YOUR goals for 2010

December 23, 2009

I recently asked on Twitter:

GOALS! What are some of YOUR goals for 2010? Zip me one. :)

Here’s what you said. Lots of creativity and ambition here — and yet, all are attainable…

  • Buying a 50 inch plasma!
  • my goal is to double the reach of my podcast
  • To finish ‘Outcast’ by end of January, and its sequel by August.
  • i want to make significant progress on one if not more then one, of my books if not finish them.
  • Get first novel complete and subsequent audio drama started.
  • Same as my one word mantra: DO!
  • To get an article or story published in something with a pricetag, ISBN or ISSN on it. :)
  • Graduate law school! :D
  • to podcast on a more regular basis…
  • Finish writing my book.
  • Doubling my clients from 2009. Need 140 new clients for 2010 to do that.
  • Write more words, eat more bacon, make more friends. I figure if I walk around with a plate of fresh bacon…
  • my biggest goal is to get my comics and photography financially independant from me.
  • On a more practical note: To reduce my debt to just my mortgage, and then pay that off within 10 years or less!
  • To write, produce, and release the first Adventures of the Snarky Avenger Audio Drama.
  • Finish jobs needing to be done.
  • Shooting MB’s Famous in early 2010.
  • To be fearless in anything related to my writing.
  • finish writing, editing and recording first novel and start 2nd that’s already chomping at the bit to start already :)
  • love more, save money, write daily are my goals :)
  • Test for my green belt in Kenpo
  • my goal in 2010 is to star in the 7th Son movies :P
  • get “Closet Treats” published. Finish writing “Garaaga’s Children” series and podcast it all.
  • Goals for 2010: Finish 2nd draft of my novel and find beta readers; organize and name all my digital photos
  • get back into shape after surgery on the 30th of this month
  • 2010 goal: Serialize my first novel
  • my biggest goal is to be a better father
  • To do more volunteer work for a cause about which I am passionate.
  • my plan is to read more. but i need quantifiable goals. so, read one book a week. and not just yours, over and over. :)
  • write 500 words a day. Submit one story for publication.
  • to write something polished enough to podcast… And then podcast
  • From 70% autonomous to 100%.
  • Making time & $ to attend a con – preferably one that you’re at, so I can thank you in person!
  • 2010 goals: Start re-writing Mallville, and start podcasting it. Try to write some more short stories.
  • goal- finish novels #2&3 and get podcast author career off the ground. Been a groupie long enough.
  • goal for 2010 = write something publishable

More will likely flow in (which I can’t add to the list here), but these 2010 goals are remarkable, brimming with drive and passion. Let’s all exhibit some Pure Badassery™ and make good on these goals next year.

What’s YOUR goal for 2010?

–J.C.

Avatar, and James Cameron 2.0

December 20, 2009

Just came from seeing James Cameron’s Avatar. Loved it. The movie demands to be seen on the big screen.

I won’t bore you with a review of plot points and performances; that’s what Google and Roger Ebert are for. I want to talk about the flaws of the movie, why they don’t matter … and why James Cameron is now officially in the “2.0″ phase of his career.

I came up in the same era in which Cameron was cutting his teeth as a writer/director. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched and rewatched his movies. I’m convinced that if there’s any one storyteller to study, it’s him. His movies are often dark and dystopian, packed with memorable, brilliantly-written ensemble casts. They’re perfectly contained stories, yet feel untamed, subversive. They bristle, hungry to make with the violence — and they always deliver it.

Something seemed to change within Cameron’s stories in the 1990s. The decade started strong for superfans with Terminator 2 (dystopian, violent science fiction). A few years later, he delivered True Lies, an action comedy. It’s an optimistic gunblazer, great popcorn fare. What the film lacked in brains or story, it more than compensated with action and visual effects. A rock-solid B for superfans like me.

Titanic became his obsession. Say what you will about the story (and I will, in a moment), but it was a cinematic masterpiece. Avatar is even better. Both deliver stories with the epic scope of the Truly Great films such as Gone With the Wind; seeing these things on anything less than a movie house screen is a mortal sin.

