I’ve gotten used to bad commercials for video games. Especially when it comes to representing women who game. But the latest commercial for Uncharted 2 goes a step farther.

*sigh*

When I Googled for this commercial, the hits I did find thought this was hilarious. Some days it sucks being a female gamer.

I’ve mentioned that I did National Novel Writing Month back in 2005, and every year about this time I think hard about doing it again. Well, this year I am committing to it, and even though I haven’t really got a plot (ACH!), I’m diving into NaNo to attempt another 50,000 words in November.

Yes, you read that right. I’m going to try writing a 50,000+ word novel in 30 days even though I don’t have a plot.

But see, that’s part of the fun of NaNo. It will force me to just write without over analyzing everything. One of my issues is that I’ll start researching and find out my story idea doesn’t fit in the way the world works, so I’ll toss it. Other times I have started thinking about writing, but my inner editor will say “That idea has been done, and done better.” Or, that’s just “famous-movie-plot”. The thing I have to remember is something I read in a Wil Wheaton interview from last year:

I was working really hard on this one idea. I had this idea that I thought was really cool and I spent several days breaking the story before I realized I was writing Quantum Leap. This was really disappointing to me — not because I don’t like Quantum Leap, because I do, but because I didn’t realize that I had put those things together.

So I started a new story and then realized I was writing Enemy Mine. I said to my friends, “I’m writing Enemy Mine, what do I do?” And they said, “Enemy Mine is just…” Well, I forget the piece of literature, but it’s just two men on an island.

And one of these guys said to me, “Just write your two men on an island story.” And I said, “But it’s Enemy Mine.” He said, “Really, is it these two exact guys doing exactly these things?” I told him no, it wasn’t, and he said, “Then it’s not Enemy Mine. It’s two men stuck on an island together.”

Actually, you know what? I don’t think it’s name-dropping; Ed Brubaker told me that. He tells people this all the time because he was given this advice when he was a neophyte writer. He was stressing out about there not being a lot of new stories to tell and someone else said to him there are only five story ideas.

The problem for us is that Alan Moore has done all five of them — and he’s done them better than anyone ever will. But Ed said, “Men on an island. Just write it. It’s okay.”

I really try to remember this. It’s really good advice when you think about it. How many different zombie movies do I really like or love, but are basically the same plot? Lots, really. So it’s very possible to have the same basic plot, but make a good, enjoyable, yet unique to the genre, story.

I’m not positive I’ll end up with a zombie story, but I did pick up a sourcebook for All Flesh Must Be Eaten called All Tomorrow’s Zombies. When I saw the cybernetic zombies IN SPACE, I couldn’t pass it up. I’m shooting for a sci-fi story this year, yet I can’t help including some kind of horror element. It’s what I know best.

And besides, futuristic zombies IN SPACE? Who could pass that up? If you’re planning on NaNo, add me as a writing buddy!

It’s no secret how much I love Halloween. I buy Halloween jammies and clothes for Baby Grrl as soon as they appear at the store, and often dress her in them well past Halloween. She also ends up with two costumes. This year she has both Wonder Woman and Batgirl costumes.

We’ve already taken our yearly trip to Frontier City’s Fright Fest, and we’re very much looking forward to tric>>> [ WARNING ::: DATABASE ERROR ::: CONTENT OVERRIDE ::: SOURCE: EXTERNAL ] <<<

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>>> [ CONTENT OVERRIDE CEASES ::: DATABASE STATUS: RECOVERING ] <<< vies this year. We saw Trick ‘r Treat this past weekend, and we were rather impressed. I recommend it to horror fans, especially horror anthology fans. Looking forward to many more movies and Halloween specials this week!

Seven men named John Michael Smith didn’t until after the assassination of the president by a four year old boy.

The plot to 7th Son: Descent caught my attention from the beginning. It’s an addicting story that’s smart, funny, and full of action. After hearing about the reboot and release coming up on October 27th, I had to add my voice to the people heaping praise on JC.

To prep myself for the book release, I’m currently listening to 7th Son: 7 Days, which is a free audio prequel. It’s providing another side to the clones that we didn’t see before. While it’s not a requirement to know the 7th Son universe, I did like knowing it before listening. Those new to JC will still enjoy the stories and get to know his writing and podcasts. One thing is for sure. You’ll want to hear more after listening to just one.

But that’s not all that JC is providing! In addition to the book being available for purchase (which you should do if you enjoy his work), he is releasing a serialized PDF at the same time as a serialized audio episodes. So there is no shortage of ways to enjoy 7th Son: Descent.

