Now that Iām in my right mind, I donāt think Iāll go that far. Iāll certainly put some thought into cutting back on some things, though. More importantly, Iām going to be smarter about remembering my own schedule. Put it on my calendar or in my iPhone as a reminder.
Or marry a secretary. š
The point is I canāt afford to make a mistake like this again. It was unprofessional and irresponsible. At least it only happened for relatively small event. If I forget Gen-Conā¦.
So, be it known that future events will not sneak up on me like one of Master Heeyahās ninjas. š
That guy wrote “2001: A Space Odyssey,” so he should know! š
This is a subject that Iāve been pondering for a while, but it was brought to a head for me this week when I, once again, heard a new host on a podcast I listen to make the typical āmagic is always bad/evil in fictionā comment that all-too-many Christians have made for years. Iām shocked there are still people adhering to this anti-Dungeons & Dragons propaganda that was prevalent during the ā80s (the ā80s, people! Thirty years ago!) What made this even more ironic was this particular host was my age or a little younger.
This host (who shall remain nameless) has made it clear on several occasions that he thinks magic, particularly when presented in a dark fashion, should never be presented in fiction. He even said when he guest-starred on podcast run by one of his co-hosts while discussing Wonder Womanās origin in the animated film Justice League: Gods and Monsters, that he liked her āmore science-basedā origin. The more I hear him, the more I realize that it isnāt just ādarkā magic he opposed, but all magic. It makes me wonder if he hates Chronicles of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings just because they include magic, despite them being written by Christians.
Admittedly, I once held to similar views, so I canāt fault him too much. But with age (and education) came new ideas. Iāve now concluded that magic is no different than science in speculative fiction. In other words, they arenāt evil in and of themselves.
Firstāand I owe my college chum Aaron Brosman for pointing me toward thisāwhile magic is regarded by many Christians as evil, they forget that evil is incapable of creating. This idea comes from J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings (I wish I could remember where he said it). Hereās the logic behind it: 1) God is wholly good. 2) Everything was created by God. 3) Everything God created was good (Gen. 1:31). 4) Everything that is now āevilā was once good. 5) Ergo, evil can only corrupt what was once good.
By extension, this means that God, not Satan, created magic. One only has to look at the miracles performed by prophets like Elijah, the Apostles, and, yes, Jesus Himself to see āmagicā at work. They call fire from the sky (2 Kings 1:10), healed the sick (Acts 3), and even raised the dead (Elijah ā 1 Kings 17:17-22; Jesus ā John 11:1-44). In other words, fire magic, healing magic, and necromancy (sorta). And these were God-fearing men and the Savior Himself, not people like the Witch of Endor (no, she didnāt hang out with Ewoks).
The difference here is twofold: 1) the source of the āmagicalā power, and 2) the motivations for using it. The purpose of magic, whether in real life or in fiction, is ultimately to acquire power. This manifests as command over the elements, animals, spirits, and/or people (curses, love spells, etc.). This grants the user certain abilities and/or privileges. So, the reason God forbade the practice of magic in passages like Deuteronomy 18:9-12 isnāt because the practices themselves but because mankind would use it to seek power separate from Him. This has been humanityās tendency since Adam and Eve sinned. God knows this and doesnāt want anything to come between Him and His creation. Along with that, the source of much of those magical powers was demonic, so itās also a form of protection. The Devil and his angels may promise power to those willing to ally with them, but in the end they will only exploit and torment those who fall into their clutches.
Now, that isnāt to say that all depictions of magic in fiction should be forbidden. The sources of the magic arenāt always demonic. Even when they are, theyāre presented as evil, or at the very least in a negative light. For Christians to shy away from the realities of evil is arguably naĆÆve.
So, I have a question for you: If magic is about the acquisition of power, how is it āholierā than magic?
Stop and think about it. In both real life and fiction, sinful people use science to acquire power apart from God. Some perhaps think that by using science they can become gods themselves, in some way. Stories like Frankenstein by Mary Shelly touch on this theme. Dr. Frankenstein seeks to overcome death itself by conducting experiments to reanimate dead bodies. He uses science to violate the natural laws put in place by God Himself (mind you, death didnāt exist before the Fall, but I digress). In real life, humanity used science to create the nuclear bomb, a weapon whose power rivals that of mythical gods, if not God Himself. Speculative fiction is replete with mad scientists who seek power through the use of science. Are they any different from the sorcerers in fairy tales? But just like magic, God created science, so science isnāt inherently evil.