But both also represent a shift in Cameron’s writing, which in many ways disappoints superfans like me … but also showcases a breed of brilliance worthy of admiration. The man is smart, understands narrative, understands audiences — and it’s now clear that he deeply understands the business of making narratives for those audiences.

Long gone are Cameron’s days of bubblegum-and-a-prayer movie budgets. He now makes supermovies – stupefyingly expensive movies. Avatar’s budget was at least $250 million, but rumors put the pricetag as high as $350 million. That’s money that defies meaningful understanding.

Supermovies are high-risk endeavors for producers, and there are well-documented tradeoffs that come with superbudgets. Make the film PG-13 to ensure as many people as possible can see it … make stories simpler to accommodate that mass appeal … make the concepts of the story more universal as to snag the support of international markets and filmgoers … it goes on. The worst supermovies, like Transformers 2, fully embrace these compromises and treat their audiences as idiot children.

Cameron does not, though savvy superfans like me spot the compromises in what I’m calling the  ”2.0″ stage of his career. Titanic’s story has been characterized as “romance on a sinking boat,” and Avatar is now getting the inevitable (if unfair) Dances With Wolves comparisons. Both parallels are completely accurate, and yet absolutely inaccurate. To keep focus on Avatar: It is not a dumb movie. It is a movie that has a simple storyline with nigh-universal theme and appeal. There isn’t much development in many of the secondary characters. And I insist that’s just fine.

Much like Titanic, the movie is gorgeous, and absolutely convincing in its execution. It’s the first film I’ve ever seen in which the extended use of CGI didn’t harm the overall product. I was spellbound throughout, dazzled and dwarfed by the world Cameron created. It’s not a perfect story, but it’s a perfect movie — it fully embraces the big screen experience.

Did I pine for scenes that better-illustrated the main character’s inner conflict, or better-explained the reasons why the villians were being so villainous? Sure. Do I think that, given the compromises a filmmaker must make when they’re $300 million in the red, the movie suffered greatly from those omissions? No way.

Avatar is a cinematic masterwork. It doesn’t hail from the uberbrainy tradition of the best science-fiction stories. (Neither did Star Wars back in 1977. And while it’s my favorite movie, Star Wars is a rather simplistic and noisy tale.) It doesn’t hail from Cameron’s dark and dystopic sci-fi roots, either. But it is absolutely beautiful, ultimately optimistic, and an absolute blast to watch.

See it. On the big screen.

What Matters Now – Free eBook

December 14, 2009

whatmattersnowcontrib

It’s not every day that the world’s most popular marketing blogger asks you collaborate on a project designed to get folks thinking about their lives, the world, and positive ways to improve them. So when bestselling writer Seth Godin invited me to participate in What Matters Now, I dove right in.

As Seth wrote in his post announcing What Matters Now, this eBook “encourages people to focus and use their energy to turn the game around,” providing big thoughts and small actions to make a difference in the world. More than 70 authors contributed to the project, including big thinkers I’ve followed and respected for years: furturist Kevin Kelly, publisher Tim O’Reilly, writer and programmer Gina Trapani, artist Hugh Macleod, brilliant writers and entrepreneurs such as Merlin Mann, Derek Sivers, Chris Anderson, Guy Kawasaki, Paco Underhill … the who’s who list goes on and on.

I’m honored to be in such ultra-creative, ultra-talented company. My contribution, titled “Gumption,” can be found at the end of the eBook.

Each contribution is well worth your time, and may provide a nugget of resonance — or encouragement — for you as we enter the new year. If you find value within its pages, please share What Matters Now with your friends and coworkers.

–J.C.

whatmattersnowcover

Click to download the PDF

icon for podpress  What Matters Now - Free eBook: Download

Your beloved books

December 7, 2009

Today, I asked on Twitter:

What’s the most dog-eared book in your home? Mine’s my copy of THE STAND.

