dashPunk

Feeling alive is a big part of authentically being ourselves.  Everyone of us has something that makes us feel alive.

When I started writing this, Everything louder than Everything Else by Meatloaf from Bat Out of Hell II: Back into Hell
came on.  I love it when serendipity lends a helping hand.

If the thrill is gone then its time to take it back

I know that I will never be politically correct
And I don’t give a damn about my lack of etiquette
As far as I’m concerned the world could still be flat
And if the thrill is gone then its time to take it back
If the thrill is gone then its time to take it back
Who am i?
Why am I here?
Forget the questions someone get me another beer

It is so easy to get caught up in the big questions.  We get distracted from living in the search for purpose and meaning.  I know what you are thinking, didn’t say that we want meaning and purpose?  that those are prerequisites for happiness?

Yes!  But we will never find those things by sitting around trying to figure out what they are.

It is more important to live authentically than to be able to describe who you are in words.

It is more important to follow your bliss than to sit around trying to figure out why you are here?

While those are important questions, the answers are learned through action, and not thought.

You gotta learn to dance

Whats the meaning of life?
Whats the meaning of it all?
You gotta learn to dance
Before you learn to crawl
You gotta learn to dance
Before you learn to crawl

I experience by bliss and live in passion most profoundly when I:

• Am telling stories.
• Attending conventions.
• Listening to music.
• Dancing.
• Watching movies and series that matter to me.

I didn’t figure this out by sitting around and thinking about, but through doing it.

I started DMing AD&D in middle school.  I loved telling stories so much that I wrote my first novel in 8th grade, my second by 12th.  My third and fourth about 2 years apart.  I never would have learned how much I loved to tell stories if it wasn’t for AD&D and Vampire: The Masquerade.

I am mortally afraid of public speaking.  I never would have started this blog and our podcasts if Shore Leave hadn’t put me on a GLBT in Fandom panel, forcing me to do it.  I enjoyed it, and starting blogging and podcasting shortly there after.

The lesson is:  We discover our passions by doing things that make us feel alive.

If you are curious about something, try it.  If you enjoy it, keep doing it.

Army of the Night

So sign up, all you raw recruits
Throw away those designer suits
You got your weapons cocked, your targets in your sights
There’s a party raging, somewhere in the world
You gotta serve your country, gotta service your girl
You’re all enlisted in the army of the night

Consider this your draft notice!  Somewhere, someone is doing something that will enrich your life to a degree you cannot even imagine.

• Find it
• Figure out what about it you love
• Discover your passion
• Find ways to do more of it

Take it from someone who knows.  Authentic living is better than any other high.

I aint in it for…

And I ain’t in it for the power
And I ain’t in it for my health
I ain’t in it for the glory of anything at all
And I sure ain’t in it for the wealth
But I’m in it ‘til it’s over
And I just can’t stop
If you want to get it done, you have to do it yourself
And I like my music like I like my life
Everything louder than everything else

Always remember what you are doing it for.  It isn’t money or power or fame.  It is because your heart beats to the rhythm of that drum, and you have to keep the party going.

Life is for the living!  If we are not alive, we need to find that spark and ignite it again!

Acting our Age

They say I’m wild and I’m reckless
I should be acting my age
I’m an impressionable child
In a tumultuous world
And they say I’m at a difficult stage

But it seems to me to the contrary
Of all the crap they’re gonna put on the page
That a wasted youth is better by far
Then a wise and productive old age

I really truly believe that if we follow our bliss and live our passions, we have actually set ourselves in accord with the cosmos.  We are doing what we are here on this earth to do.

Everything in life is a challenge.  Are we going to move forward or move back.  If moving forward requires us to sell out who we are at our very core, then that is the wrong path.

A youthful spirit and a mature intellect are the most valuable tool we could have in life.  Don’t let anyone take them from you, and NEVER give them up!

The three I admire most…

If you want my views of history
Then there’s something you should know
The three men I admire most
Are Curly, Larry, Moe
Don’t worry about the future
Sooner or later it’s the past
If they say the thrill is gone then its time to take it back
If the thrill is gone then its time to take it back

Now that you have discovered your passion, see if you can find a couple people who make a living doing that and study how they do it.  Establish a plan, and work toward achieving it.

