You Are Leaving NaBloPoMo

Yes, friends, thank you for indulging me in this year's NaBloPoMo.

Admittedly, posts were light in content - couldn't help it. However, this has provided me with a chance to regain some traffic, as well as maintain my dominance over that cybersquatter with my old domain.

Thanks for reading!

Go Read - Chicago Now's ONE CAUSE AT A TIME

In an effort to maintain my National Blog Posting Month (where I'm challenged to write 30 posts in 30 days), I'm maintaining it by linking to a post for another site.

You all know that I write for Chicago Now about technology & social good....but I chose to take up this month's challenge to all Chicago Now bloggers to write a post - in one hour - about our favorite inspirational quote.

So here it is - my meditation on Winston Churchill's "If you're going through hell, keep going."

Consider this my way of driving traffic to that site...and keeping this blog going.

What I'm Writing When I'm Not Blogging

Now that I've made the transition to "published writer" (and I have the Amazon Author's page to prove it), you're probably all wondering, "Hey, Gordon, what else are you writing?"

Well, truth be told much of my current time is spent working on freelance work. (And don't worry - another monthly blogaround's coming soon). One of the advantages of being a pulp writer is that I get to write some cool stories that are entertaining. That I want to write, instead of feeling the desperate need to avoid writing.

I'm going to be vague - after all, I really shouldn't spoil stories that will earn me money (think "extra large coffee at Dunkin Donuts" level royalties), but they're great opportunities.

First is a four-issue comic series for an up-and-coming comics publisher. It's indie, but they sent me a really cool premise....and I'm in the midst of breaking it down and preparing the proposal. (They were even cool enough to extend the deadline for me). It's a great fit to what I've been doing....and it's just a matter of deciding whether to go in a two-gun-adventurer direction, or more of a gentleman thief-direction.

The other is a short story for a really cool anthology with a great premise. It's a slight change of pace - it's more of a noir/heist piece than anything. However, I'm also drawing on my love of local history (especially local Chicago history). It's due to be published in the summer, and I'm really excited.

So what can you do? You know that link above? Click it. Order one of my books, read it, and review it on your blog, Amazon.com, etc. Because writing's no good if nobody reads it. And I love to be read.

As NaBloPoMo Moves Forward, Please Remember.....

Welcome to NaBloPoMo 2015: Blog THIS, Pal! Style!

Yes, this year, like year's past, I'm taking up the NaBloPoMo challenge.

For those who may be unaware, the word is short for "National Blog Posting Month", where bloggers are challenged to write 30 posts in 30 days....

...and this year, it will be a bit trickier, but I can make a few promises.

First, I'm going to try to keep to Sunday reviews of new Doctor Who. (This week's the obvious exception - my review's going to be up on Tuesday).

Starting next week, every Monday's going to be a new entry in the Mondays With Columbo series.

Plus, we have several holidays - including Thanksgiving - which can provide filler, as well as Chicago TARDIS.

(Also, I will post links on days when I write new Chicago Now: One Cause At A Time posts - those should count for something)

So get ready for NaBloPoMo Fever!

Guess What's Happening on the Blog on November 1st?

That's right - in November, I'm going to attempt NaBloPoMo. Again.

Can you sense the excitement?

You Are Now Leaving NaBloPoMo 2014!

And so now, it's time for us to leave NaBloPoMo - for the past 30 days, you've enjoyed my musings on a variety of subjects; a week of movie reviews from discs checked out of the library; and all sorts of other wacky shenanigans.

For now, think of it like this - it's an effort for me to keep on blogging, because quite honestly - in this social media-driven world, we're losing the art of the well-crafted statement. Cramming ideas into 140 characters or less may be fun for the moment....sometimes, we need to just sit back and enjoy a nice, long essay.

Thanks for joining me, and hope you had as much fun as I did.

NaBloPoMo: Into the Home Stretch

So you're probably thinking, "Gordon, with being such a busy guy, especially in trying to function well in the freelance world....what in the name of heck are you doing blogging? Even participating in a daily blogging challenge?"

To be entirely honest....keeping up a regular blog has been a challenge. When it comes to time management, I'm not as diligent as I would like, but I have gotten better. In fact, my entire social media profile has somewhat suffered....but perhaps I can put all of this into some perspective.