This is why Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that it wasnāt enough to simply not murder or commit adultery. No, it someone was angry at his fellow man or lusted after someone, he was already guilty because he sinned in his heart. Itās relatively easy to keep rules. Even the Pharisees did that. But Jesus cut through that and went straight to the, well, heart of the issue. It wasnāt enough to keep rules: what truly mattered was oneās motivations and thought life. He later said, āBut the things that come out of a personās mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughtsāmurder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slanderā (Matthew 15:18-19).
So, no, magic isnāt the Devilās creation. Writing characters who utilize supernatural power that isnāt demonic and for the right reasons isnāt immoral. Writing characters who do use demonic magic for acquiring power for evil purposes is true to life.
I would encourage you to take a closer look at what the Bible says about magic. Itās not as simple as you think.
P.S. I understand there are people who may choose not to read/watch/play such stories because they were once involved in the occult, and I can respect that. Thatās like an alcoholic avoiding beer.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Are magic and science no different?
You may find it strange that Iām blogging about this. Marti Olsen Laney, author of The Introvert Advantage, would have you believe that we live in an āextroverted worldā since one in four people are introverts.
Then I, somehow, made friends in most of them. Seriously, most of my friends are on the introvert side of the spectrum. I have no idea how or why that happened.
It’s these sorts of statements that upset me. >:(
Sadly, Iāve also known pretentious introverts who did nothing but sing the praises of introversionāand, by extension, themselvesāto the point of negatively stereotyping extroverts (insensitive, unintelligent, etc. Heck, one introvert I know even called them āvampiresā since they re-energize being around other people). There are numerous articles saying that introverts are attractive and sexyāone even comparing them to James Bondāusing descriptions that I thought were what any man should be in order to attract women. While they donāt come out and say itāand I admit I could be reading into thisāthe implication seems to be that introverts make for superior spouses. Perhaps even superior human beings.
So, while I apparently live in an extroverted world, Iāve run in circles that derided extroverts or at least my extroverted tendencies. Iāve often hated my own personality because of it. I wasnāt allowed to get animated or boisterous: these were always unattractive social faux pas, no matter the context (I was even accused of being homosexual because of it, since, apparently, straight men are always introverted [note the sarcasm]). I can recall playing video games with a particularly pretentious introverted āfriendā (who later stabbed me in the back) telling me the excited squeal I made when I pulled off something crazy was a sound that was meant only for the bedroom (Iām sure you get what he meant). Disliking loneliness was a weakness. Being talkative was a sin. It even seemed at times that introversion was the āmore Christianā personality to have.
Stop it with the stereotypes! Extroverts (and introverts, for that matter) are far more nuanced than many people realize. Just read this article on extroverts. It dispels the myths. Just because extroverts like being around people doesnāt mean they canāt stand being alone. Extroverts are human beings, and that means they sometimes lead some time to themselves. The opposite is true of introverts: humans are social creatures, and studies have shown that they are happier when connecting with each other, so introverts canāt hide in their rooms forever. One is not superior to the other. Anyone who says so is a narcissist trying to obliquely brag about how awesome he thinks he is.
Maybe this blog, in the long run, will serve less as a defense of extroverts and more a defense of my own personality. I admit that I take it personally any disparaging things said about extroverts. As you can see, itās something that didnāt happen in a vacuum.
Itās time extroverts and introverts alike learned to appreciate one another and learn from one another. Weāre all wonderful people with much to offer. We are equals.
Donāt silence the extrovertsāsilence the prejudice.
Yes, I promised Iād post two blogs Thursday. I didnāt get around to the second. I felt bad. Then I realized Monday was Leap Day. I couldnāt miss a chance to post something on a day that only comes once every four years. So, hereās the bonus blog. š
Anywayā¦
Iām a dreamer living in a world that seems hostile toward such people. Iām not the only one, though. Iāve heard many stories about artists (though dreamers can also be scientists and missionaries, etc.) in particular who grew up in blue collar families/communities and were discouraged from pursuing their passions. āGet a real job!ā theyād be told. They didnāt understand the dreamersā aspirations, their desire to do extraordinary things. No, these naysayers knew only of clocking in and out at their easily understood and quantifiable jobs and bringing home a paycheck.
I donāt say this to demean blue collar (or white collar) types. In fact, I admire their work ethic and down-to-earth attitudes. Many, if not most, are full of common sense and free of the delusions that pervade certain demographics of society.