Everything louder than everything else

Now is the time to just sing along!

So sign up, all you raw recruits
Throw away those two bit suits
You got your weapons cocked, your targets in your sights
There’s a party raging, somewhere in the world
You gotta serve your country, gotta service your girl
Youre all inducted in the army of the night
And I aint in it for the power
And I aint in it for my health
I aint in it for the glory of anything at all
And I sure aint in it for the wealth
But Im in it til its over
And I just cant stop
If you want to get it done, you got to fight for yourself
And I like my music like I like my life
Everything louder than everything else

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Updates | Shore Leave Convention | The Eagle Has Landed | Steampunk Goggles | Emma Watson in Marilyn Manson Movie | 9 Clip | Thor adds Natalie Portman | Karate Kid remake | Hulu profits | Ugly Betty | A Game of Thrones Show | and Community Comments on Speculative Fiction Today.

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• What’s Up with dashPunk and Speculative Fiction Today
• Brief mentions from Shore Leave Convention
• The Eagle Has Landed footage of (get clip of song to play) (via Hulu)
• Goggles for Hard Negotiations (via dashPunk)

Movie

• Marilyn Manson casts Emma Watson in his Musical Cinderella (via dashPunk)
• “9″ Clip featuring The Winged Beast (via dashPunk)
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• ‘Karate Kid’ remake starring Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith (via Entertainment News)

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• Sean Bean to star in HBO’s A Game of Thrones (via SCI FI Wire)

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For the summer, we are going to turn The Confessed podcast into a book club!

In the wake of the glorious first season of Legend of the Seeker, we will read Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind with the same eye on story we gave to the show, and the long silenced comparison between the show and the book.

Here is the schedule for the podcast.  We will put up a post for your comments on the post date, and record the podcast live on TalkShoe on the Podcast date.  The live show will be a round table where we will be taking your calls, and adding many regular contributors to the round table.

*We will be traveling to Maryland to this episode will be prerecorded.

** We will be at Shore Leave so this episode with be Prerecorded

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Within fandom, as with the mainstream culture, assimilation into an ‘acceptable person’ is not a way to be safe.

For years I have participated in the panels and sundry other discussions about whether GLBT fans should blend into the background, or whether we should be more vocal, and make our presence known and felt. It was a struggle at first, but eventually we came to believe the price of silence too high for us to pay.

In other words, those who were naturally straight-acting, were encouraged not to change their persona at fan events, and those of us who were a bit more obvious in our sexual orientation and gender identity were encouraged to be ourselves. The only exception we stressed was for cosplay (dressing in costume and pretending you are what you are dressed as).

While we always used common sense, we found it was best to be open and upfront about our orientation and identity. The vast majority of negative experiences I have had at fan events were when someone found out I am gay, and felt like I had hidden it from them.

I am very inappropriate

I am more inappropriate and direct with people then the average person, and will often introduce myself: “Hello, I am Eric, and I am a gay man, may I presume you are heterosexual.”

It usually gets a laugh, and will often open the door for people to understand the awkward position GLBT people are placed in by society. If we are not open about our identity or orientation, it is assumed we were hiding it.

You don’t have to be as upfront as I am, but be careful not to lead people into believing you are covering it up. This self-serving sense of betrayal is often used as a thin veil to excuse a person’s homophobia. “Well, I just don’t know who you are anymore.” Whoever you are, always be yourself, be open, and be honest.

Klingon Drag Queen

Last year, our first klingon drag queen attended Shore Leave. She was stunning and took the time to make each piece of the costume by hand to express her gender identity and passion for klingons. Unfortunately, she also experienced an inordinate amount of sneers and cat calls as she went through the convention.

Our group also features a number of male-to-female transgenders who often come in costume. They have not faced some of the same hurdles the rest of the community have. When I talked to one who asked to remain anonymous, she told me that her biggest problem at the conventions were that people assumed she merely wore a costume.

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Hey everyone!

Project:Shadow HQ is now up to 41 members! Thanks to everyone who is spreading the word, great job! If you haven’t already invited your friends to join the party send them an e-vite AT http://rurl.org/bol or put a Project:Shadow HQ badge http://rurl.org/bom on your web site, blog or MySpace profile!

