Well, what’s up?

• First you probably saw the Action Animal Generator.  That’s a way to keep my mojo going as I cope with rounds of business, illness, work, etc.  Q1 was not the calmest quarter.  Also this was fun -and there’s a kinda-related-inspired generator I want to do that is more useful.  I think I think I will have to block out time to do those more complex writing generators I wanted though.  Then again this quarter really ambushed me.
• One of the reasons I was so busy was . . . a rewrite of my first book!  Now there’s Fan To Pro’s Second Edition.  I updated my career guide with lots of new information, reorganized it, and more.  I learned a lot over the years and wanted to get that done – and that also was a larger drain on my time than expected – especially formatting.  If you do a print book self-published, get ready to spend time or money to format it right . . . (If you want any advice, email me).
• I haven’t sensed a lot of enthusiasm for the mailing list so I left that by the wayside for awhile, but am considering it and other social options.  Also, again, being darned busy.
• We’ve got more posts coming from me and Solar Scortch, and I’ll be diving deep into religious worldbuilding!

– Steven Savage

Well as mentioned I’d gotten behind on my plans for generators when I got sick and busy.  However, I’d had a chance to take some notes for more silly generators, and here’s one for you!

After seeing the premiere of “Guardians of the Galaxy” I admit I got enthused for Rocket Raccoon.  However why should we restrict ourselves to one gun-toting Uplifted animal?  So I created the Action Animal Generator to create characters like these:

First of all, I’m here – though work, allergies, and a cold hit me really, really hard.  It has been a crazy few weeks.

So, first of all, you’ve seen we’ve got a new writer, who is quite promising – in fact I’m already seeing about sharing him with Ongoing Worlds.  We always have room for more!

Secondly, the generators are definitely behind.  I hope to have more time starting next month, but that is the way it goes.  Fortunately I have some light ones in various states, so I may apply those.  But frankly, the last few weeks were not kind and I had to prioritize.  Let’s just say two of the ideas are inspired by “Guardians of the Galaxy” and I’ll let you panic over that.

Way With Worlds on the other hand is my big focus as it’s just pouring itself onto posts.  THis is a blast and I’m actually starting to write it in chunks – I learned a lot in 15 years and it’s fun sharing it.

Now at some point it may end – I figure if nothing else I’ll have dumped it out of my brain, or may take it to a Q&A column or something.  But that’s . . . probably a year away, give or take.

As noted, and I will repeat this to be honest, I will probably bundle the final columns up into a book and do a final edit/rewrite/addition/improvement.  Because I know there are folks that read and reread them and printed them out.  I’d like to leave something “offical,” organized, printed, and with a cool cover!

OK that’s it for now.  I’m gonna relax, maybe slam some allergy meds, and get back to it . .

– Steven Savage

Just wanted to give you an update on Crossroads Alpha – we’ve added a new site, Psycho Drive-In!

Psycho Drive-In is a site that focuses on video reviews with its own unique edge – television, movies, and more.  It’s actually the video section of Comics Bulletin moving to it’s own site and striking out to build it’s own direction.  You’ll also notice it’s a bit of a descendent of Indie Haven, from where the theme and look come.

It’s also a site you can write for – I’ve already gotten one new recruit for it – and there’s plenty of things to write on.  There’s also a lot to read if you want a nice juicy review or recommendation!

So go on by!

– Steven Savage

OK, so where are we?

Well, not much frankly.  Last week completely kicked my backside between my book, a reduced workweek, and some events.

• Way With Worlds continues and I’m happily writing on it!  Much more coming.  We’ll also have a guest column.
• I have not started any new serious generators yet, though still want to look at plot/prompt ones.
• In NON-serious generators, thanks to “Guardians of the Galaxy” I am thinking of silly generators for Bad Ass Animals like Rocket Raccoon (“Howitzer Hyena! Bomb Budgie!”) or SF hero titles like Star Lord (“Planet Protector!  Galaxy Queen!”) – though the latter may be useful.

But I’m here and alive.  And apparently imagining the adventures of Galaxy Queen and Bomb Budgie.  Which I would watch.

– Steve

Here’s my updates!

• We have a first submission to review for The Codex at Seventh Sanctum.  Yep, you may have another columnist soon!
• I haven’t started the next generator as formatting my next book took awhile – and I’ve been very busy with work and other things.  So I may not pick it up for awhile longer.
• Crossroads Alpha added a new alliance member, Psycho Drive In!  Check it out!
• Debating starting that mailing list idea – still not sure if that’ll really get people what they want socially.  At the same time, it may be fun.  That’s probably for later as well.

Yeah, as you can tell post-holiday?  Kinda crazy for me.

– Steven Savage

Hey gang, a quick update.