Here were your replies:

http://twitter.com/CWSeidman/status/6436593692

http://twitter.com/Rasplundjr/status/6436588543

http://twitter.com/MarvelSmartAss/status/6436571187

http://twitter.com/Rasplundjr/status/6436469815

http://twitter.com/NukeHavoc/status/6436395897

http://twitter.com/PGHolyfield/status/6436359833

http://twitter.com/Quonundrum/status/6436298609

http://twitter.com/AlasdairStuart/status/6436286252

http://twitter.com/otherdoc/status/6436261538

http://twitter.com/pfischer/status/6436239493

http://www.twitter.com/MisterDubbs/status/6436135966

http://twitter.com/Cynical_Woman/status/6436934554

http://twitter.com/zard/status/6436127818

http://twitter.com/tabisue/status/6436088021

http://twitter.com/brucefp/status/6435985866

http://twitter.com/shiatis/status/6435909443

http://twitter.com/DanDanTheArtMan/status/6435895224

http://twitter.com/spiritualtramp/status/6435870801

http://twitter.com/martyndarkly/status/6435868046

http://twitter.com/DrunkasaurusRex/status/6435866457

http://twitter.com/mplested/status/6435862545

http://twitter.com/madpoet/status/6435848506

http://twitter.com/BetaClone076/status/6435819437

http://twitter.com/Battlemouth/status/6435801384

http://twitter.com/MistressJett/status/6435778298

http://twitter.com/SVAllie/status/6435771648

http://twitter.com/thegr8merlyn/status/6435759830

http://twitter.com/melissamdavies/status/6435756693

http://twitter.com/jramboz/status/6435742488

http://twitter.com/Selorian/status/6435740172

http://twitter.com/MsBobbilicious/status/6435729312

http://twitter.com/dcperry/status/6435725906

http://twitter.com/KateSherrod/status/6435725845

http://twitter.com/glemak/status/6435720000

http://twitter.com/mark_marshall/status/6435713205

http://twitter.com/brandg/status/6435711099

http://twitter.com/rsmit212/status/6435708756

http://twitter.com/amberh/status/6435693489

http://twitter.com/dreamrock/status/6436968197

Wichita Rutherford interviews Ricky Skaggs!

November 5, 2009

wichitaI hail from Kentucky, the Bluegrass State, and am proud to say that my fine commonwealth is the birthplace of bluegrass music. I love the stuff (whenever I’m in a bad mood, I put on my Bill Monroe: Live From Mountain Stage album and things turn around right quick), and also love listening to interviews.

That’s why I was absolutely dazzled by this interview recorded by the brilliant Wichita Rutherford. Wichita came up in podcasting — he remains one of my favorite podcasters of all time; he’s so precious — and now hosts “The Grand Old Time Machine” Sirius/XM show. He recently spent some quality time with bluegrass legend Ricky Skaggs … and the interview is nothing short of awesome.

You’ve gotta check out this interview, even if you don’t know much about bluegrass music. You’ll hear an intimate take on Ricky’s life story and family, and his journey into the musical life — and learn a lot about bluegrass along the way. You won’t regret it.

But you gotta move fast; Wichita says the MP3 will be available for a few days.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

–J.C.

Are you UNTAMED? Prove it, and win a KILLER litho!

November 4, 2009

THE UNTAMED lithograph

Click for gorgeous LARGER version!

My dear friend Tabz recently turned me on to the cool folks at Stranger Press, and — since she’s doing some outreach on the company’s behalf — also hooked me up with a FREE super-sized lithograph of the cover of THE UNTAMED, Volume 1. Smokin’ hot.

But since my walls are covered, I want to give it to YOU!

Check this from Tabz:THE UNTAMED is the first comic from Stranger Press. The company is truly born out of a Hollywood mindset in terms of quality, look and feel. … Stranger Comics really seeks to bring back the feel of the golden age of comics, but with a modern twist. The stories are dark, but with a resounding, emotional plot line.

“In THE UNTAMED, we meet an unscrupulous man now facing purgatory who seeks escape by killing 7 souls. His journey seems to be going according to plan until he meets a young woman who reminds him of his daughter. Will she be his next victim?”

I’ve read an excerpt, and the thing’s burning my laptop screen, it’s so hot. Check it here.

