Writer, Agilist, Elder Geek
It appears I'm on a roll of late with "Go Farthers" for our fiction/setting writing audiences. I'm not done of course – I'm just noting.
I've talked about how creating a new setting – or working with an old one – can be improved by thinking about economic issues. I've discussed the importance of food in a setting – an area often ignored despite the fact that food and culturally related elements are telling an important. So what's next?
Education.
Many is the time I hear people decry their failure in their careers. They will say they have skills (which they do). They will note they have passion (which they do). They will state they understand an industry (which they indeed do). Yet their careers aren't going anywhere.
When I encounter these situations, there's one question to ask:
"Well, how organized are you?"
You're a progeek, profan, protaku – or want to be. You're working hard your career, you're living your dreams. You're a pinnacle of potential – and perhaps are even realizing it.
Except people don't get it.
You know the drill. You meet people who figure that hobby of yours is useless. You have to explain again and again that you do actually get paid for what you do. You have people wondering why you "waste your time" on the things you love. Yep, it's the usual "how how can that make you a living" routine we're all sick of.
So, let me ask this: Are you going out of the way to communicate with your critics?