Get Excited and Make Things!

Get_excited_and_make_things

My friend Ariana works with Warren Ellis to make all kinds of really cool things. Lately, they've been experimenting with print on demand technology to take creative risks that simple economics would have rendered impossible as recently as five years ago.

For example, three weeks ago, they started putting out a T-shirt of the Week at CafePress. It's a great idea: they put up a design on Sunday, it's available for a week, and then it goes off to the land of wind and ghosts to make room for something new. If you like the design, you grab it (possibly enjoying that you're part of a limited edition), and if you don't like the design, you just wait a week and try again.

Warren says: "TOTW is basically a joke that Ariana and I pull each week in our joint guise as the International Electrophonic Unit. Basically, we take some of the stupider things I’ve said on Twitter and elsewhere, often in a state of extreme alcoholic refreshment or severe sleep deprivation, and put them on a t-shirt. Ariana set up a Cafe Press store (because this is a joke and engaging with a serious maker of t-shirts would be less funny to us), and… well, once a week, here we are."

As a creator and as a consumer, I think this is awesome. The only thing Warren and Ariana are actually investing – that is, the only risk they're taking - is the time it takes to create the design, and if you're a creative person who, uh, enjoys creating, that's not really a risk as much as it's a chance to play with your toys and possibly make a little money while you do it.

This is incredibly inspiring to me, and I hope that it's just as inspiring to indie artists everywhere. Why not take a creative risk and see if it works out? Unlike the old days, when we had to purchase a lot of stock ahead of time and hope we could sell it, we can just Get Excited and Make Things, knowing that the very worst that can happen is that nobody likes that thing we made as much as we thought they would.

In the old days, creators had to hope that:

1. A store would carry their Thing.

2. Once in the store, their Thing would be in a place where people could see it.

3. People would buy their Thing.

4. People would buy enough of their Thing to get the cycle to start over at step 1.

Oh, and to have any hope of being successful, they have to do this in different stores all over the place, competing for space and attention with huge companies that have massive advertising budgets. It was, to say the very least, daunting.

But look at how much things have changed! Creative people can get excited, make something, and get it to their customers without ever having to go through any of those steps. The financial risk has been almost entirely taken away, so now we can take chances on our really crazy ideas, just because we're excited about them.

For example, when my episode of Criminal Minds was going to air, I got excited and made an audio version of the production diary from Sunken Treasure. The time elapsed from the moment I got excited until the moment I had an actual thing was about five hours. Now, it's hasn't exactly sold like crazy – only 242 total sales – and if I'd invested in actual product instead of doing it POD, I would have lost money on it for sure … but I spent half a day making something that has gotten great feedback from the people who listened to it, and I earned about nine hundred dollars for my trouble. Clearly, it's not a sustainable full-time business model, but it was certainly as successful as I could hope one of my Crazy Ideas would be.

If this sounds even remotely interesting or inspiring to you, I encourage you to read three posts Ariana has recently written on her blog about her experiences with POD:

TOTW: Three Weeks On

Will tomorrow’s design be niftier?  Who knows?  I’m taking the opportunity that a weekly project affords to try and up my game each time… but whether you like the next (or the next, or the next) better is, well, it’s all a bit like Let’s Make A Deal,isn’t it? Only instead of fabulous prizes and curtains named Door #4, it’s fabulous bits of silly on whatever clothing options we’ve decided to offer this week.  But the basic premise stands: Either you decide this week’s is the design you want… or its gone and that’s that.

[…]

with POD, there’s really no “…while supplies last!” either.  That’s brilliant, too, of course — a huge part of putting Shivering Sands on Lulu is just that: it can stay there as long as Lulu does, still pulling in a sale or two in ten years.

But, although I’m not advocating a fake or forced sense of urgency — because that’s a bit cheap, and more than a bit insulting to folks’ intelligence — there is something to be said about exploring how some online and POD systems do lend themselves to Being An Event.