I am a writer. Not just a "published" writer or a "professional" writer, but my nature has always been to give life to words. To take abstract thoughts, concepts, and ideas (both creative and technical) and put them into words. (I also have the uncanny ability to be methodical, and can do a really neat trick with my fingers). This past year has also seen a critical reevaluation of my life....especially since a colleague of mine passed away a year ago.

It meant taking inventory of my life - my activities and actions - and making a crucial decision. Many of the things I was doing were slowly - but surely - turning from blessings into burdens. (In fact, I had seriously burned out on many things, including Doctor Who fandom). But what I chose to do is focus in learning - and continuing - those things that brought me absolute joy. Not "joy" in the usual nerd/geek sense of hyperbole (you know, "awesome sauce", "the goodness", and all those other tiring phrases), but things which - despite amount of effort and difficulty - allowed me to feel strong, positive emotions.

(And if you say "the feels", I will ban you from this blog. Seriously.)

It meant letting go of some long-established activities, providing me with time - and room - to be bored, if I so chose. Reevaluating my priorities, including my creative ones, and deciding to go full-on into creative writing as a sideline. Focusing on building up my professional - and personal - reputation so that I would be seen as a great person rather than the cliche (insert field here) ninja/guru/rockstar/expert.

(In fact, if you ever meet someone who uses any of the previous titles when introducing themselves - turn and run swiftly. Seriously.)

And one of the things that brings me joy - is writing. Thanks to having some creative and professional outlets, it has meant that this year has brought some freelance work. (Not enough, but it has allowed me to network more). I have been invited to participate in many professional projects and endeavors.

It's even meant a new furry companion in my life (although to be thoroughly honest - he's my dog, but he's not my dog, if you catch my drift).

Normally, NaBloPoMo is an attempt for me to drive traffic and content - to play "catch up" with all of those posts I've been meaning to write, but never got around to completing. This year, it's more about me rediscovering my voice, but more importantly, relocating my humanity and reconnecting with others.

And that, most importantly, is why I blog. 

Saturday Poetry Corner

As I was going through some old documents (mostly to find some old work stuff for a potential client), I came across this - a poem that I had written (but unsure whether I had submitted) for an online site.

That's right - I wrote poetry at one point in my life.

Most of my poetry was done in high school, and dealth with the angst of puberty. This is something a little bit more....adult (but safe for work), and in an effort to change up the blog, thought I would offer it for your consideration. It was written - and the title referred to - a particular person; I've removed the title to preserve this person's anonymity. Some of you may guess who it is; that's fine, but I'll neither confirm nor deny. This person deserves their privacy, and they can reach out to me if they wish.

And yes, I know the graphic has nothing to do with the poem....but it got your attention, didn't it?


You remind me no less of a
Roman statue come to
Life -- your noble profile, your form almost
Symmetry made flesh, as if too
Perfect for this
Realm.

We are formal with each other - we have to be - the
Rules of engagement
Require us to be
Professional. Casual. Never
Breaking down the never acknowledged
Invisible wall.
But oh, how I would simply love to
Bring down that wall, the dare
Defy the codes and rules and simply
Reveal...I barely
Know you, yet I have this great
Pallette of
Emotions for you...

Why must every decision for
Me be one of life or
Death? Even if you were
Partnered, all that would
Result is some
Embarrassment, maybe I would
Hurt awhile, then
Heal.

My only consolation is that,
For brief moments, I can be with
You, and enjoy your
Presence...

...and feel a little
Less like
J. Alfred Prufrock.

Welcome to NaBloPoMo 2014!

Yes, it's that time once again - welcome to NaBloPoMo 2015!
In an effort to drive traffic and play major league catchup with the blog, I'm going to post once a day - every day - for the next 30 days! Think of this as my way of holding my own marathon of writing.

(Yes, I could do Nanowrimo, but with several fiction assignments pending....well, I'll be doing it anyway. But this is a way for me to stay current, keep myself blogging, and quite honestly, keep the creative juices flowing.
This year, the blog will be focusing on several key issues (and hopefully, I can make all 30 days). Coming soon:

• An essay about how "Causing McCausland" from Pro Se Production's anthology Tall Pulp came about;
• The Second Annual Cheapskate Film Festival
• Liveblogging the series finale of Doctor Who Series 8! and soon...
• The glory of Kill Shakespeare!

So hold onto your hats, people - it's going to be a very interesting ride!

Nablopomo - It's Over!

By the time you read this, NaBloPoMo will be over....and you'll see whether I've been successful in my efforts to keep you entertained this month.