So. Want that killer litho of THE UNTAMED’s cover? Participation is easy-peasy:

  • Send Tabz an email.
  • Put in the subject line: J.C. SENT ME!!!
  • Start the email with: “Tabz, I am UNTAMED!”
  • Include your name and mailing address.
  • That’s it.

Tabz herself will randomly select one lucky winner; I’ll post the winner’s name in the comments of this post.

DEADLINE: Nov. 6, 2009. You gotta move fast if you wanna keep up with the Hutch … and THE UNTAMED!

–J.C.

Flash Fiction: “Ursa Minor”

October 31, 2009

Ursa MinorSince it’s Halloween, I thought I’d toss something unusual in the podcast feed. Check out this experimental piece of fiction I wrote and recorded back in Nov. 2008 titled Ursa Minor.

At the time, Celldweller’s album Soundtrack for the Voices in My Head was brand new (it’s a stellar album; pick up a copy), and I was smitten by its cinematic-style music. I was so inspired, I contacted Celldweller mastermind Klayton and asked if I could write at least one short story inspired by his music … using his music in the story as a soundtrack.

The goal: To tell a complete tale using only the time allowed by the music, while timing plot points and action to specific moments in the music. The end result is Ursa Minor, using the song of the same name from the Celldweller album.

It’s 1:44 minutes long. A fun creative challenge! I hope you enjoy the tale, as brief as it is. :)

Happy Halloween!

–J.C.

 
icon for podpress  Flash Fiction: "Ursa Minor" [1:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

“The Grammar Devotional” free PDF excerpt

October 26, 2009

grammar_devotionalLet it be said that I unabashedly crush on Mignon Fogarty, aka Grammar Girl. It’s not a “come hither” kind of crush (though I hope she won’t mind me saying that she is a knockout) … it’s a creative crush, a crush fueled by absolute admiration and amazement for what she does, and how danged easy she makes it look.

Grammar Girl’s podcast is one of the most popular indie ‘casts in the Milky Way galaxy, and for good reason: Each week, she provides invaluable advice on how to become a better writer. She tackles such pesky issues as “affect vs. effect,” “who vs. whom,” the particularly stymieing “that vs. which” and so much more. Regardless of your professional field, her show will improve your communication skills.

She’s also the brains behind the Quick and Dirty Tips network, a website thriving with other podcasts filled with equally awesome advice. Plus, she’s a New York Times bestselling writer; her Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing book was released to stellar acclaim last year, and still dominates several writing-related catagories at Amazon.com.

The best part? Mignon is back with a NEW book, which promises to deliver some killer advice: The Grammar Devotional. What I’ve read of this book is stellar, packed with resonant, practical advice for writers of all skill levels. If you’re keen to polish your wordherding skills, this is a must-buy. In fact, here’s the book’s Amazon page. Go get ‘em, tiger.

Want to give some of Mignon’s daily tips a test drive before you buy? I’ve gotcha covered. Dig the link to the PDF below; there, you can download a month’s worth of the books daily tips, for free. If you find it as helpful as I did, you’ll click that Amazon link and snag a copy.

There are few authors I endorse without hesitation. Mignon Fogarty is one of them. Check out The Grammar Devotional, support her work, and become a better writer in the process! Everybody wins!

–J.C.

icon for podpress  "The Grammar Devotional" free PDF excerpt: Download

UltraCreatives Interview #19: Kent Nichols of “Ask A Ninja”

September 20, 2008

UltraCreatives LogoWelcome the second half of J.C.’s UltraCreatives conversations with the creators of “Ask A Ninja.”

Today, J.C chats with writer/producer/director Kent Nichols, who in 2005 — along with co-creator Douglas Sarine — debuted a very strange, very funny and what would soon become a very influential video podcast called “Ask A Ninja.”

Since 2005, the show has been downloaded more than 100 million times, and has helped Kent and Douglas launch projects in mainstream publishing and filmmaking — including the recently-released The Ninja Handbook, and the upcoming remake of the awesome cult classic comedy, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. Kent chats about both of those projects here today.

Also in this interview, Kent discusses the beginnings of “Ask A Ninja” — which was originally envisioned as an animated project — its success, finding one’s way in the filmmaking and new media spaces and a lot more. Whether you’re a fan of “Ask A Ninja” or an aspiring creator, Kent provides plenty of insight into the creative process, and the business of entertainment.