It was Warren that first brought my attention to the concept of Event Internet (although he calls it “Appointment,” but I don’t love those so I’ve renamed for comfort), so I’m riffing off his playbook, here.  But he’s certainly not the only person playing with the idea.  There’s the well-documented Twitter-Flash-Mobbery that Amanda Palmer’s been pushing for a while, or Eliza Gauger’s Sweatshops, for instance.  Hell, just a few minutes ago, Wil sent me a link to this, saying: “It redraws random fractals every few seconds. You can’t save them, so you just appreciate them and then wait for the new one to show up.”  Which isn’t precisely an “event,” I suppose, but it sums up the idea rather nicely: You can’t save everything — although you can often record the live event to watch later — but sometimes, some things, even online, are about this moment.  And when they’re gone, you missed it.

So what the hell could that possibly have to do with Print On Demand which, as I just said, is so great because it just stays there forever?  Well, it’s all about looking at the tools in your kit and thinking about new ways to use them. 

In response to the inevitable cries of "but this only works for people like Warren Ellis because he's Warren Ellis" she wrote POD: If you're not Warren Ellis, which I can't really excerpt here, because it needs to be read in context. To sum up: before he was Warren Ellis, not even Warren Ellis was Warren Ellis. Stop crying about how you're not Warren Ellis, be who you are, and take that energy you're pouring into feeling sorry for yourself into getting excited and making something.

Finally, she wrote POD: Let's back up a bit here, which I think is the most inspiring of the three. You need to read the whole thing, but I'll pull a bit for you:

Here’s what you need to do, right now, tonight.  No, NOT tomorrow morning, or this weekend, or once your work rush has let off a little, or after the holidays, or sometime in the New Year: Right. Fucking. Now. 

Decide what you want to make.

And I’m talking about the single most complicated and ridiculous creation you can think of…

NO STOP IT I DIDN’T SAY HOW or WHY or WHEN, I only said WHAT.

[…]

I SAID STOP THINKING ABOUT THE HOW OR THE LOGISTICS OR THE MONEY OR THE TIME.  STOP IT.

This moment, right now, this THING that you’re deciding to make, this thing exists independently of the fiddly bits for now.  This, what you’re doing here, is something that back in the olden days, before the slagosphere wasted all your time telling you how not to do things they called a goal.  It’s a beautiful and magical thing that doesn’t need money or time or effort to believe in.  It’s only different from a dream in that you made it yourself, instead of letting your subconscious do all the work while you sleep.

Now, okay, here’s the little-bit harder step, are you ready?

Look at that THING you just said you wanted to make.  Really look at it.  Now, right now, tonight, NOT tomorrow morning, or this weekend, or once your work rush has let off a little, or after the holidays, or sometime in the New Year: Right. Fucking. Now.

DECIDE WHETHER YOU’RE GOING TO DO IT, OR NOT.

Period.  This is it.  You’ve been putting it off, or you’ve been planning to get around to it, or you know that once you get a little spare time it’s at the top of the list… for HOW long now?  I’m looking at you.  I know you’re already taking a breath to rattle off the list of all the things standing in your way.  and what’s more, I know you know they’re just excuses.

And it needs to end, now.  Your life is never going to GET less stressful.  It’s honestly not.  That’s not how life works.  When we put off the things we want to do, the stress of that adds into the stress of life.  You’re not going to GET more hours in the day.  You’re never going to have enough money to put aside spare time.  You’re not going to suddenly have That Moment where it all gels and you suddenly break out and start doing what you want to be doing… unless you MAKE that moment, right here, right now.

I'm not suggesting your quit your job and napalm the bridge behind you as you drive out of the parking lot, because not everyone is going to be able to do this and make a living from it … but that's not really the point, here. The point is to encourage those of you (us) who have been unable or unwilling to take the chance and just create something, already, to get out there and do it.

I once saw a poster or a paperweight or something that said, "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?" Think about that for a second. What thing do you want to make? What story do you want to tell? What song do you want to sing?