Shore Leave

Shore Leave was Wonderful this year.  we had a great time and really enjoyed getting to visit with HQ Members there.  Eric has a full write up over at dashPunk.com

Shine Like Thunder

Shine Like Thunder the book is out!  By C. E. Dorsett, Shine Like Thunder is the first book in the Tales of the Silver fox series in the rich and deep setting the Barrens End.  For more info http://TalesOfTheSilverFox.com

Get your shopping done with us at ProjectShadow.com/shop. We set up a store so that you can get your shopping done in one stop, stores include Amazon, Hot Topic, and Sharper Image. Not only is it convent but it also helps to support our work here at Project: Shadow. We also have cool t-shirts, posters, and other merchandise available.

The Blog Has a New Look!

We did a full overhaul of the Project: Shadow Blog.  “we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability…” and so we did.  the Project: Shadow Blog is now called dashPunk.com.

Project: Shadow Podcast

Covering SF news and opionions, for fans by fans. Listen Live, daily, on TalkShoe http://rurl.org/a8j. Subscribe to the podcast and get the show notes at ProjectShadowInformant.com.

Project: Shadow Informant

Liquid Sky Chapbooks are Out!

The four chapbooks are out for Liquid Sky.  For More Legendsofthejademoon.com.  The Book titles are The Child Of Centuries, Dividing Souls, Back from the Dawn, Nemesis

What is on YOUR mind

Thanks to all of the members who have shared with us your latest comments?  Thanks to Ryan who started the discussion asking about “The other side of history…”  The full discussion is at http://snurl.com/3bsb7.  If you have a topic that you would love to discuss with the group the Forum is your place.

Supporting Project:Shadow helps us to bring you more and better content projectshadow.com/supportus/index.htm!

Eric

http://hq.projectshadow.com/

ProjectShadow.com

BarrensEnd.com

dashpunk.com

legendsofthejademoon.com

talesofthesilverfox.com

fatesharrow.com

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Darren Rowse’s post, A Secret to Sustain Yourself as a Blogger at Problogger.net forced me to answer the questions, Who is a successful blogger? and When have I achieved success?

It reminded me of a conversation… disagreement… ok, it was more of a confrontation I had with A. C. Crispin at the last writers’ breakfast I was invited to at Shore Leave 28. She informed me that I was not a “real writer,” and I responded that I was

• a real writer when I first put pen to paper
• a successful writer when I finished my first book
• a published writer the moment the book was in print

I would be a bestselling writer when I had a book on a bestseller chart. Well, Fate’s Harrow has hit number 1 on the Amazon Charts several times.

I feel the same way about blogging, I am

• a real blogger when I set up the blog
• a successful blogger ever time a post to the blog
• a good blogger because the things I blog about interest other people (no matter if that is 1 other or a million)

I will be

• a financially successful blogger when the blog makes up a significant proportion of my income
• a great blogger when I have rallied a vibrant community of contributers and commenters to the blog

Numbers mean less than nothing to me. Would I like to have millions of readers? Sure, but I would much rather have a group of readers that share the same interests as I do and who help me find more stories that I am interested in and help me by challenging my views and opinions on the subjects I blog about. (which I already have)

I think most people stop blogging because they learn that

• they are too private or introverted to share their lives and opinions with a world of people they do not know.
• they discover that it is a lot of time, work, and effort to find topics to talk about on a regular basis
• they find out that this is not the easiest and quickest way to become a celebrity or millionaire
• they get the harsh criticism that people feel they can give you when you do anything in a public forum.

Some people just love to complain. At the book launch party for my first book Liquid Sky, people came up to me to tell me how much they hated my books… Really? What books? Do you mean the one that just came out today or the ones that you imagine that I have written so you could enhance your own sense of superiority? These are the people who just long to complain.

Blogging, like writing, is something you either enjoy or not. For some people, it is almost a compulsion. If you enjoy it, then do it. It is important to know why you are blogging, then hold onto that reason.

I blog because I enjoy the conversation, and I want to have as many as I possibly can.

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Shore Leave was amazing this year.  It is the one event that I look forward to more than any other.

We arrived early on Friday and checked into the room.  Luckily, we were on the first floor not far from the action this year.