And much like Robert Culp in The Outer Limits (more specifically, the Harlan Ellison-written Demon With A Glass Hand), I'll probably be missing a couple of fingers....and feel a bit out of time.

But fret not - I'll be busy with the Chicago TARDIS charity auction, so don't be surprised if I take early December off.

More NaBloPoMo Blogging Content Goodness!

OK, so you're thinking, "Gee, Gordon, keeping up a post per day for NaBloPoMo might be a bit wearing, isn't it?"

Well, no, especially since I seem to be cranking out a ton of really cool posts about a variety of issues. Whether it's in front of my desktop or with Harvey, my Ubuntu-powered Toughbook in a place with wi-fi, I'm still managing to keep up on the writing and job seeking.

For example, my latest piece for I Hear of Sherlock focuses on an upcoming PBS special focusing on Holmes' influence on criminal investigation.

If you're into non-profits and tech, or just want a really great post, I'm glad I was solicited to write this post for Chicago Now's One Cause At A Time, focusing on prostate health. A must-read. 

With the recent brouhaha over the recovery of lost Doctor Who stories, my most recent Comic Related column focuses on both episodes....and I've never been so grateful to have to post a retraction, or have my information become out of date.

A special thanks to Barry Reese, who responded to my blog post about The Adventures of Lazarus Gray. And Barry, as a side note - soon, I'll be reading the third Shadow novel after reading the first two. Although I grew up on the radio Shadow, I am learning to love the pulp Shadow as well.

But don't worry - I'm still committed to one post per day over November, because as much as the job search eats my time....being creative is always worth it. 

NaBloPoMo - Oh, My!

It's that time again - I have a Picadilly pocket notebook full of hastily scribbled ideas, a virtual (and real) pile of review copies and videos, and a whole month to get caught up.

That's right - it's November, and that means I'm kicking into the NaBloPoMo spirit. I've registered, and for thirty days, I'm committing to one new post per day.

This is also going to be a bit of a challenge as well - the end of the month coincides with Chicago TARDIS and Thanksgiving, so I won't have a nice, easy ride towards the end. I've been busy with other initiatives (including job seeking and, well, other blogs), so I'm actually committing to providing full-on great content throughout the month.

I probably won't do my usual end-of-the-week summaries of activity, although I might do some personally-oriented follow ups to posts on my Chicago Now tech/non-profit blog and Comic Related. I also will be providing some updates on various and sundry other activities.

So for those of you who have wondered why I've slacked on the blogging front....here's where I play catch up. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday, Steve Ditko!

Yes, today is Steve Ditko's 85th birthday, and in that spirit, I want to provide for you and your viewing pleasure a link to possibly the best documentary about him.

(I still wish this would be released on DVD one day)

If It's November, It Means Nablopomo!

That's right - this year, like last year, I'm going to be engaging in National Blog Posting Month.

One post per day for thirty days. Blogging for blogging's sake.

Why am I blogging once a day in November, especially now?

Because with writing a prose project (which is going to stay secret until closer to publication) and my Wonderman scripting duties, I need to stay current and keep my writing sharp

Because with One Cause At A Time, I'm focusing on one topic, and I need to keep my personal blog live.

Finally, it's good for SEO.

Good stuff's coming down the pike, people. Hold on tight, cause it's gonna be a pretty interesting ride....

Saturday Night NaBloPoMo Blues

As you might have guessed from my burst of activity this month, I'm participating in National Blog Posting Month, or "NaBloPoMo". It's a lot like NaNoWriMo, only instead of a short novel which will collect dust, I commit myself to writing a new blog post per day, not only driving the traffic of my blog, but also allowing me to engage in a semi-manic burst of creativity.

In a way, keeping current on the blog has been very helpful - I've been so swamped in freelance work, other writing gigs, and extracurricular activities that I can easily forget to keep my home fires stoked and burning. (Yes, my non-profit blog's on the sidelines - my intention is to move it to another platform and restart, along with redoing my personal website). But it's still challenging, despite changing my income stream to a more erratic one (and for those who claim that entrepreneurship means freedom, actually....it means more hustle), to create unique content that isn't focused solely on my angst and tribulations.

Yes, I have to remind myself that this is, after all, still a comics and popular culture blog, and that I need to keep myself immersed in that.