We can take these great creative risks now, because we really can't fail, not in the traditional monetary sense. Sure, we could be out a lot of time, but even that time isn't entirely wasted, as I hope to illustrate with two examples of my own: 

1. I spent days putting together a little book that I thought would be awesome, only to discover that there was absolutely no way to make it affordable for me or you. I was disappointed that I spent all that time, but it was incredibly fun while I did it, and maybe I have a script for a show now, instead of a book.

2. I worked really hard to write a story that ultimately wasn't really finished, as much as it was let go. I spent a lot of time after I was supposed to be done with it, trying to figure out how I could fix it so I could publish it, before reaching the very upsetting conclusion that it just can't be fixed. I talked about this with some friends who are writers, and told them how I felt like the whole thing was a waste of time and that all I got out of the experience was the knowledge that I need to do a whole lot of grinding before I level up as a writer. One of my friends, an incredibly talented and accomplished writer, told me, "Every project you finish levels you up as a writer." While I was (and am) still disappointed at what I believe was a failed project, I can't disagree with my friend. I gained Writer XP, even if I didn't gain a great story that I can feel good about publishing and selling.

So what are you waiting for? Do or do not. There is no Try. Whether it's an Etsy store, or a book with Lulu, or a T-shirt or a mug or a clock or a fucking teddy bear in a sweater from CafePresssingle  … hell, if it's a photograph you put on Flickr or a podcast you host on Archive.org, or a story that you write for Ficly or your own blog, just do it! Go get excited and make things, and when you're done, come back here and link us to what you did.

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156 thoughts on “Get Excited and Make Things!”

  2. Thanks Wil. This is the kind of kick in the butt I needed. I’ve been kicking around the idea of writing a book about my fight with cancer (and start a totally unrelated Etsy store) and this has motivated me to get off my butt and get to it!

  3. Great post! I ended up getting really excited about writing short stories, something I’ve loved doing for years, and posting them on a WordPress [http://ctrlaltjeff.wordpress.com]. It’s been challenging to keep it updated weekly, but it’s been a great process.
    On an unrelated note, I ordered Just A Geek from Amazon on Monday. Stoked!

  5. I should really get around to making all the weird ideas I have. In the meantime, here’s my Flickr account, which isn’t very artsy right now as I’m spending more time on home preschooling my 4 year old and chasing our now 9 months old baby (you met him at PAX.)
    So anyway, linkage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nwc_orca/

  7. I’m with Facelesscog about needing a motivating kick. I’ve been tossing around an idea of making custom toys to raise money for a couple of military charities. Gonna get off my arse and give it a go, worst that could happen is I can’t help the boys and their families as much as I’d like to.

  9. As you twittered this, I was Being Excited and Making Something, and reading this only made me More Excited. It’ll be ten pm here soon, so I’ll have to stop making noise with my router, but what I’m making is going to look something like this thing I made earlier: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cefeida/4014063359/
    Thanks for this post. I’m spreading it to people I know who need the kick up the bum.

  10. I think a kick in the pants from you, Wil, may have been just what I needed.
    I guess I’ll go home after work and get started on the Etsy shop I’ve been kicking around… 🙂
    I also need to get on writing in my blog (www.literarilyspeaking1.blogspot.com) more often, but I haven’t really found a “niche” yet. Damn those years of beat reporting for newspapers to make me think I have to have SOMETHING SPECIFIC to say about SOMETHING instead of just whatever I feel like.

  13. I am officially motivated.
    My friend and I have tossed around the idea of building a site for Reviews and News for Movies, Video Game, Comics, and other Geek Stuff. I don’t think it even really matters right now to me that there are a bunch of other sites that do the same thing. Everything that’s already is compartmentalized, whereas we want to combine everything in one place.