Find Kent Nichols on the World Wide Everywhere*:

PROMOS:

Coming next week: The return of J.C.’s 7th Son: OBSIDIAN short story antholgy!

*Yes, this line was shamelessly swiped from an AAN episode.

 
icon for podpress  UltraCreatives Interview #19: Kent Nichols of "Ask A Ninja" [46:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

UltraCreatives Interview #18: Douglas Sarine and the “Ask A Ninja” Ninja

September 18, 2008

UltraCreatives LogoIn this incredible episode of UltraCreatives, J.C. chats with Douglas Sarine and the Ninja, both from the chart-topping “Ask A Ninja” video podcast.

While Douglas and Kent Nichols (whose own UltraCreatives interview will debut tomorrow) are credited as co-creators of the show, the Ninja reveals in this interview how he recruited the duo to bring Ninja Knowledge to the world, after receiving permission from ninja Grand Master Kudamono to do so.

Douglas and the Ninja also discuss the success and history of the “Ask A Ninja” podcast, the awesomeness of being a ninja, and the now-available The Ninja Handbook, the official guide to becoming a near-ninja (which was painfully transcribed by Douglas and Kent). The book is the embodiment of all that is Awesome.

During this interview, the Ninja also reveals the name of his ninja clan, the design of his clan’s flag, how his life has changed since the podcast debuted … and shares all of this wisdom while doing battle with fierce creatures.

Find Douglas and The Ninja on the World Wide Everywhere*:

In the episode intro, J.C. announces the imminent return of 7th Son: OBSIDIAN, and that it will conclude in three weeks.

PROMOS:

Coming tomorrow: The second “Ask A Ninja” UltraCreatives interview with Kent Nichols!

*This line was shamelessly swiped from an AAN episode.

 
icon for podpress  UltraCreatives Interview #18: Douglas Sarine and the "Ask A Ninja" Ninja [43:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Ultracreatives Interview #17: Mur Lafferty

August 19, 2008

Playing For Keeps coverAfter an unexpected — and shame on him, unnannounced — micro-hiatus, J.C. Hutchins is back with a new UltraCreatives interview. This episode features the triumphant return of author and podcaster Mur Lafferty.

There have been some tremendous developments in Mur’s career since she last appeared on the show back in February. J.C. and Mur discuss her novel Playing for Keeps, and how it was recently purchased by indie publisher Swarm Press for mainstream release. Mur also chats about the reactivation of her “Stories of the Third Wave” podcast, her ambition to rush the Amazon.com charts on August 25 and much more. It’s a fun, fascinating interview.

Find Mur Lafferty on the World Wide Everywhere:

In the intro to this episode, J.C. also explains just where the hell he’s been for the past three weeks, what commitments have kept him from releasing 7th Son: OBSIDIAN content, and when that content will return to the feed. (Hint: It’s goddamned soon.)

As promised, here are links to some important sites (including MINE, J.C.’s new pop culture blog project) and some writing he’s done in recent weeks.

 
icon for podpress  Ultracreatives Interview #17: Mur Lafferty [54:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

UltraCreatives Interview #16: Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine

July 28, 2008

UltraCreatives LogoWe’ll soon dive back into 7th Son: OBSIDIAN, but it’s time for another killer UltraCreatives interview, this one with novelists Tee Morris and Philippa “Pip” Ballantine. These authors have got a first-ever publishing promotion to talk about, as well as writing in the Fantasy genre, their love of history, and a lot more.

In this terrific chat, Tee and Pip discuss their new promotion called “Double Trouble,” and how you can help them make an impact at Amazon.com on August 8th. It’s a double whammy of awesome.

Find Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine on the World Wide Everywhere:

J.C. serves up a teaser regarding future author announcements (free swag is coming!), and encourages folks to visit JohnAlphaForPresident.com to snag a free “John Alpha ‘08″ bumper sticker…

PROMOS:

Coming up tomorrow in the podcast feed: A fun OBSIDIAN short-short starring the cast of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd!

 
icon for podpress  UltraCreatives Interview #16: Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine [49:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

UltraCreatives Interview #15: Matthew Wayne Selznick

July 1, 2008

UltraCreatives LogoIt’s the second UltraCreatives interview for you this week, and this one’s packed with history-making exclusive news from author Matthew Wayne Selznick.

