Unquiet Desperation

Just before I left for Origins, the poster you see off to the right was delivered to my home. It’s an artistically-lettered print of a poem by Neil Gaiman, entitled “Before You Read This.”

It’s a wonderful poem, and I deeply appreciated getting it. But there was no note. I had no idea who sent it.

It took a little while, but I found it was my partner in crime, Kris Johnson. I wanted to thank him publicly for being such a swell guy, and for getting me something because, in his words, “I knew you’d like it.”

The great thing about the poem (which will be framed and placed over my desk in my office), is that it invokes more images than it describes. What I mean is, as you read it, it pulls ideas to the forefront of your mind, and so far, I’ve found that it jumpstarts my creative process. Like a meditation.

If you want to have a little fun, follow the link and read the poem from the end to the beginning. To twist things, read some of the stanzas as “Before You Write This.” It takes on whole new meanings.

Buy one for yourself from the talented Todd Klein.

In this episode of of the podcast, I talk a little bit about coming back from Los Angeles, the state of my various projects, and go into some details about the fiun had at Origins 2009 this year. Also, a bonus rant/ramble about why people like me are the Game Vendors’ Worst Nightmare:

Links for this show:

• Pinax
• Origins 2009
• War, Season 5 of Heaven
• Fluxx and Family Fluxx
• Are You The Traitor?
• Necessary Evil
• The Cthulhu Mythos Encyclopedia

Names dropped: Kris Johnson, Jim Van Verth, Mur Lafferty, Ken Newquist, David Moore, Erin Moore, Natalie Metzger, Andy Steigle, John Cmar, Laura Burns

Download the show here.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

I decided I did not have time for NaNoWriMo this year. Too intense, too much work. This year, I’m going to join the ranks of my fellow passive underachievers during How Not To Grow A Beard Month, or HoNoToGroABeMo for short.

This is the brain child of Kris Johnson, a mild mannered fellow who farms a small plot of land in one of the flyover states…Indiana, or Pennsylvania, I believe. He started it last year when he decided, in defiance of generations of Finnish genetic heritage, not to shave for a month. This was the final result. “Henceforth,” he declared, “let the eleventh month be a time of contemplation, when, razor free, all men shall attempt to get scruffy and look like Chuck Norris on a bad day.”¹

And so, in a fit of solidarity, I shaved off my hard-earned whiskers. (Before, after) This month, I’ll be joining some of my friends as we see what happens when we allow ourselves to get funky wi’ the facial hair. Or lack thereof. Take your pick.

I’ll be posting pictures regularly. No…wait…come back. They’ll be small. There, there…stop trembling. It’ll be alright.

Oh, brave new world that has such things in it.

It’s cold in here.

1. I’m paraphrasing, of course.[back]

C.A. Sizemore has been a fan of The Secret Lair since day one. He has provided us with feedback and even contributed a manuscript that we simply haven’t gotten around to publishing yet. C.A. has been with us since long before The Secret Lair became a reality: he followed us here from The House of the Harping Monkey and Volcanicast, where he was a loyal, involved fan. I’m hard-pressed to think of a podcast that C.A. doesn’t listen to and equally hard-pressed to think of a podcaster who doesn’t know him. He is the best kind of fan we could possibly ask for and we are all lucky to have him.

This morning C.A.’s wife, Kelly, passed away unexpectedly. Our hearts, thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with C.A. in this difficult and tragic time.

If you have ever thought about donating to any of the podcasts that I produce, I’d ask that you please visit the donation site established by Mae Breakall and give what you can to help C.A. cover the expenses that tragic events like these always incur.

(originally posted by Kris Johnson at The Secret Lair)

photo credit: alicepopkorn

This is an experiment. I’m feeling a bit dry on the creativity side, so I’m turning to you, my readers.

What would you like to hear me talk about? Write about? I’m asking you to ask me questions. Give me topics. I’m dyin’ up here. Post them in the comments, and I promise I will answer all of them that I can in upcoming posts¹.

You know I run a podcast about geek life with Kris Johnson. You know I loved Campbellian Hero Myth from The Round Table. You know I write code for Mahalo and Podiobooks.com, and you know I talk about alternative spirituality with Michelle Belanger on occasion.

I’m hoping you can help me kickstart my muse and get writing again. Help a fellow geek out, wouldja?

So…hit me. What do you want to know?

Update: Great advice from Jared Axelrod on misplacing your muse.

You need to take off those little petticoats you’re wearing right now, strap on your man-pants, and suck it up.

He was kidding, but it’s still exactly the right thing to say. You don’t get creative by waiting around for it.

1. Unless they are too silly or offensive. I mean, really.[back]