  14. DUDE! This post kinda made all misty and shit.
    I went through many of these things for years deciding if my book would ever get finished or not. And then a few months ago, having to have a very hard talk with my 14 year old about my Lupus, death and a bad virus was finally the kick in the ass to finish it. It shouldn’t have taken that but it did.
    I had an offer by a publisher to print it but because I decided to try and do some good with this book, raise Lupus awareness and raise funds for Lupus research and treatment, I decided to follow your lead and go with Lulu. Doing this was the scariest thing I have ever done because I talk about a lot of really scary periods of my life and the shit my children and I have had to go through thanks to my Lupus. But there is a lot of inspiring stuff in there as well.
    Since other people are linking, I guess I will link as well.
    http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/from-the-mundane-to-the-insane-a-wonderful-journey-without-a-destination/7655481
    Oh and then there is my Geeky Pleasures website that some here are already familiar with http://juliasherred.com or for easy remembering http://geekypleasures.com

  15. Get excited and make things. I’ve been chanting it about lately. It’s what’s gotten me to release a couple of chapbooks, including the one I’m not officially releasing until Monday… but which I’ll link to here anyway: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/haiku-year/7894321
    Get excited and make things. It’s what’s gotten me fretting less about the little things and dwelling more on the big picture. At least I’m making things, even if for a very small number of people.
    Get excited and make things. It’s got me by the collar and is kicking me in the ass. Got to stay excited, got to keep making.

  16. You are totally right, Wil! I’m gonna put something together tonight and get it up and start selling it! Why not, right? So long as people are interested, that’s all that matters!
    Here is a link to the website that I’ve been doing for the past little bit…it has started out slow, but it’s been picking up steam the past couple of weeks. Tell your friends!
    http://www.livingwithanerd.com
    p.s. I’m quite proud to be one of those 242 total sales of your audio production diary…it’s totally awesome, and me and the fiance listen to it anytime we go on a road trip…it’s become tradition 🙂

  17. If you want some help getting things going, I did something similar to what you are talking about a short time ago. http://www.livingwithanerd.com if you want some ideas. If you want any help getting the ball rolling, you can find my email address on the main site. I would be happy to provide some tips based on my experience so far!

  18. Exactly the kick in the bum that I needed today. I’ve been procrastinating my NaNoWriMo novel for the last couple of days and wondering what the point of it all was. You’ve just reminded me that I have a story to tell and if I don’t do it now, today, then it just won’t get done.
    I may even clean it up and put it on Lulu eventually.
    Thanks!

  19. I always feel like I can’t do something, because what I want is too big. With this? You made me feel like I can do it. Any of those things, I can do them. And that feels wicked good.

  21. over about a six month period I made my first minicomic, which is available here ( http://www.cameroncallahan.net/comics/scrambled-circuits-1/ ). Just photocopied and then folded and awkwardly stapled. Over 30 pages of comics. There are about 30 copies of it floating out in the world, mostly in the states but also in Australia, London, Glasgow, and Israel. To me – as just a nobody in a sea of nobodies – this excites me to know end. What’s even better is the feedback I’ve gotten from readers who, of their own free will, gave me their opinions about it.
    Then I spent this past weekend reformatting the pages, reworking some of the childlike artwork, and sent it off to ka-blam (POD service for comics) to create something with a bit more production value. I also had a couple pages in the back free so I added a short bit of prose in the back. I don’t know how long ka-blam takes to verify the files but once that is ready and set up for orders I’ll keep some on hand to sell personally through my site (as well as through the ka-blam online store) so I can still write a thank you note and draw on the envelope for those who buy it directly from me. I’m in the middle of planning and drawing a second minicomic. Warren, Ariana, and your enthusiasm for POD recently (As in the last couple years, probably) has been very awesome to read. Thanks.

