Weekly Update 2/3/2013

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I realized that with all my projects, you’d like to hear how they’re going.  Of course I’ve got my update page here, but it’s a bit more technical.

First up, Quest For Employment, is going nicely – and it seems that it’s release is selling my other books.  Which I can’t complain about.  I still need to convert it to iBook, but just haven’t had the time.  Also, would you want to see it in print?  Let me know!

My work to convert my last two Focused Fandom books into print is moving ahead normally.  I think I’ve got the formatting good so I’ll be running test copies soon.  This is a tetchy part as at times I’ve had to run 3 print copies to get books right, so we could be seeing a month or two just due to delivery times.

There’s also a few more things brewing, so stay tuned!

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

 

Can You Bring Business Along?

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Last week Rocky Agrawai of Venture Beat noted the simple painful fact that big box retailers have more online competition and need to upgrade.  He then documents his own painful big box experiences which you really don’t see in online retail (often because they’re screwups caused by being there).

Big Box retail needs an upgrade, he concludes.  I concur myself; most of my experience with Big Box these days is Frys, who has wisely chosen their own focus (crazy selections and sheer enthusiasm in bulk).

In fact, Rocky then went on to discuss how department stores need help too.  I imagine if he is going to fully explore businesses who are behind the times, he’s going to be very busy – and I encourage him, he’s got great insights.

We probably wouldn’t be complaining about this two decades ago as the stores wouldn’t have comparable experience.  We also probably wouldn’t be complaining as much as it’s a different economic and cultural time.  But in a day of cut-it-to-the-bone, short-term thinking, Big Box stores and many others often feel rather miserable.

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Content Reincarnated

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Many, MANY years ago I used to do a column on worldbuilding called Way With Worlds.  So I was thinking of repackaging it, rewriting some of it, and then putting it free online.  If you’re interested, by the way, let me know.

This is making me think how eBooks can actually revive all sorts of dead, forgotten, leftover, and otherwise unused materials.  How many of us  have something that we might as well just blow a weekend and put online?  How many of us have something that will be worth it to someone (and will reach them as it’s free)?

This also makes me wonder how many amazing things people may or could casually put online that we may miss.  Then again if fifty people enjoy some great RPG adventure you created and forgot about, isn’t it worth it?

Then let’s ask what our legacy may be.  How much of this could outlive us?  How many people could be immortalized for a short time by posting works online, or even have them posted posthumously?

It’s humbling, intriguing, and wonderful.

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.fantopro.com/, nerd and geek culture at http://www.nerdcaliber.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.