C.A. Sanders's Blog, page 40

Joan Rivers Dies at 81

I’m sad to say that Joan Rivers–one of the greatest comics of all time–has passed away in New York City, the place of her birth 81 years ago. Her daughter, Melissa, confirmed it. Here is a partial quote:

“It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my mother, Joan Rivers,” Rivers said in a statement. “She passed peacefully at 1:17pm surrounded by family and close friends. My son and I would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff of Mount Sinai Hospital for the amazing care they...

How Settlers of Catan Improved My Promotion Skills Part I

I’ve been thinking about this article for a long time. I already wrote about how Dungeons and Dragons made me a better writer. I’ve also written about how war game strategies transfer to life. It’s natural to explore the effects of gaming. And you know, there’s something here.

I’m a gamer. I love German-style board games like Settlers of Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Puerto Rico, to name a few. Oh, how I love gaming, and I think that some aspects of the games can be applied to real life.

I’m by no...

Weekend Fun, new article soon

Hey all. I’ve been slacking a little bit with the articles, because I’ve been out having fun. Fun is fun, and it’s rare that I get to have fun. I hope that you all had a great Labor Day weekend with lots of fun. Because fun is fun.

But…fun is fun…

Anyway, I am working on an article which should be up soon. It’s about book promotion and how Settlers of Catan (and similar games) made me a better promoter. Intrigued? Me too. I dunno how I’m gonna bring these together. I have a general idea though,...

The Greatest Meme Ever!

Thank you Internet, you’ve made all my dreams come true.

RVD Leaves WWE: Song Parody

Multiple sources are reporting that RVD’s match on Smackdown this week will be his last of the year. RVD only wrestles a few months out of the year, so this is no surprise. He’s basically there to enhance (i.e. job to) up-and-comers like Cesaro, like a level boss of sorts.

I love RVD, and I try to remember him as he was in ECW, when he was the whole fuckin’ show. Now, he’s just old. He’s still got moves, but I won’t forget that botch 2 months ago where he got tangled in the side apron.

Colorado...

Doctor Who & True Blood : Late to the Game and Leaving It

The big buzz in geekland this weekend was a new Doctor Who and the last True Blood. I have different experiences with both shows, and they prove how much I suck.

Yes, I suck. I freely admit it. I’m terrible with shows. I don’t binge watch, I don’t use DVR. I’m just bad at keeping up with shows.

Let’s start with Doctor Who: Late to the game

I’ve been meaning to get into Doctor Who for years. YEARS!!! Yet I never have until last week. I don’t get BBC America, so I never had access, and when I got...

Better Writing Through D&D

Dungeons & Dragons turned 40 this year. Since its beginnings, over 20 million people have rolled a 20-sided die and failed their damn Saving Throw. I’m not sure if D&D was the first RPG, but it’s certainly the best known and most popular. It survived horrible mismanagement and many different editions (let’s never mention 4th Edition i.e. tabletop WoW), but it still remains my favorite hobby and the primary influence on my writing skills.

Do you find it weird that I credit D&D for helping me wr...

Best Grammar Fail Ever!

So this exists.

ouch.

You’re welcome.

5 Myths About The Writing Business

Here is a great article by Chuck Sambuchino titled “5 Mistakes Writers Make (and How To Avoid Them).” The title is a bit of a “bait and switch,” as it’s about the business instead of the craft. Still, it’s something that all writers–indie or traditional–should read.

Its main thrust: YOU GOTTA HUSTLE

It took me a while before I realized this. With the help of my publisher, Damnation Books, we were able to craft an extraordinary novel in Song of Simon. The support I received from them has been ex...

The Mask: Comics and Secret Identities Part 2

Welcome back. This is a continuation of a previous post. I suggest that you read the first part before this one, just so you know where I’m going with it.

Superman and Clark Kent as an Anomaly

Superman poses an interesting contrast to the traditional mask in that he doesn’t wear one. It’s a constant joke among fans that no one recognizes him. I mean, how can anyone be that stupid? I’ll explain below, but first I want to talk about what makes Superman unique.

Both Clark Kent and Superman can be...