  22. Excellent advice! This is more or less how we started doing the Seattle Geekly podcast –
    Shannon: Lets make a podcast about geek stuff in Seattle!
    Matt: uhhh… okay!
    Neither of us thought at all about how we would do it or how much work it would be, although a lot of that was ignorance. We had no idea how much work it would be and by the time we found out it was much too late. We’ll be putting up episode #41 this week!
    http://www.seattle-geekly.com

  25. Amen!
    Not only does everyone benefit when there’s more cool stuff being made and cool people making stuff, the better we all appreciate the effort that goes into making the cool stuff!
    I started a comic a couple years ago http://www.randomactscomics.com and then, by request, another http://www.wherethegeeksare.net and finally put up a store for the first one this year http://randomactscomics.ecrater.com
    Now I’ve launched my next big thing. What to Feed Your Raiding Party is a comic book cookbook geared, as the name would suggest, towards gamers. It’s been on the to-do list for almost 2 years but I got brave last month and posted it over at http://www.kickstarter.com and, one way or another, it’s going to happen in 2010!
    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randomactscomics/what-to-feed-your-raiding-party-a-comic-book-cook-0
    Onward!

  26. As someone who is currently writing a story that has long lived in my head and is hoping and praying that someday it will be good enough to publish, thank you so very much for this. As a writer yourself, I’m sure you are fully aware of the frustrations of translating thoughts from brain to paper (or word processor or whatever). Again, thanks for this. Now I’m off to grind a Write level or two.

  27. Amen!
    Not only does everyone benefit when there’s more cool stuff being made and cool people making stuff, the better we all appreciate the effort that goes into making the cool stuff!
    I started a comic a couple years ago http://www.randomactscomics.com and then, by request, another http://www.wherethegeeksare.net and finally put up a store for the first one this year http://randomactscomics.ecrater.com
    Now I’ve launched my next big thing. What to Feed Your Raiding Party is a comic book cookbook geared, as the name would suggest, towards gamers. It’s been on the to-do list for almost 2 years but I got brave last month and posted it over at http://www.kickstarter.com and, one way or another, it’s going to happen in 2010!
    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randomactscomics/what-to-feed-your-raiding-party-a-comic-book-cook-0
    Onward!

  29. Great thoughts, Wil Wheaton. There is so much satisfaction in actually making something. You invited us to share links, so I’m totally taking you up on that. I started my blog sort of haphazardly and it has turned into a great place for me to yak about design and scooters. It’s got me writing again and your blog was part of what inspired that. Just that amount of “making something” has been really rewarding. Before I’d just been leaving inane comments one place or another but not actually contributing anything to the interwebs. I like this much better!
    As for deciding what I want to make, it’s funny you should bring that up. Last week I decided to build a car! That needed a home, so now I’ve started a Tumblr site entirely devoted to the project. It’s going to be a 3-wheel vehicle that leans like a motorcycle but looks a lot like a model A hot rod. If I do it right, it should get about 60 mpg without any hybrid tech or extra complexity. I’m not interested in ever taking it to market or trying to sell the idea. I’m just itching to MAKE it!
    And while I’m here, I’ll just take this opportunity to chime in with my LOVE for the Memories of the Futurecast and that I am definitely one of those kids who grew up watching TNG and thought that you (well, Wesley Crusher anyway) was mostly awesome. There weren’t many role models for smart, mostly awkward kids when I was growing up. So seeing a goofy smart kid saving the day, as cliche as it quickly became, was still inspiring to me. That said, I love hearing you lovingly “taking the piss out of it” now. I hope you’re able to do the whole series. Great stuff, Wil Wheaton. Keep it coming!