Matt is the author of Brave Men Run: A Novel Of the Sovereign Era, a groundbreaking novel that was released in several forms — including print — in 2005. Now nearly three years later, independent publisher Swarm Press has picked up the novel for mainstream release. In this conversation, Matt chats about Brave Men Run and how he’s promoting it. He also shares his scrappy artistic roots and how they greatly influenced his lifelong “Do It Yourself” philosophy.

Coolest of all, Matt announces some exclusive information about his ambitious plans to rush the Amazon charts on July 13 (the book’s release date), the incredible all-day event he has planned … and something truly special that he hasn’t yet announced in the podosphere. It’s history making stuff, and you’ll hear about it here first in this UltraCreatives interview.

Find Matthew Wayne Selznick on the World Wide Everywhere:

In the “talky talk” introduction to this episode, J.C. Hutchins reveals some developments in his own creative world, including:

  • An upcoming interview on OnThePod, and a recent interview on Slice of Sci-Fi
  • An update on where he stands in the editing process of the new novel he’s co-writing, Personal Effects: Dark Art
  • The release date for the new novel, and how that affects the release of 7th Son: Descent
  • A not-so-coy reveal on who’s “blurbing” the book

Coming up next in the podcast feed: FINALLY, the two “Voices From the Darkness” episodes J.C. owes listeners, and then more 7th Son: OBSIDIAN goodness as we roll into mid-week!

PROMOS:

 
icon for podpress  UltraCreatives Interview #15: Matthew Wayne Selznick [1:14:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

UltraCreatives Interview #14: J.R. Blackwell

June 29, 2008

UltraCreatives logoIt’s the fourteenth episode of the UltraCreatives Interview Series; this one’s an incredible conversation with the brilliant multifaceted artist J.R. Blackwell.

J.R. is a writer, photographer, singer, podcaster, blogger, contortionist and performer. She’s incredibly gifted at all of these art forms, many of which skew toward the fantastical and horrific. In this interview, J.C. and J.R. Blackwell talk not only talk about her many projects, but also what  informs and unifies her creative style throughout these different media. It’s an incredible conversation, and J.C. was thrilled to have her on the show.

Find J.R. Blackwell on the World Wide Everywhere:

This is the first of two UltraCreatives interviews for this week. Watch the feed on July 1, when J.C. drops his interview with Matthew Wayne Selznick, author of the novel Brave Men Run.

Coming up in the podcast feed: Two “Voices From the Darkness” fan-created 7th Son: OBSIDIAN episodes, and then the first part of Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff’s epic OBSIDIAN story.

PROMOS:

 
icon for podpress  UltraCreatives Interview #14: J.R. Blackwell [48:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

UltraCreatives Interview #13: Chris Miller

June 8, 2008

UltraCreatives logoWhile the power’s been out (and chaos has reigned) in the first week of the 7th Son: OBSIDIAN short story anthology, things are fine in UltraCreatives Land! Welcome to the thirteenth episode of the UltraCreatives Interview Series. This week, J.C. chats with the insanely awesome codeshaman, Chris Miller.

Chris Miller is the co-founder of Podiobooks.com, a lead developer at Mahalo.com, a writer, podcaster and a personal friend. J.C. considers Chris Miller one of the kindest and smartest people he’s ever had the privilege to meet. This interview conversation covers the gamut: topics include Chris’ writing and podcasting, but the centerpiece of this conversation focuses on programming. You’re going to enjoy the twists and turns this conversation takes.

Find Chris Miller on the World Wide Everywhere:

In the intro to this episode, J.C. explains why he won’t be on Twitter for a while, and suggests that you reach him here via blog comment, email or by calling the Clone Line at 206-984-2566.

PROMOS:

 
icon for podpress  UltraCreatives Interview #13: Chris Miller [1:01:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Next Page »