Steve’s Update 8/30/2015

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So a lot’s going on, and here’s what’s up!

First, sadly, I won’t be speaking at Kraken-Con.  They’ve got an incredible slate of people there and limited room, so there wasn’t space – I’d normally be disappointed, but this September is pretty insane.  They do it twice a year and I say go to both if you can because they’re aswesome – this September they actually landed Zach Callison.  Yes, Steven Universe. As a Steven, I recommend you go see him.

All my schedule still up to date.

Plot Twist Generator

Now let’s talk the Plot Twist Generator which is now in early Beta.  OK, I’m not entirely sure what early Alpha and early Beta are in reality since most people have broad ideas, but my take is “it’s now vaguely kind of useful”  I’ve managed to do enough research and get enough feedback that I have a lot of ideas to put in – and once I get there it’ll be close to done.  Now I have to do them.

This one is far, far harder than I expected.  Twists can be general or specific, tropes or unique, simple or complex.  I figured there’d be some archetypes and patterns to mess with, dump a bunch of data on it, and it’d work – but instead there’s a lot more complexity and potential complexity.  So, lesson learned.

I will probably need a break after the next update in a week or so.

Way With Worlds

Almost done with my latest editing sweep.  I’m doing one more in September, then it goes to my pre-readers for awhile.  I can say there’s a lot of good advice, but damn did some of it need a rewrite.  There’s also things I added or expanded on.

The format looks good, and I plan to send out  a sneak peak with my newsletter in the near future.  Don’t forget to sign up – plus beyond the free updates, you get my LinkedIn Guide.

I already have the sequels planned, as mentioned.  Let’s just say they’ll be different, they’ll be fun, and they’ll be helpful in a different way.

Sailor Moon Book

Bonnie and I have a meeting this Labor Day Weekend to deep dive into the work we have and plan the next steps.  We’ve got enough to structure the book, but need/want more interviews.  I’ll consider it officially “back on track” if it goes well.

We’re also going to add extra time to our research post-interview to just read up on the history of Sailor Moon.  There’s a lot we need/want for context and reference, so the idea is we’ll add an extra month to the project and deep dive on the research.  That means that the book is still out late summer/early fall 2016 unless our editing sessions go really well.  Then again, Bonnie is a professional in publication so she might make up for my somewhat limited editing skills.

Other Projects

There’s a new ebook in the works, but that’s staying under wraps for now.  In fact, there’s several.

My Activities For the Civic Geek over at Informotron is going well – and I’m going to release it as a free e-book once the series is done.  That’s months away, but let’s just say it’s not the only past work I’m considering bookifying for free, so stay tuned . .

I just need the time.
Respectfully,

– Steven Savage
http://www.informotron.com/
http://www.seventhsanctum.com/

Activities For The Civic Geek: Promote Literacy With Comics

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If comics are your thing, why not specifically promote literacy with your favorite medium.

Comic books were probably one of the first forms of literature many of us picked up. From newspapers to comic books to manga, it’s one of the earliest experience many of us have of reading. It’s still a favorite of many – and a way to teach literacy because they’re so beloved and accessible.

It wouldn’t be too hard to rally your fellow comic fans, clubs, groups, and stores to organize to donate comics, time, or money to the right organizations. There’s a lot of history and a lot of community to build on – and there’s comics-oriented literacy organizations who need your help below.

Resources

  • Comics For Kids – Collects and donates comics to kids, with a focus on literacy and developing creativity.
  • Reading with Pictures – Promotes literacy with the use of comics in the classroom. Heavily oriented towards ways to get involved!

Activities For The Civic Geek: Promote Literacy

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Share the love of literacy by getting involved with organizations that promote it.

Litearcy is power. It lets us learn, lets us connect, it lets us communicate. To be illiterate or poorly literate is to be at a horrible disadvantage. If you’ve ever seen the impact of illiteracy or poor literacy on people’s lives, you know how awful it can be.  If you’ve not simply imagine your life if you couldn’t read.

If you want to help promote literacy – which fits we pro-literature geeks –  there’s a variety of literacy initiatives you can get involved in.

  • Personally, you can teach and instruct people.
  • You can get your friends, your gaming group, our club involved in literacy programs – more people, more power.
  • You can raise money through your convention, event, or drives for litearcy programs.

Nothing is more geeky than literacy, so why not help promote it.

There’s also an enormous amount of pro-literacy groups to get involved in. There’s something for every geekery, every inclination, and every location.

Best of all, imagine combining this with other pro-reading initiatives . . .

Resources

There’s a large amount of literacy programs, from global initiatives to local towns and cities.  Here’s just a few places to get involved in or take inspiration from.  This list could be (and may become) much larger.

  • Alaska Literacy Program – An Alaska-based literacy charity with an emphasis on training and certifying teachers and tutors to impart reading, writing, and speaking skills.
  • Behind The Book – New York Based organization that focuses on literacy programs and access to authors for underserved schools.
  • Believe In Books – Supports literacy programs, scholarships, grants, and book distributions in northern New Hampshire and western Mane.
  • Book Ends – A nonprofit focusing on empowering children through literacy and a focus on leadership in communities.
  • Bring Me A Book – Serving underserved communities with portable libraries, teaching read-aloud skills, and more.
  • Family Reading Partners – A coalition of people and organizations that promotes literacy via family reading practices.
  • Florida Literacy Coalition – Florida-focused group that supports adult education, adult literacy, and family literacy throughout the state. Many opportunities to get involved
  • International Book Project – Uses sustainable programs and partnerships to combat illiteracy on a global scale – with the goal of ending it.
  • Literacy Kansas City – A Kansas community-based literacy effort that uses research to ensure their programs are maximally effective.
  • LitWorld – A global nonprofit that does on-the-ground solutions to address literacy.
  • Lullalee – Lullalee promotes reading, literacy, and social change, including the use of e-learning and technology.
  • Might Writers – A Philadelphia organization that supports writing and literacy by providing free classes and teaching.
  • ProLiteracy – Focuses in safe, strong, sustainable socieities by building literacy around the globe with a variety of initiatives.
  • Raising Readers in Wyoming – A wyoming-based organization that provides children with books, and parents with ‘prescriptions’ for reading, to promote literacy.
  • Reach Out And Read – A nonprofit organization of medical providers who promote literacy and school readiness in pediatric care with parental advice.
  • Read Indeed – A nonprofit literacy organization, inspired by Maria Keller, that collects and distributes books to children.
  • Reading Is Fundamental – The largest children’s literacy nonprofit in the United States, working with kids, parents, and community to bring the benefits of reading to children.
  • Reading Partners – Promotes literacy via one-on-one coaching and a structured curriculum
  • Room To Read – Focuses on literacy and gender equality around the world, working with local communities and governments.
  • Stan Lee Foundation – An organization that builds alliances among various groups to promote literacy.
  • The Reading Tub – A volunteer-run nonprofit promitng family literacy.
  • Tracy and Clerenda McGrady Foundation – Founded by the NBA All-Star and his wife, the foundation focuses on multiple, world-wide literacy projects.