  30. I think this is great, but I think a key element of creativity has been missed. Creativity is not linked to profitability. It is a great thing if you have the opportunity to make a living engaging in your creative talent, but never, never let the lack of that diminish your drive to create.
    It is a human drive for people to want to leave their mark on society. Whether it is some graffiti, a novel, a relationship, or a nicely crafted object, people need to personalize their experience in a creative way.
    As a citizen in a “first world nation” a majority of us Americans have an allotment of “spare time” since we do not need to immediately provide food, shelter and safety to ourselves or our family. We can purchase that now by working 40-60 hour work weeks. We can spend that time “doing something”.
    We need to stop filtering our creative impulses through this profitability lens. We should not care if someday we can take something to market. We should just be happy that it makes us happy. Maybe someday an opportunity will arise to share your creation. Maybe you are one of those lucky people who have the drive to “market” your creativity, but please, please, please don’t let any of that touch whatever creative impulse you have.
    My post is in no way directed at Wil, who is a cool, creative, lucky, and hardworking guy. It’s for you readers who had the tenacity to make it through these 250 odd words so far and may go back home and think to yourself “What can I create today?”.
    I know that’s what I’ll be doing, after my 1.5 hour commute, dinner, chores, checking emails, planning for tomorrow and sleep.
    Good luck everyone

  32. Wow this is awesomely inspirational. I think I’ll come back and read it again the next time I get writers block.
    I’m currently working on my first novel over here: http://www.writerscafe.org/writers/Johnzo/
    I find it’s a nice place to get feedback and grind my own writing skills. (especially for me just starting out with serious writing)
    Once I’m done the book and it’s edited a bit, I might shop it around to a publisher. But at the very least I’ll be checking out small/self-publishers like lulu etc. Mostly this is just a story I’ve been kicking around for years, and I’m having a really good time bringing it to life.

  33. For reasons of both creativity and necessity, my whole year has seemed like a never-ending (though rarely easy) “get excited and make things” process. I was lucky to get some very cool support and feedback for my own Lulu project, Collect All 21!, along the way, and I recently did my first reading, with another invitation for 2010.

  34. ROCK THE HELL ON!!! Abso-lutely! Who dares wins — even if the amount of Win is small and personal. For example:
    A few months ago, I’d just come back from getting my wisdom teeth pulled (top, both sides, oh, the pain of it all…) and I was messing around in MS Paint, drawing a silly little lo-tek doodle of a big toothy mouth. And I liked it. So I cut + pasted it into Irfanview (which I highly recommend), applied some blurring and sharpening, some contrast tweaks… and I started to like it more and more.
    So I dumped it to Cafepress — http://www.cafepress.com/technogamy.353618194# — and bought myself one. And here we are, together: http://toothopolis.tumblr.com/post/248791072/grin.
    Now, if I’d wanted to do something like this 10 years ago, I’d’ve had to own a frickin’ MUG FACTORY. Or make one of those crappy mugs like I made for my grandmother in 1981, where they gave you a poorly-made mug with a clear plastic outer sleeve and you put photos under the sleeve and snap it shut and every time she drinks from it her Sanka leaks between the mug and the sleeve and ruins the photos and eventually she just stops pretending to love you…
    Hrm.
    Make things.

  35. I am sending this to each of my NaNoWriMo compatriots and then printing it to post over my desk until I finish this $#@!@# book (my first). A well-needed kick in the pants, as has been said. Nice work, sir.

  36. This is very, very, spooooky. Just today me and my friends have decided to make a small film next summer. And if you’ll permit a bit of excited “Look what I’m making!” talk, the film is called “101% Dead” (A rejected title from “Evil Dead”) a Zombedy (Zombie Comedy)I’m writing and directing. Thank-you for your patience if you’ve read this far, if not- Screw you Nazi!