I’m looking forward to seeing the success of 7th Son: Descent, so we will see the next two books get picked up as well. Please, visit his site and discover the story of seven men, and what the government wants from them now that the president is dead.

Technorati tags: jc hutchins, 7th son

We’re in the midst of a revolution. One that has serious impacts on artists and fans alike. Thanks to technology, art (a word I’m using to describe written, music, audio…anything that someone creates, no matter the form) is easily accessible, and because of the internet, artists can get their art into fan’s hands very easily. Some artists take advantage of the internet’s ease, and use a business model where they distribute their art themselves.

This idea really isn’t new, musicians and authors have self-published and sold out of the trunks of their cars for decades, but now anyone with a computer and an internet connection can live their dream. While this is awesome for both artists and fans, an element is introduced which wasn’t as transparent before. The artists directly asking for people to either buy their products, or donate money to them.

The former is easy to do. I’ve bought books from Henry Rollins, Cory Doctorow, Wil Wheaton, J.C. Hutchins, Scott Sigler, and Mur Lafferty. I’ve also purchased music after sampling it for free from artists such as MC Frontalot and Jonathan Coulton. It makes me feel good to support artists who make their fans feel like they are a part of their art also, and that they get more money than they would from a major label. I especially try to support the artists who provide both free and paid art so they are able to continue to produce it. Just because they provide it for free doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be paid.

Which leads into the latter option. It isn’t talked about openly very much; it usually comes in the form of a donate button on a website. However the topic exploded on Amanda Palmer’s blog recently after she posted “Why I am not afraid to take your money“.

listen.

artists need to make money to eat and to continue to make art.

artists used to rely on middlemen to collect their money on their behalf, thereby rendering themselves innocent of cash-handling in the public eye.

artists will now be coming straight to you (yes YOU, you who want their music, their films, their books) for their paychecks.
please welcome them. please help them. please do not make them feel badly about asking you directly for money.
dead serious: this is the way shit is going to work from now on and it will work best if we all embrace it and don’t fight it.

…

it’s also not a matter of whether an artist is starving or cruising on a yacht.
i would hate to see my fans turn on me once i actually have money in the bank with a “well, i would support you if you were starving, but now that you’re eating, no way.”
fuck that.
accept a new system.
feel ok about giving your money directly to paul mccartney. he may be rich, but he still rocks. show you care.
feel ok about giving it to fucking lady gaga if you’ve been guiltily downloading her dance tracks for free.
rejoice in the fact that you are directly responsible for several threads in her new spandex spacesuit.
it shouldn’t matter.
it’s about empowerment and it’s about SIMPLICITY: fan loves art, artist needs money, fan gives artist money, artist says thank you.

Fucking amen, Amanda. The example about Paul McCarney was very apt considering The Beatles are big again. Just because an artist has “made it big” as a millionaire with a mansion and a yacht doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be compensated for their art. Fans enjoy it and they should be compensated for their work.

There’s some great stuff out there. Artists take a risk when they put their art online for all to see, especially if they are doing it all themselves. (Wil recently discovered someone offering his audiobook Just A Geek for free.) Despite the risks, this business model does work (just look at Doctorow or Neil Gaiman), and if fans want to continue seeing great content, we need to support the artists. Even if it means directly giving them money.

October means fall, Halloween, and the emergence of pink items in every store. Before you buy an item thinking you’re supporting the cause, read this and do some research first

Another October is almost upon us, which means it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Thousands across the country will participate in local Race For The Cure events and the very recognizable Pink Ribbons will be seen on merchandise ranging from a pin to shirts to shoes to makeup to iPod Shuffles.

But before you buy that stuffed animal with a pink ribbon attached, stop to think. How much money is actually going to be donated from each sale? It could be that the company reached their maximum pledged donation, thus only making a profit from each unit sold. No matter how philanthropic a company claims to be, they are still a company in business to make money.

Let’s look at an example. The pink iPod Shuffle offered by Target sells for $79, yet they will only donate “up to $25,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation”. That equates to 314 units, if they gave all of the $79. Anything over that amount sold, they keep. As much as they give to charities, why cap the amount? They could give $5 of each unit sold instead, and still make a profit.

It’s all marketing. Even if they say “a portion of the proceeds” will go to the stated charity, it makes the company look like they care, and gives the consumer something to feel good about.

Just like buying something with a pink ribbon, participating in the Race For The Cure isn’t as good as donating to Komen directly. Not much of the entry fee will end up going toward the actual fight against cancer after you factor in marketing and administrative costs.

There are many things to consider when you’re going to do something pink in October. Before you plop down your money, Think Before You Pink and ask critical questions. Make sure the money you spend will be doing some good, instead of just making a company more money.