But thankfully, things are starting to shift into the next phase, and I'm starting to feel in Chicago the way I did in my St. Louis heyday (or "Obligatory Content That Roger Will Like). I'm starting to feel very centered, very much like I have my own personal network, and that I'm actually moving towards having....well, a life in Chicago. (So much so that I probably should plan a trip to St. Louis next year....and begin working on my yearly calendar/update). In fact, part of what's helping is that I've just let go of a major commitment - yes, I still have some clean-up/transitioning to do, but this will help free me up in terms of time - and mental capacity - to get back to focusing on matters right in front of me.

(That's an area where....without going into details, I'm no longer dealing with a person who has their own flavor of insanity. To put it metaphorically, we're not talking cuckoo for cocoa puffs crazy, we're talking insane in the membrane crazy. I have enough dysfunction in my life, and I hate drama; luckily, I'm now able to begin moving forward, so enough of the digression).

I honestly wasn't going to blog tonight - after a mega cool meetup, I was planning on heading to bed, but thought I would tap out a short post. I guess I'm much more loquacious than I thought.

Recovering from the Past Month....

Ever since I stopped doing Nablopomo, things have been keeping me busy and away from the blog. In that effort, just a little bit of update on what I've been doing.

First, I would like to point out that every day at the office begins with me....starting at a triceratops with a tiara. This, ladies and gentlemen, should be filed under Just. Plain. Wrong.



Also, it has felt like lately, this song has been the soundtrack to my life. And in a completely different context than I'm used to:


But even though I have the ultimate in office toys, there is another which is a very close second:

HULK PEZ DISPENSER

End of NaBloPoMo/Cyber Monday Shopping Party

When I started this endeavor, I had no idea of whether I could succeed or not. In fact, I'm writing this post on November 1st, not only to cover myself, but because - let's face it - whether I succeed or fail, someone bet that either I would post all 30 days...or that I would choke by November 12th. With the holidays coming soon, and today being "Cyber Monday", I'm looking to make a little green myself.

I don't care to do this too often, but as many of you know, I have an Amazon affiliate store through an old web site that I used to run. (And at some point, I will need to transfer merchandise over). But anyway, if you're looking to avoid the hassles of shopping, overslept through the overrated Black Friday, and/or have found something really cool through this site - why not order through Buy THIS, Pal!? Full disclosure: I do get a small percentage in return, but that's used for domain registry, podcast hosting, and used entirely for the blog.

In addition, on this post only, I'm including a search box - if you're looking for that special gift, check it out. It's easy, safe, and even helps me provide for my loved ones. Especially Mom, who as you all know, received a new liver, and that means she needs expensive electronic devices.



But this holiday season, why not make it a little easier on yourself? In addition, you are more than welcome to post this on Twitter, Facebook, or the other social media interwebs. Nothing will come of it, but you know what?

It means that I'm one blog post closer to 30 in the entire month of November. So there.

5 Reasons I'm Doing NaBloPoMo Instead of Nanwrimo This Year

(Portrait taken by Kring Lerner at the October Twestival in Chicago)

You know, I have to admit that I've been relatively inconsistent in blogging regularly - mostly, I've been overscheduling myself. Although I considered doing Nanowrimo again this year, thanks to a timely intervention (as well as a need to earn my blogger stripes), taking my cue from another, better blog - here are five reasons why I'm posting 30 blog posts in 30 days:

1. Many bloggers I respect do this on a daily basis: If bloggers that I like and respect such as Roger, Mike, Rich, Siskoid, and a cute little stuffed bull named Bully can blog daily, then gosh darn it, so can I! (And if you're a close personal friend who blogs daily whose name I failed to mention, my apologies).
2. Easily avoids libel suits - Because let's face it, if I'm going to write a novel, people are more than likely to believe that I'm basing characters on them. Especially if I write about a dashing, handsome young troubleshooter named Norman Pynorowski.
3. It's relatively easy to do with little time commitment - in short, thanks to being able to schedule blog posts, I should be able to do 30 in 30. And if I'm doing a novel, quite frankly, it's much more time intensive.
   
4. I can "repurpose" old material - all those old ideas that I have in my Moleskine notebook can actually be written...and I can follow up on old posts. Including a "lost" post that will make its debut in the next day or so.
5. I need the bump in traffic - in short, this (hopefully) should build up web traffic, because if there's anything this blog needs, is more readers. At least, more readers whom I can acquire without using naughty words in blog post titles.

So for the next month, it's all on me. Place your bets now, folks, because at the end of the month, you may come into a little extra spending cash for Christmas.....