Seventh Sanctum

Seventh Sanctum: Next

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On 9/4/2023 I launched the new Seventh Sanctum, 4.0 if my numbering is right.  I was able to fix most of the bugs, but found some resource issues that required me to revert the code.  So while I take a look at what’s going on, here’s my plans for the future.

I know I can’t maintain the site forever – if nothing else, I won’t be around forever.  So, I want to add some archives for people to use my work to make their own generators or just copy mine.

So here’s the status of the site – it’s running some old code that probably won’t survive many future server upgrades.  I’ve got a modernized site ready to go, but it’s got some unexpected errors I need to troubleshoot (though I think I have an idea of what’s wrong).  It’s a reminder that I probably can’t do this forever.

Truth be told, I also realize that I won’t be around forever.  Seventh Sanctum has been around nearly two and a half decades, so as you may guess I’m not young.  The last few years with COVID, deaths in the family, etc. were a reminder of how life can change – and end.  So I have to ask what happens when I’m gone one way or another – be it technical ineptitude, my limits, or life changes.

I also have to prioritize my time.  Life has changed a lot, as have my priorities, especially in the last few years.

So here’s my plans for the Sanctum – and you’re part of it!

First, I’m going to keep the Sanctum running as best I can in the near future.  I don’t really know if I’ll be up to make new generators anymore to be honest, but let’s see what happens.

Secondly, I’m going to start making my generator notes and data available to you.  The data is pretty easy to just bundle up, but I also want to make some notes on how to use it.  I’ll make this very visible on the site so you can just download it and go do your own thing.

Replicate my generators.  Enhance them.  Build your own.  Learn from them.  Whatever works for you.

I also will keep my links to other generator sites so let me know of cool ones you do or make.  This way the Sanctum points out new talent – and old talent.  Plus I have a few other ideas.

So that’s the plan.  Let’s see what happens – and what you might do.

Steven Savage

Steve’s Update 8/22/2021

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr.  Find out more at my newsletter.)

First, I’m back to a lot of giveaways:

A School of Many Futures grammar check is done, so now it’s assembling the core document and final tweaks. Then I have to break up the chapters. Still on schedule, but this assembly part seems boring (and I have to check hundreds of pages of formatting).

“The Agile Writer’s Mindset” is coming along, at least in my head. The idea is a more “template-driven” guide than Agile Creativity. I want something where different lessons follow different patterns.

The Way With Worlds series still not back until November. Sorry.

The Seventh Sanctum rewrite looks good. I have four more generators to fix up then it’s on to full conversion and test deploys!

Steven Savage

Steve’s Book Update 8/3/2021

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I write a lot and have quite a few books.  So now and then I post a roundup of them for interested parties!

The Way With Worlds Series

This is what I do a lot of – writing on worldbuilding!.  You can find all of my books at www.WayWithWorlds.com! 

The core books of the series will help you get going:

  • Way With Worlds Book 1 – Discusses my philosophy of worldbuilding and world creation essentials.
  • Way With Worlds Book 2 – Looks at common subjects of worldbuilding like conflicts in your setting, skills for being a good worldbuilder, and more!

When you need to focus on specifics of worldbuilding, I have an ever-growing series of deep dive minibooks.  Each provides fifty questions with additional exercises and ideas to help you focus on one subject important to you!

The current subjects are:

Fiction

Take a typical fantasy world – and then let it evolve into the information age.  Welcome to the solar system of Avenoth, where gods use email, demons were banished to a distant planet, and science and sorcery fling people across worlds . . .

  • A Bridge To The Quiet Planet – Two future teachers of Techno-Magical safety find trying to earn their credentials hunting odd artifacts backfires when they’re hired to put some back . . . on a planet where gods go to die!

Creativity

I’m the kind of person that studies how creativity works, and I’ve distilled my findings and advice into some helpful books!

  • The Power Of Creative Paths – Explores my theories of the Five Types of Creativity, how you can find yours, and how to expand your creative skills to use more Types of Creativity.
  • Agile Creativity – I take the Agile Manifesto, a guide to adaptable project development, and show how it can help creatives improve their work – and stay organized without being overwhelmed.
  • The Art of The Brainstorm Book – A quick guide to using a simple notebook to improve brainstorming, reduce the stress around having new ideas, and prioritize your latest inspirations.
  • Chance’s Muse – I take everything I learned at Seventh Sanctum and my love of random tables and charts and detail how randomness can produce inspiration!

Careers

Being a “Professional Geek” is what I do – I turned my interests into a career and have been doing my best to turn that into advice.  The following books are my ways of helping out!

  • Fan To Pro – My “flagship” book on using hobbies and interests in your career – and not always in ways you’d think!
  • Skill Portability – A quick guide to how to move skills from one job to another, or even from hobbies into your job.  Try out my “DARE” system and asses your abilities!
  • Resume Plus – A guide to jazzing up a resume, sometimes to extreme measures.
  • Epic Resume Go! – Make a resume a creative act so it’s both better and more enjoyable to make!
  • Quest For Employment – Where I distill down my job search experiences and ways to take the search further.
  • Cosplay, Costuming, and Careers – An interview-driven book about ways to leverage cosplay interests to help your career!
  • Fanart, Fanartists, and Careers – My second interview-driven book about ways to leverage fanart to help your career!
  • Convention Career Connection – A system for coming up with good career panels for conventions!

Culture

  • Her Eternal Moonlight – My co-author Bonnie and I analyze the impact Sailor Moon had on women’s lives when it first came to North America.  Based on a series of interviews, there’s a lot to analyze here, and surprisingly consistent themes . . .

My Sites