However, oftentimes they are so down-to-earth, they canāt understand people who, for lack of a better term, has their heads in the clouds. Actors, writers, and directors, to name a few, often came from families like this who, at best, tolerated their kidsā unusual interests or, at worst, tried to force them into the ānormalā mold. This was usually done with good intentionsāwanting to make sure their kids could provide for themselvesābut it came at the expense of crushing their childrenās souls. It was a forced denial of who they were. It made the dreamers live while dying inside.
I know this from experience. My father has a blue collar mentality. When I said I wanted to go to college to study writing, he was supportive. He even helped pay for it. But then a couple years ago, he revealed to me that when I made that decision, he thought I was crazy. He didnāt think I could make it as a writer. I was flabbergasted, disappointed, angry. This was the man who, just a few years before, read my first novel, Pandoraās Box, and liked it; who read my newspaper articles and thought I was an ideal journalist because I didnāt put any biased spin in them. It was, to say the least, a bit of a blow, especially since I was (and am) a struggling artist.
My theory is people like this donāt understand dreamers for two reasons: 1) The dreamerās path to success is more abstract, less direct, and less certain, and 2) the dreamerās aspirations and goals are too āpie-in-the-sky.ā Going to a factory or office and putting in oneās eight-hour shift is simple and direct. The most such workers have to think about is perhaps moving up in the company and/or getting a raise. Dreamers have to take risks and think outside the box. Someone who aspires to start a nonprofit to, say, help inner city kids has to do fundraisers. Writers have to submit stories to publishers and agents. Actors have to attend auditions. In all these cases, thereās no guarantee of success, and initial success doesnāt always guarantee ongoing success. They donāt get paid a salary or an hourly wage. The closest equivalent are independent contractors. Itās also usually a slow, gradual process to becoming āsuccessfulā for the dreamer. This is why most, including myself, hold down āday jobsā until they reach a point where they earn a living doing their āunorthodoxā dream jobs. These arenāt usually the most glamorous or high-paying of day jobs, which doesnāt reflect well on the dreamers. (Iāve heard many stories of now-famous actors who worked at restaurants until they became successful).
Dreamers walk difficult roads, but if they stick it out, the results not only include a satisfying career for them, but changed lives for many others. Nonprofit organizations save lives. Writers and artists entertain and, most importantly, enlighten audiences with their art (if done right). Actors can do the same. The notoriety they gain through these can give them platforms from which they can do other great works.
This is why Iām a dreamer. This is why I support dreamers.
If youāre a dreamer, donāt give up!
If you know dreamers, I hope you will encourage them.
Are you a dreamer? If so, what are your āloftyā aspirations?
Iām getting into a bad habit of not blogging in a timely fashion. Or on time. My friend/co-author Eric Anderson definitely kicked my butt on this one since he blogged about it two weeks ago!Hence why youāre getting this and another blog today.
Anyway, Eric asked me to join him at Alma-Con, a small but growing anime/fandom convention held at Alma College in Alma, Michigan (seeing a pattern here?) š He purchased a table to promote his nerd/geek outreach ministry, Nerd Chapel, but he was selling copies of our devotional book, 42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom, so he wanted me present. Heād asked me to attend other cons with him, but I wasnāt able to make it, so this was exciting.
What follows will be similar to write Eric wrote about, but we did have some different experiences.
I arrived an hour or so after the con began. The vendorsā hallāat least the one we were ināwas only open for a few more hours. Not much happened while I was there except we met a panelist (whose name escapes me) who saw the title of our book and said, āThat sounds like something Vic would say.ā
Quoting Korath from Guardians of the Galaxy, I said, āWho?ā
He explained he was friends with Vic Mignogna, a popular anime voice actor (among other things). I was surprised to (re)learn that Vic was a Christian and went to panels to discuss faith in anime. This gentleman, Eric and I learned, was a practitioner of sect of Buddhism strangely similar to Christianity. He shared his story of how he came to this faith. He said heād come back later to talk with us, but sadly, he never came. (If youāre reading this, please contact Eric and/or I!)
Eric (right) and I (left) as Martian Manhunter and Superman, respectively.
Saturday was the long day. Eric and I cosplayed. He was Martian Manhunter and I was Superman. I enjoyed wearing the costume because Iāve gotten into better shape since the last time I wore it, and given that itās, well, spandex, I was glad for that. The most interesting stories that came from that day was meeting a young man who was a member of the āChurch of Satan,ā yet they didnāt worship Satan or even believe he existed, which was interesting. While Eric was gone, though, a belligerent cosplayer dressed as some blue-haired anime mad scientist (or something) came over and proceeded to insult me and denigrate Christianity while in character. I wasnāt sure what to think of it, so I just ran with it and smiled.
