Seventh Sanctum

Steve’s Update 6/19/2017

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com, www.SeventhSanctum.com, and Steve’s Tumblr)

It’s my weekly Scrum style standup for the audience.  Here’s what’s up – but first a note.

The last two months have been pretty intense, its all been books and writing for the most part.  I may be changing some of my plans around so it’s a bit more diverse.

So what have I done the last week?

  • Way With Worlds Minibook #1: All formatted and ready to go!  Pretty much I can launch it any time.
  • Way With Worlds Minibook #6: Writing away.  I’m going to try and block out time to just finish it, but not making any plans.
  • “A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:” The plot is outlined!  In fact the “draft” was better than I thought!
  • Social: I spoke at Hydra-Con, made lots of new contacts, and had a great time.  Promising new con!

What am I going to do this week:

  • Way With Worlds Minibook #1: Setting up marketing and getting publishing queued up!  You should see it later next week.
  • Way With Worlds Minibook #6:  Writing more of it.
  • “A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:” Working on Chapter #1.  I might try to blitz it this weekend, but the goal is a readable draft end of month.
  • Writing: The usual blogging, plus a few other things I want to write.

Challenges:

  • Some friends are moving, which might require some of my time.

– Steve

Steve’s Update 5/21/2017

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com, www.SeventhSanctum.com, and Steve’s Tumblr)

It’s my weekly Scrum style standup for the audience.

Well bluntly this week also was nuts, with assorted work events, a friend having health concerns (resolved) and of course occasional allergies.  It’s not been the greatest week – but Agile method are about adapting.  So where are we?

So what have I done the last week?

  • Way With Worlds Minibook #5: Still going good and on schedule – I might even get a bit ahead of the game.
  • Seventh Sanctum Spotlight: That’s on hold.  This is due to the interruptions I’ve been having from allergies to events, and now convention time might cut into the results for me and other people.  So I’ll do it in June if it seems viable.
  • Professional: Attended that professional event – they’re running out of space so I found my apartment complex can host them!  A great way to network and meet people.
  • Social: Girlfriend’s birthday and book club went well.
  • “A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:” The latest plot outlines and character arcs are plotted.  Looks good again, and I think the book is taking on a more personal tone; for instance, there’s two minor characters (one extremely minor as in he’s in one scene) that by exploring I really did a  lot with the story.  This is a good lesson from the late Sir Terry Pratchett – you tell a lot more by having it personal, even if that person is gone after a scene.
  • Newsletter: The newsletter is out.  Which you probably saw.

What am I going to do this week:

  • Way With Worlds Minibook #5:  More writing.  Let’s just assume that’s the norm (and book #6 is next).  I’m thinking these books are best written in one or two big lumps not spread out.
  • Social: Fanime is going to consume a lot of time this week, as will events there.  I’ll be preparing presentations.
  • Speaking: I’m speaking twice at Fanime.
  • Cosplay: I’ll be Doctor Oobleck from RWBY at least one day.
  • Her Eternal Moonlight: A sale is coming, so pay attention . . .
  • “A Bridge To The Quiet Planet:” Next step is fleshing out the plot so it’s ready to be scene-for-scene outlined, as well as some character details.e

Challenges and blockers:

  • The Allergies are better, but I’m keeping an eye on them.  These were bad and hit a lot of people hard.

– Steve

Steve’s Update 5/7/2017

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(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com, www.SeventhSanctum.com, and Steve’s Tumblr)

And it’s time for another  Scrum style standup!  OK it’s weekly, and I prefer them daily but that’s a bit much.

First a note – I had a nasty allergy attack around Thursday which held a few things up.  I’m overall on time/ahead of my plans but it was annoying

So what have I done the last week?

  • Way With Worlds Minibook #1: Editor had a bit of a delay, so I expect to get things in a few days.
  • Way With Worlds Minibook #5: Got actually 10 questions written.  I find more and more these are best written in large amounts.
  • Way With Worlds Marketing: The bookmarks came.  They are awesome.  Let me strongly recommend Club Flyers.
  • Seventh Sanctum Spotlight: I held off on this when some allergies hit.  I’ll probably start them off in a week or so.
  • Professional: Two professional meetups, they were awesome.  I really enjoy the “Agile Crowd” here in the valley.
  • Social: Bad movie event was great.  We saw “Mac And Me” which was hideous, but before that watched “Misfits” which was good.
  • “A Bridge To The Silent Planet:” A bit harder than I expected.  It’s about 1/4 plotted with some outlines out to the end.  It’s becoming a bit more of a small novel – neither a doorstop nor a novella.  Which I realized is what I want.  However it’s a bit hard to shake the rust off so its’ slower than I wanted – and the allergies didn’t help.

What am I going to do this week:

  • Way With Worlds Minibook #5:  Write more of course.
  • Seventh Sanctum Spotlight: May or may not do this.
  • Professional: One professional event this week.
  • Social: Got a barbecue and otherwise will work on creative projects.
  • “A Bridge To The Silent Planet:” I plan to finish the plot outline this week.
  • General: Some basic chores and such.

Challenges and blockers:

  • The allergies hit hard.  I might delay a few things unless these clear up in the next day two.  Expect a possible “revised sprint.”

– Steve