Jamais Jochim
Bio
I'm the guy who knows every last fact about Spider-man and if I don't I'll track it down. I love bad movies, enjoy table-top gaming, and probably would drive you crazy if you weren't ready for it.
Stories (300)
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Making Money at Conventions
The biggest problem authors have when it comes to making money at conventions is the lack of preparation. There’s a lot of preparation that goes into a successful convention foray, and most authors have no idea how much preparation it takes; most figure they just need the books, some way to deal with credit cards, and then show up and sell books. Yeah, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Authors need to realize that a lot of planning goes into a successful convention table, and this article should help with that planning process. Just be prepared for a lot of research and paperwork, but that’s just part of the business.
By Jamais Jochim7 months ago in Writers
Using The Environment to Your Advantage
Defending yourself can be helped or hindered by your environment. The environment defines the encounter on numerous levels, ranging from where you can hide, what tactical options you have, and what offensive options present themselves. Your goal should be to be aware of these options whenever you enter a new environment so that you can take better advantage of those options should danger present itself.
By Jamais Jochim7 months ago in Lifehack
Unbound Spellbooks
Anyone can have a leather-bound book to carry around their spells. There’s a reason it’s the default, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t explore other options; there are a lot of different cultural reasons to explore different concepts of spellbooks. Other rulebooks have even suggested different concepts, such as card-like ofuda or even pearls; one module even has a sorcerer who uses an army of slaves as his spellbook. Once you start playing around with the idea, there are plenty of different “spellbooks” you can employ for storing your spells.
By Jamais Jochim7 months ago in Gamers
The Avavatar Crew Is a Lousy Five-Man Band
A lot of those who offer writing advice like to use Avatar: The Last Airbender crew as an example of the Five-Man Band. The Five-Man Band is the center of most teams, with its leader, the lance (the rebellious hothead with issues), the girl (who is usually the source of conflict but is the heart of the group), the brain (the guy with all of the technical knowledge), and the tank (the combat specialist with the biggest weapon). However, it's entirely possible that they have picked the wrong group, figuring that its iconic status and five leads should be the best example of a standard team set-up.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Writers
Prepping For Different Environments
Different preppers take different approaches to prepping. One of the more interesting variables is the environment in which preppers find themselves; these environments can help define the limitations and advantages that an individual prepper has to deal with. In some cases, the very environment may present specific challenges that need to be overcome for successful prepping, but it may also come with some inherent advantages. By recognizing those pluses and minuses, a prepper can make their job easier.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Lifehack
Do You Show, Tell, or Both?
One of the biggest problems writers have is the show vs. tell problem. The problem is that it's too easy to just tell the story, especially as we're used to thinking that we're, well, telling a story. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it does mean that there are a lot of places to slog through; this practice encourages plenty of exposition and exploring characters' thoughts and emotions, as well as adding commentary. While some of this is needed, the problem is the delivery system.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Writers
The Difference Between Critics and Fans
I absolutely love "Battle Beyond The Stars" (1980). However, as a reviewer there are quite a few problems with the movie. Due to that dichotomy, I thought it would be interesting to look at the movie, from the viewpoints of both a fan and a critic to show how different those viewpoints can be when it comes to reviewing movies, showing that reviewers are fans but with a different perspective.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Writers
AI Art: How It Does What It Does
Interestingly, one of the major issues with AI art is that the technology has advanced to such a point that some of those most affected by it don't know how it works. Too many artists are a little behind the curve when it comes to the technology and it shows in the discussion regarding AI art; as such, it puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to discussing the potential effects of the technology as well as its legal ramifications. In order to get up to speed, it may not be a bad idea to take a step back and look at what it does.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Art
The Importance of Representation
t's interesting that one of the strongest markers of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will be the career of Nichelle Nichols. As the story goes, she was debating quitting "Star Trek" but Dr. King was able to convince her to stay. There is no question that her career has inspired plenty of women to be their best possible person, and that a lot of black women would not be who they are without her example.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Critique
Keeping The Art Simple
Different artists have different methods of drawing. Some prefer the block-of-wood method: They don't know what they are going to draw, but they'll know when they start drawing. Others take a more ordered approach and talk it out until they have an idea of what they want to do. And others just draw whatever they want, hoping it will fall into place. Some of these strategies are better than others, and you need to develop a strategy that works for you.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Art
More Time Travel, Less Silliness Part 2
Time travel is one of those things we all play with at one point or another but few of us really think the implications through when we sit down to write. Worse, some tropes have inherent issues when you think about them too much. Here are some thoughts on some popular tropes and how to have fun with them.
By Jamais Jochimabout a year ago in Writers
