the point of view that creates the world

I imagine my creative process as a cycle of filling up a reservoir with inspirations and ideas, and then emptying it out into various creations. Sometimes that reservoir is drained in one explosive surge, but mostly it’s emptied out a little bit at a time, into different projects.

Recently, I’ve been using my creative reserves to power the writing on the Tabletop RPG show, and whatever is left is going into Radio Free Burrito.  My stupid random thoughts and links, once the exclusive property of my blog, are filling up Twitter and Tumblr, and I haven’t had much to say here, anyway.

BUT.

I have a new Tabletop for you:

Most of the things I’ve been consuming are helping me power up and work on the Tabletop RPG show (all day today I have conference calls with our writers and designers!) and I would like to share some of the ways I’ve been refilling my creative reservoir, starting with books:

And Podcasts:

Also, movies:

Some TV:

And Anime:

So my reservoir is slowly being refilled, at a rate that is just slightly faster than it is being emptied … and neat stuff is happening.

33 thoughts on “the point of view that creates the world”

  2. I think that Wizards of the Coast have spent too much time making the 5E AD&D books look “pretty” (full-page tints, glossy pages, etc) and therefore making them very expensive and less time worrying about the idea behind the game. The price of the books makes it more difficult to get more people involved. The original books were all in black & white and cost half as much as the new ones do.

    1. Basic 5E D&D is available for free on WotC’s website. That’s even cheaper than the old stuff.

  3. As a new freelance writer (who also suffers from anxiety/depression), I’ve often kicked myself for reading a good book or watching a show instead of working and being “productive.” It’s nice to hear reminders that hey, this is all part of being creative. I need to watch and read the things that I want to write… reinstill my juices. So thank you for that reminder.

    1. Yeah, awesome! Life is not a zero sum game! Spending time with family, recharging with some video games, experiencing a book or a movie, these things all contribute and make us more engaged, more thoughtful creative types! So, good job, and keep on doing the things that make you happy!

  5. YESSSSS. Howl’s Moving Castle is my favorite anime EVER. I am so in love with everything about it, even if Christian Bale doesn’t end up playing Batman. 🙁

  8. “The White Mountains” was one of the few high school required readings that I enjoyed and lead me to read more of John Christopher’s books. It was the first of a trilogy followed by the “The City of Gold and Lead” and “The Pool of Fire”. Perhaps aimed at the juvenile market, but still very good reads.

  9. Other fun Brit sci-fi from the era of The White Mountains: most stuff written byJohn Wyndham. Favourites (British spelling) include The Outward Urge, The Midwich Cuckoos, The Trouble With Lichen, The Chrysalids, and Web.

  10. THIS IS MY STUPID RANDOM THOUGHT ON YOUR COMMENT ABOUT YOUR STUPID RANDOM THOUGHTS: YOU MENTIONED THEM BEING A LINK. THEY ARE AND SO MUCH MORE. THEY OPEN YOUR MIND AND TAKE IT TOWARDS DIRECTIONS OF SERIOUS THOUGHT THAT ARE WRITTEN DOWN IN A MOST INTERESTING WAY THAT CATCHES THE MINDS OF ALL US WHO LOVE WIL WHEATON. WEITHER FUNNY OR SERIOUS EVEN OTHER WRITERS ADMIRE YOU. YOU ARE NOT MY FAVORITE, BUT YOU DO COME UP WITH SUCH DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WHEN I HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN YOU OR SOME OF MY OTHER FAVORITES I CHOOSE YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE SO OFF THE WALL, AND IN YOUR FUNNIEST MOMENTS COME OUT WITH THE MOST INTERESTING FACTS THAT IN STUNS MY MIND AND SENDS IT OUT INTO THE UNIVERSE TO KNOW MORE. I ENJOY LISTENING TO YOUR VOICE WHEN YOU TALK. I ENJOY READING WHAT YOU WRITE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. IAM GLAD I GOT TO MEET YOU SORT OF BEFORE I DIE.

  13. Sad face for missing the random nonsense. It’s wholly my fault, I’m over trying to keep track of eleventy different social media tracks. More my fault: I like G+. If I find myself being drawn to Twitter-stalking and Tumblr-stalking you, I may have to mutter a very heartfelt ‘Drat!’ under my breath as I do. You’ve been warned!

  14. There are some amazing and inspirational games online at the moment that are well worth checking out. If you haven’t seen either of the ones below I really recommend checking them out, I never thought watching D&D could be so good.

    The Provokers (D&D 5E Campaign): http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_arKxz2VGZ9FtjqVUnS0xSEdlS7FXzBf

    “The Winds of Sur Salin” (D&D 5E Campaign): http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqHuErFTAPUCMPtLdR4tIFUsPyxGn0qE3

  16. Will
    My first scifi books back in 5th or 6th grade were the Tripods Trilogy that began with “The White Mountains”. I revisited them a few years ago and discovered there is prequel book now too. British Television had a run of the Tripods for a few seasons but I have yet to check out any episodes. thanks for sharing and I hope you get to the other 3 Tripod books. Looking back on it, the aliens evoke an image for me like the Moties from “A mote in God’s Eye”.

  17. I’ve thought up a theory that goes that all the best people in the world, live in the most horrid places in the world (challenging). And that they will all think that they’re living in by far the best place in the world. When a person becomes too big for his place, he goes to an even worse one.

  20. Top marks on the Dead of Winter episode Wil, probably one of your very best, both in terms of the fun of watching it and the way it made me desperately want to play the game.

  21. Really loved “Dead of Winter” Table top!
    You totally had me fooled.

    Loving RFB also. Keep it up Wil!

  23. Hi Wil!
    Really liked the show! I’ll buy that game!
    Also always nice to hear about progress in the RPG-show!
    Too many exclamation marks!!!!!11oneoneeleven!!1

  25. Hi Wil. I am a HUMUNGOUS fan of Tabletop and I think you’re awesome. My name is William and I am 8 years old and I live in New Zealand. I have seen ALL the tabletop shows and “I try to play more games” as much as I can.

    1. So nice to see kids are watching. Our 6 year old has watched them all with us and plays a ton of tabletop games. The world needs more people like you. Beside being lots of fun, your hobby will help you improve so many analytical skills and creative traits. You are awesome!

  26. I did not know there was a new Ghost in the Shell. How did I not notice this? How has this not been in my life?!?

    Thank you Will for sharing this, also I am going to need to check out these other podcasts.

  27. As parents, my husband and I have collected all of the Ghibli Studio movies for our son. None of the Disney classics have gotten through except Robin Hood. I think this is priming him to be a good RPG player, and works so well for his imagination. I find the plots and characters to be more relatable and less creepy/ medieval. I am happy to see these movies are feeding your creative reservoir. I am also excited to see the RPG show…ever since Gencon last year (TT panel) I have been eagerly awaiting it’s debut.

  28. i just wanted to pipe in and say I really really liked Dead of Winter.
    The sheriff game just seems lame, because the whole point of the game is contraband. So everyone has contraband. Maybe if you had to pay the Sheriff in Truth or Dare would it get more interesting.

    I look forward to watching the whole D of A, hopefully next week?

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