Abnormal Strength

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You're not normal.

OK, technically none of us are normal.  Normal is a statistical concept, and if you meet anyone who is actually "normal" then they're pretty abnormal.  Normal is for math and stats, averages and estimates.  It's not for people because we're usually all not normal.

In fact, if you think of it, abnormality is great.  Abnormally strong, abnormally smart, abnormally creative – those are powers, abilities, gifts we can use.  You're probably better at something than a lot of other people you know, and you feel pretty good about that.

If you're a geek, and you're reading this so you probably are, I bet you have a lot of abnormalities.

Good.  Because they're your strength.

I want you to look at what makes you different, odd, weird, statistically out there and ask yourself what is a strength or can be.  Your ability to draw well is abnormal.  Your ability to focus obsessively on cosplay is abnormal.  Your ability to memorize sports statistics better than most people is abnormal.

All of this abnormality is, in many cases, being pretty damn good at something or damn dedicated to something – or both.  It's a strength, a power.

So revel in your abnormality.  Identify it and celebrate it. Accept it and enjoy it.

Then?  Figure out how to use it in your career.  Because what sets you apart is what you can build on to make a good, productive, and satisfying career.

– Steven Savage

The Power To Do Better

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Youtube, Lulu.com, BlogTalkRadio, and many more websites and services out there are throwing down a challenge.  It's not apparent, but in time I'm betting it'll become moreso.

It's a challenge to all those people who say "I can do better."

Think you can make a better music video?  Book?  Web page?  Think you can sell your art better or sell your crafts better?

From Etsy to Smashwords, the tools are out there that, the next time someone says they can do better with some creative endeavor, they have the opportunity to put their money where there mouth is.  There's no reason not to publish a book or sell cosplay materials online, because there's many ways to do it.

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Go Farther: Foodify Your Fiction!

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Last week I wrote about how I wanted to see more economics in genre stories like fantasy and science fiction, to see it be more part of good worldbuilding and plotting.  Economics affects our world, so I figure why not fictional worlds?  Besides, adding economics to your world makes it richer and more believable.

So in this "Go Farther" I want to suggest something else that is often missed in genre fiction and world building.  Something near and dear to our hearts, or organs slightly lower.  Something you may even be indulging in as you read this.

Food.

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