Two Alma College students were kind enough to give Eric and I their lunches from their meal plans, so we got some food from the college diner, Joeās.
The Alma College students who kindly offered their lunches to us.
I, too, wandered around. It was then I learned one of my few gripes with the con: the buildings it was held in were too far apart. It was a Michigan winter, so obviously it was cold, and tights provide little protection against such weather. I did go check out the other artists and vendors, and as usual, I had to refrain from buying a bunch of stuff (including a book self-publishing comic books). I did purchase a replica of the fob watch used by David Tenant in two episodes of Doctor Who, though. It went great with my cosplay.
Speaking of which, once the vendor hall closed for the day, I changed into my 10th Doctor cosplay. Eric and I got dinner at Joeās, where we met a fellow Whovian/cosplayer.
The fob watch I bought for my 10th Doctor cosplay.Me with a fellow Whovian cosplayer.
We then went to see MacSith, a play performed by a traveling theatre troupe from Chicago. It is Shakespeareās MacBeth if it took place in the Star Wars universe. It. Was. FANTASTIC! It combined two of my favorite thingsāShakespeare and Star Warsāin a seamless and wonderful fashion. Thankfully, I donāt have to describe it all to you since, unlike most theatre, they allowed (non-flash) photography and video to be taken. The costumes, the fight choreography, the little Star Wars flavoring to the original dialogueāit was amazing.
Sadly, I couldnāt say the same for the next event Eric and I attended. It was billed as a āmasquerade ball.ā Since weāve had ballroom dance training, we were interested in going to this unlike the rave that was held the night before. The con program even said there was a dress code, and the organizers reserved the right to turn people away if they didnāt abide by it (hence my 10th Doctor cosplay). But when we arrived, this āballā was essentially a rave with fancier clothes and no glow sticks. Seriously. The attendees broke off into a few cliques like this was a school cafeteria and gyrate to the musicā¦sometimes. The liveliest they got was during a line dance I didnāt know. I asked the DJs to play āTank!ā by the Seatbelts, which is the theme song to Cowboy Bebop, since the Pokemon theme song was played earlierāand almost nobody got excited! āHavenāt they seen this show?ā I wondered. The kicker, though, was every girl Eric and I asked to dance either didnāt know how or flat-out turned us down. The best I could get was doing a line dance when āTime Warpā from The Rocky Horror Picture Show played, and even then people didnāt seem that excited and even fewer knew the line dance, so I wasnāt able to learn it. Eric and I left after an hour.
Seriously, Alma-Con. If you say itās a āmasquerade ball,ā make it a masquerade ball! You have a swing dance group on campus: try appealing to them a bit better to run this event.
::steps down from soapbox::
The next day was gonna feature our big event: the Nerd Chapel worship serviceā¦
ā¦and nobody came. L
So Eric and I shared communion and I recorded his sermon (which, come to think of it, I need to send to him to post onlineā¦).
I left soon afterward so I could return in time to go to work that evening.
Iām keeping todayās blog simple and helpful, especially for those who want a quick reference for all the places Iāve appeared online. Or, at the very least, the podcasts Iāve been on. So, hereās an index of the shows and episodes Iāve appeared in. I discuss everything from storytelling to video games to Godzilla (no surprise, right? š ).
Admittedly, there are few not listed here. I recorded a podcast with Zachery Oliver for āTheology Gamingā that was lost when he had computer problems. The same thing happened with āThe Bestselling Fiction Podcastā hosted by Dan Dynneson last summer. Iāve subsequently recorded two more episodes with him that he has yet to post. I also appeared on GigaGeek Magazine’s podcast to talked about Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but I don’t have a link for that yet since it was broadcast live.
Regardless, happy listening!
Derailed Trains of Thought A show on storytelling and creativity hosted by my friends Nick Hayden and Tim Deal
Theology Gaming University A show about Christianity and video games
–Podcast #58 – Video Games Inspiring Other Media – Theology Gaming – My friend Eric Anderson and I discuss video game adaptations to other media with host Zachery Oliver.
–Podcast #62 ā I discuss why gamers replay video games theyāve already played with host Zachery Oliver and TGU regular Bryan Hall.
