Steven Savage's Blog, page 63

Steve’s Update 3/4/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

Here’s my latest update – I’m also going to  make it more personal.

So what have I done the last week? A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: Editing is in progress and I’m keeping a good pace.  Quite pleased with it. Writing: Got a new column coming up on my productivity, and another Agile Manifesto post for creatives. Seventh Sanctum: The “Registry” of other generators is going well – I just have to fill it out before launching.  So...

The Creativity Paradox

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

There’s something horribly restrictive about creativity. Ever start something and feel trapped? Ever have an imaginative project become a burden? Why?

If you think of it, creativity means that you can do anything. The human mind can imagine things that were are are, never were but could be, and are not but shall be. In a creative act, from an add campaign to a novel, you could do anything.

Modern tools make things even easier....

Agile Creativity – Principle #4: Daily Collaboration

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

Now the fourth Principle of Agile Software, which we’ll be re-purposing for creative work, is simple until you think about it for two seconds. It states.

Business people and developers must work together daily throughout the project.

Easy, right? First, let’s tweak this a bit for creatives

Customers and creatives must work together daily throughout the project.

Still simple, but I’m pretty sure you’ve been in situations where...

Steve’s Update 2/27/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

Here’s my latest update – and a lot to discuss!

So what have I done the last week? A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: The final edit before pre-reading is in progress. Writing: The fourth Agile column is coming soon – and more to come, of course Personal Agile Guide: This is launched and out!  So if you subscribe to my newsletter, you get a copy! Seventh Sanctum: My next project is going well – it’s a page on which I’ll keep a “re...

Civic Geek: The Kids Are Damned Right

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

So let’s talk the Parkland shooting and March For Our Lives.  We’re watching teens band together and inspire others to band with them, to take on our country’s gun laws to stop the school shootings that have destroyed so many lives.

These kids are getting attacked, being called fakes and part of a conspiracy.  They’re being called opportunists.  They’re being called impolite.  They’re being mocked.

They keep going.  More and m...

Agile Creativity – Principle #3: Frequent Useable Delivery

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

All right now let’s get to what the Third Agile Principle and what it means for creatives, and continue our journey to apply the Agile Manifest to creative work.

I’m sorry, Third Principle of Agile Software. In fact, it’s kinda software-heavy Principle, which means for creatives we’ve got to rethink it a bit. Let’s take a look:

Deliver working software frequently, from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, with a preference...

Steve’s Update 2/20/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

Here’s my latest update – and a lot to discuss!

So what have I done the last week? A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: I got done with the arc I wanted to edit and am actually ahead of the game!  So we’re in great shape. Writing: The blogging is going well, and the Agile Creativity series will see a focus on Principle 3 . . . probably awhile after this post! Personal Agile Guide: I did some additional editing, so more to come . . ....

The Work That Reinforces Also Weakens

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

 

My friend Serdar has a fascinating response to my column on the Agile Manifesto for creatives.  Focusing on my calling out overdocumentation, he sums things up amazingly well:

Back when I started working on Flight Of The Vajra, that mammoth space opera epic thing o’ mine, I wasn’t in the habit of assiduously documenting the contents of my stories for reference. If I couldn’t fit the whole thing in my head, my thinking went,...

Agile Creativity – Principle #2: Embracing Change

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

And we’re back to applying the Twelve Principles of Agile Software of the agile Manifesto – originally meant for software – to creative works. Let’s take a look at the second principle, which embraces what usually drives us up a wall. That, for those of you with a long list of wall-driving, is change.

The Second Principle is:

Welcome changing requirements, even late in development. Agile processes harness change for the custom...

Steve’s Update 2/12/2018

(This column is posted at www.StevenSavage.com and Steve’s Tumblr)

Here’s my latest update!  With my move done and that insane January out of the way, I will get back to regular deliverables.

So what have I done the last week(s)? A Bridge To The Quiet Planet: Editing is going faster than I thought, I’m almost to the big arc I have to tweak.  I think it may be done next week, which means I can get this thing pre-readable in March easy!  Maybe mid-March! Writing: The new series on Agile and cr...