• As you saw the Magic Guild generator is done.  So now I’m planning my next move – though I need to clear up a few things formatting my next book and the like so I’ll take a week or two before starting anything.
• Way With Worlds continues of course.  For those who wondered, I actually do have a stopping point in mind – essentially revisiting all my past relevant columns, expanding them, and then adding anything new I want to write.  This of course could take well over a year to do.
• Considering implementing the mailing list idea, though that one didn’t get a lot of enthusiasm.  I’ll revisit it in a few weeks as my time is really taken up.

That’s about it for me.  How are you doing?

– Steve

Hey gang, if you’d like to contribute to Muse Hack – or really any one of the Crossroads Alpha alliance sites, be sure to drop by our site and give me a buzz.  We’re looking for people!

Comics Bulletin Is Looking For . . .

• Writers – We’re looking for reviewers and writers..
• Site Personnel – People experienced in site “traffic control” – posting, editing, and more to help behind the scenes.

Indie Haven Is Looking For . . .

• Contributing writer- I need someone willing to write written content for the website. We’re always in need of reviewers, but also people who can write features, news posts and Op/Eds if they are willing. Previous journalism experience welcome, but not required.
• Livestreamers- I’m looking for people willing to play games while doing commentary for our TwitchTV stream. Some video editing and writing skills will be required. Part of the job will entail editing those streams and putting them up on YouTube then posting those vids as posts on our site.

MuseHack Is Looking For . . .

• Contributing writer – Looking for writers who want to focus on geeks, fans, otaku and how they use their interests in career and community building. We’re interested in both general and specific subjects, and are especially interested if one wants to take on a specific focus.
• News Gatherers – I’m looking for someone who can compile relevant news articles into weekly and monthly updates, focusing on news related to.

Seventh Sanctum Is Looking For . . .

• Contributing writers – We need writers who can write on creativity – art, fiction, and more. Prefer themed columns.
• Link Gatherers – We want to publish gatherings of amusing and artistic links relevant to the audience. Light commitment, but we prefer updates every week to every few days.

– Steven Savage

Whew, sorry for the slow update.  Got over my illness, but still had a busy week.  So what’s up?

The Magical Guild Generator is done, and you can use it here.

For those of you not familiar with what inspired it, “Fairy Tail,” it’s an anime I’ve seen that a Sanctum user mentioned – specifically they wanted names of Guilds for wizards based on the series.  In general I think a “band of magical people” generator is a good idea, so I decided to make a Guild generator for Wizards, but also generalize it a bit more to have a diverse set of naming patters.

The end result?  I’d say pretty good.  The names are usable in the majority of cases, and sometimes it gets really inspired stuff.  I think I managed to use both the source material well and make a general generator.

There were also a few insights into language in this case – and for you language buffs, they were:

1. That many names do have a kind of alternating generic/specific pattern – something I explored before, but see prominently here.A guild named Witch Spell or Triton Potion would sound almost “too magical” but something named Witch Gear, Triton Gate, Wolf Spell, or Raven Potion sound find.  “Contextual” language is something for me to explore further.
2. Some terms for people – Queen, Watchman, etc. also act as descriptors/definers, and not just as titles.  Thus you may have a guild like King Triton.
3. I never realized how many names for groups there are – and how important it is to realize some groups are defined by using their number as part of their name.  I mean, there was the Jackson Five – not a guild of magicians by the way – and I believe some Sentai team names had their number as part of their title.  In fact that was part of my Sentai team namer, and again I see now how this is a pattern.

Now that you can go churn out Wizard guilds to your heart’s content, what’s next?  Well I still have the list of what people requested, and a few personal things I want to try.  But with skills re-primed, I think I want to do one of the writing-related requests, like plot twists or writing prompts.

Now I’m formatting a book – and of course always working on Way With Worlds, so as usual there’s no date.  But I admit I’ve got some ideas . . .

– Steven Savage

Just a quick note I had a busy time at work, a convention speaking engagement, and THEN I got “con crud.”  So the new generator is a bit behind.  Fortunately “Way With Worlds” is queued up ahead.

But a few more samples from the Magic Guild Generator.  I’m partial to “The Adamantine Federation,” “Totem Heart Twenty,” and of course “Unicorn Doctor Guild.”

• Angelic Locust Guild
• Codex Tooth Cartel
• Crimson Satyr Guild
• Dashing Sandman Posse
• Demonic Tooth Conspiracy
• Divine Tooth Eight
• Duke Altar Guild
• Faun Dutchess Guild
• Green Chapel Guild
• Iron Lamia Guild
• Joke Wraith Guild
• Potion Tail Federation
• The Adamantine Federation
• The Coffin Troupe
• The Demonic Posse
• The Void Union
• Totem Heart Twenty
• Unicorn Doctor Guild
• Variable Banshee Guild
• White Hippocampus Guild

– Steve