–TG Sessions #9 ā Cheapness (I.e., Youāre Not Special) ā Zachery Oliver and I discuss what makes certain things ācheapā in both single-player and multiplayer video games.
–TG Sessions #10 ā Batmanās Fifty Shades of White Privilege ā Remember when this video made me a troll magnet? I also incurred the wrath of trolls about an essay I wrote for TGU. Zachery Oliver and I discuss all of this.
–Podcast #72 ā One in a Mijinion ā I join Zachery Oliver and Roberto Iraheta 20 minutes in, and in our ramblings we set out to solve a very important mystery: What the heck is an Infinity Mijinion? (In case you donāt know, thatās a Mega Man boss).
The Weekly Hijack A āspin-offā podcast from āDerailed Trains of Thoughtā that discusses TV shows
I do a Google search for “extroverted writer” and discover that an old TUFW classmate has a book on the subject. Who knew?
I sometimes wonder if my writing is hampered by my own personality. What do I mean by that? The fact that Iām an extrovert.
Traditionally, writers are seen as introverts. Itās not surprising since they have to retreat into their office (or, as I like to call it, the āFortress of Solitudeā) away from people and other distractions so they can pound out their daily word count. Writing is a lonely art and profession. Thatās why it seemed best-suited for introverts, who thrive in such an environment. This isnāt to say there are no extroverted writers. Just look at journalists. Theyāre always out and about looking for material.
But then you have those rare birds like me who are extroverted but also filled with stories to tell. It does have its advantages (Iām a pretty good salesman and enjoy networking), but I can be pulled away from actually writing if offered hang-out time. Thatās partly why I had to institute a new plan for how much material I could produce. It doesnāt help that Iāve seemingly become popular lately. This weekend alone I have several friends, my old English/writing professor, and family who want my attention this weekend. In anticipation of this, Iāve been scrambling to get stuff done while also going to my day job, so you can imagine how stressful that can be. Admittedly, most of these deadlines are self-imposed, but they nonetheless hang over me. (Iām particularly disappointed I havenāt made a new āBut I Digressā¦ā episode in a month).
To use the old adage, it seems like Iām damned if I do, damned if I donāt. Either I produce new material but miss out on social activities or I socialize to reenergize myself but get nothing done. I canāt quite combine both activities (if you know how, please tell me!). What makes it doubly difficult is, as an extrovert, Iām more easily drawn to being around other people, and by extension taken away from my work. That isnāt to say that I donāt love my work, because I do. Iām a storyteller by nature. But I also know that if I didnāt have the discipline to say, āNo,ā sometimesāindeed, oftentimesāIād never get anything written.
Yet as I type those words, Iām reminded that procrastination is a common problem for most writers. Iāve read many articles talking about how writers will often find anything else to do besides writing, how theyāll come up with excuses not to do it. It could even be important things like chores that need done. And as I mentioned above, the majority of writers are introverts, so even theyāre guilty of not getting work done. They just have different reasons.
What do you, True Believers? Are extroverted writers at a disadvantage compared to their introverted peers? Do need to take special steps to remain productive in a normally solitary profession? What are those steps? Iād love to hear your ideas!
He kinda looks like me…if I was skinnier than a bean pole. šJust a quick blog today since Iām busier than a workaholic. At least thatās how it feels. But thatās a story for another time.
First, I want to announce that I plan, schedule permitting, to attend Alma-Con in Alma, Michigan, February 5-7. My friend/co-author Eric Anderson will be running a table for his ministry Nerd Chapel in the vendorās hall, where he will also be selling our devotional, 42: Discovering Faith Through Fandom. Iāll be there helping him with his table and a worship service he plans to have that Sunday. Feel free to come see us.
Now on to the main thrust of this blog.
Iāve been thinking a lot about how I need to manage my writing time better, especially when I keep getting projects thrown at me and/or I bite off more than I can chew. So, in light of this, I wanted to share with you what I think should be a reasonable amount of material you can expect from me. It may take me a bit of time to get used to this new schedule, so donāt expect me to get into the rhythm immediately. I also reserve the right to change my output at any time.
Regardless, here it is:
-one (maybe two) articles a week for Examiner.
-at least two articles a month for GigaGeek Magazine.
-one (maybe two) blogs a week on my website.
-one āBut I Digressā¦ā video a month (with intermittent āDigressionā videos as they come to me).
These are the things I want to do with regularity. Iām seeking other freelance opportunities while also writing books, among other things.
Did I mention Iām crazy?
A Man from Another Time Exploring Another Universe