  37. You could not have picked a better time to write this post. This post goes in your ‘inspiring’ section of the file cabinet. For the longest time now, I have not been happy with my job or my degree choice in college. It is that feeling you have of..yeah I’m here, I’m doing this, but why? I have always been good at english, creative writing, etc., though I never thought I could ‘do it’..or succeed in a career in that field. I guess I am one of those people who feels like I wouldn’t, or maybe couldn’t compare to some of the ‘greats’ out there. That old saying….”you never know till you try” is an old saying that has stuck around for a reason.
    I started reading your blog back in 2004. I found it by accident as I was looking up ‘Stand By Me’. I was a fan of yours because of TNG and ‘Stand’ but now I am a huge fan because of your inspiring blogs you post, like this one. Guess I can call you a role model:) You are the reason I stopped and looked into myself to see what it was I wanted out of life. I would like to write a book one day on ‘our dreams in life’ or something around those lines to let people know you really should not give up on a dream, no matter how hard it may be.
    I think too many people(me)are scared to try something new in fear of failing…like you said above. That is where my old friend “you never know till you try” comes in. Anyway, maybe I still have a chance. I hope to have the opportunity to meet you one day, just to say thanks for inspiring me…if that day never comes I will take this time to say thanks Wil! Please know that your blog is a high point in my day. Josh

  38. I’ve heard that a writer has to write a million words before the writing starts to be any good. Ain’t no better way to get it done than just putting the butt in the chair and making it happen. Thanks for the inspiration!

  43. If it wasn’t for you being on Twitter and I joining Twitter a couple of years ago to follow you (among other people), I probably wouldn’t have decided to try NaNoWriMo this year. In fact, I probably wouldn’t have even heard about it. Because you’ve inspired me to finally write something of my own through your own writings, I registered for NaNoWriMo on November 1 and have been working on my first novel ever since. I’m already over 33,800 words, which is just an awesome feeling, because everyday, I’m closer to the goal, something I probably would have never done before if you and others like you hadn’t inspired me. I haven’t decided if I’ll edit it and try to publish it, yet. If I do, it’ll be through Lulu.com, and you’ll be one of the first to know. Thanks, Wil, from a 30-something stay-at-home mom who might have just found her calling in life (besides being a mom and wife). 🙂

  44. Amen!
    Not only does everyone benefit when there’s more cool stuff being made and cool people making stuff, the better we all appreciate the effort that goes into making the cool stuff!
    I started a comic a couple years ago http://www.randomactscomics.com and I’ve recently launched my next big thing.
    What to Feed Your Raiding Party is a comic book cookbook geared, as the name would suggest, towards gamers. It’s been on the to-do list for almost 2 years but I got brave last month and posted it over at Kickstarter and, one way or another, it’s going to happen in 2010!
    http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/randomactscomics/what-to-feed-your-raiding-party-a-comic-book-cook-0
    Onward!

  45. I had this moment of “get off your ass and do it!” about a week ago and started my own blog. I have wanted to write creatively for longer than I can remember and have finally taken the first step: http://philsrandommusings.blogspot.com At the moment I’m putting it out to the ether without even knowing if anyone is reading it but for the moment I’m enjoying the writing and working to improve the style and it’s therefore worth it for me with or without an audience. The real question for me is what if my creative outpouring is of no interest to anyone…?
    The next stage for me is to write a story. It used to be something that gave me great pleasure, in school, and has been at the back of my mind for all the years since I left. However, after reading my favourite authors in the world in which I want to write (the Warhammer 40K universe, hey it inspires me ok?!)I find my mind freezes up and I can go nowhere. Still after reading Wil’s blog entry maybe it’s time to just do it! I’m not gonna lie to you Marge, I’m a little excited.

  46. Great post, and it’s so true. I just decided to make a podcast a couple of weeks ago after thinking about it for years. And it’s working out so well. We’ve got a few hundred subscribers already, but that wasn’t even the point. It was so I could do something creative.
    Mattou
    DieganSquared.com

  47. absolutely 100% inspired.
    Been sitting on a few things lately, and this gave me the boost to get off my duff and do something.
    Thanks Wil
    (and Warren and Ariana 🙂

  49. It sounds cheesy, but I think the key for these sites is to be yourself. Only thing the other sites are definitely not doing. With the low cost of switching/long tail/blah blah blah eventually you will find an audience that is attuned to the way you think.
    Look at Penny Arcade, they just started out talking about games like a ton of other sites, but they maxed out being themselves. That also sounds cheesy.

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