Again they did not make my participant badge until I asked for it, but Melissa was as wonderful as she usually is, and we got it taken care of quickly.

There was no room for me on Writers’ Row, so I went around and greeted the many friends and fans.  At 5:30, we went out for the meet up diner.  More people turned out than I expected and we had some great conversations.

After the diner, we met up with the others we had missed.  Books sold well, and the conversation was free flowing.  The filk concert was looming, and I really wanted to see it, but Tom and I had scheduled  a time to meet to discuss our panel.

Before the concert, I got a copy of Greg Baker’s new CD.  Roberta Rogow began to sing, and Brian went out to see if there were any cancellations so I could get on writers’ row to promote the book.  He came back livid.  There were many empty seats, but I was not allowed to have one. grrr.

At any rate, it was time to meet Tom, so we headed up stairs to prepare for the panel.  After a long discussion, we headed down for our 11:30 PM panel on GLBT in Fandom (get the audio here).  It was a great conversation and I really love getting the community together.

After more conversation, we headed off to bed.

Saturday

We awoke early to Pop Tarts and coffee, then ran around meeting new people.  Our friend Jimmy showed up early, and the time came for me to head off to the Photo Op line to get my picture taken with George Takei.

The line was hot and sweaty, but moved quickly.  I look a copy of the my newest book, Shine Like Thunder that I signed for him.

As I entered the room, I saw how they were doing the pics.  People walked in, stood next to him and had there picture take with him, then they where escorted out of the room.  I offered the book to the lady at the door, and told her that I had brought it for George, and she said I could give it to him.

When it was my turn, I walked up to him hand him the book and explained why I wrote the book.  He immediately started asking me questions about the book, and the handlers started making motions for him to hurry up.  One of the handlers came up to take the book away.  George smacked his hands and said, “No. he brought this for me, it will be in the picture.”  Then he grabbed me buy the waist, pulled me close and said, “Now Smile.”

Off the high from the Photo Op, I looked at the time and realized we needed to go eat so we would not be hungry during our Podcasting panel.  So Brian, Chris, Jimmy and I ran off to Noodles and Company.

At 5:00 pm, we went to our panel.  We discussed all things podcasting (get the audio here).

Once we got out, we ran into Tom who had organized a second meet up dinner.  We had already eaten, so we just went along for the conversation and I am glad I did.  I made a lot of new friends.

We made it back in time to get dressed for Masquerade.  I didn’t really dress up this year.  I simply grabbed my cape and off we went.

I wish the videos would have turned out.  I might post them anyway for the ones that the audio is interesting.  The eight year old girl who made the most amazing Wonder Woman costume that I have ever seen.

• eHarmony Gate: Eye of Harmony.com (thanks Zuul) Dr Who seeking companions
• Bear in the Big Blue Tardis
• Good Morning Kitomer
• Girl Fight

If you are a fan of the genre, you can probably recreate the skits in your head.

After the Masquerade, Brian was not feeling well.  He caught the bug I had earlier in the week, so he went to bed, and Jimmy and I ran down to the dance.

I just want to say thank you to everyone who bought me a drink that night.  It was a lot of fun, and the conversation was more than amazing.

Sunday

Sunday was my day.  Friday and Saturday were full of meetings, meet ups, and panels, so on Sunday I got to actually sit in the audience and soak in the convention.

I only had two guests I really cared to see, Jewel and George.

I hated to leave.  I always find it amazing how for three days so many amazing people who I know that I can talk to and feel a sense of instant kinship.  I cannot wait to see everyone again.  The world is a cold place when you are not surrounded by fellow fans.

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This episode was recorded live at the GLBT Panel at Shore Leave 30 on Friday, July 11 at 11:30 PM.

We discussed many topics related to the GLBT representation in Fandom.

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I have the schedule for this weekend. I will be on the GLBT in Fandom panel Friday, July 11 at 11 pm in Salon B and the Podcasting panel on Saturday, July 12 at 4 pm in the Tack Room. I cannot wait for our diner meet up tonight.

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And we’re off:  A long road trip to visit friends and family that will culminate with our stop at Shore Leave 30.  I will be twittering from the road.

I am looking forward to see everyone at the dinner and panels.  So long as I can find web access and time, I will be posting pics and vids to the HQ.

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