Tag: writing

Episode 74: Creating D&D Content with Justice Arman

Episode 74: Creating D&D Content with Justice Arman

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Justice Arman. In addition to penning best-selling DMs Guild adventure supplements such as Devil’s Advocate: A Guide to Infernal Contracts, Justice works for Beadle & Grimm’s Pandemonium Warehouse, where he works on boxed sets like the Legendary Edition of Curse of Strahd and the Gold Edition for Eberron: Rising from the Last War. He has also written for D&D Adventurer’s League and MCDM’s Arcadia.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode we discuss:

  • 3:00 How Justice got started writing Dungeons and Dragons content
  • 6:30 What his five-year plan looked like
  • 9:00 Building your resume and body of work with specific companies in mind
  • 16:30 Finding success on the DMsGuild
  • 19:30 Importance of collaboration
  • 23:00 Reaching out to other creators
  • 27:30 Marketing work on the DMsGuild
  • 33:00 Managing your geek brand expectations

Links to cool stuff:

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 57: Fan Expo Boston Panel – Turn Your Geeky Passion Into an Entreprenerd Business

Episode 57: Fan Expo Boston Panel – Turn Your Geeky Passion Into an Entreprenerd Business

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings entreprenerds!

If you missed our panel at Fan Expo Boston last weekend, we have the recording for everyone to get some great info on building their geek brand!

Why was Wayne Enterprises so successful? How did Ollivander make fine wands since 382 BC? If you’ve ever wanted to start a business, blog, podcast or other brand around your nerdy passion, this is the panel for you! Our group of geeky entrepreneurs will share the marketing, social media and branding tips needed to turn your geeky passion into a real business.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

Check out all our Boston Comic Con panelists:

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 51: Writing Habits and Productivity with Matthew Phillion

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

This week I’m joined by Matthew Phillion, author of the Indestructibles, to talk about the writing process that has allowed him to write 5 novels, and dozens of novellas and short stories in the past 4 years.

The Indestructibles, which has been called the Justice League meets The Breakfast Club, is a great series for comic book and super hero lovers. A solar powered girl. A ballerina vigilante. A boy with an alien living inside his brain. A werewolf with confidence issues.  A girl with a black hole for a heart. Five teenagers, each with their own unique abilities, are gathered by veteran hero Doc Silence to become their generation’s super-team.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, Matt and I discuss:

  • How he finishes first drafts in only 3 months
  • His 5-9 month outlining process
  • Importance of a daily writing routine
  • Productivity tips for writers

Be sure to follow Matt on Twitter @mattphillion, Instagram @mattphillion and on Facebook and learn more about The Indestructibles, Echo and the Sea, The Dungeon Crawlers and his other work at theindestructiblesbook.com

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 46: Marty LeGrow

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Greetings Entreprenerds!

My guest this week is Marty LeGrow, cosplayer, comic book artist and professional party princess. She was a contestant on Cosplay Melee in Episode 3: Angels and Demons. Her most recent comic book work, Toyetica, is currently available on Amazon and Comixology.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • 2:00 How Marty got started in cosplay
  • 8:00 Trying out for SyFy Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and Cosplay Melee
  • 14:00 Process of filming Cosplay Melee
  • 21:00 Tips for becoming a Party Princess or other party entertainer
  • 37:00 Creating Toyetica comic book with Action Lab
  • 46:00 Interacting with and representing fans of Toyetica
  • 49:00 Importance of being genuine and not focusing on growing a following

Be sure to follow Marty on Facebook, Instagram and check out her weekly Twitch stream on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9PM EST.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 19: Matthew Phillion Author of The Indestructibles

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Under the Capes Episode 19: Matthew Phillion Author of The Indestructibles series

Greetings Entreprenerds!

This week I talk to the author of The Indestructibles series, Matthew Phillion.

The series has been described as the “Breakfast Club meets the JLA” and was listed as the best of 2014 and 2015 by SuperheroNovels.com.

A solar powered girl. A ballerina vigilante. A boy with an alien living inside his brain. A werewolf with confidence issues.  A girl with a black hole for a heart. Five teenagers, each with their own unique abilities, are gathered by veteran hero Doc Silence to become their generation’s super-team.

But when they find out someone else is building their own monsters to change the world, will the Indestructibles be ready in time? Or will their inexperience be their downfall?

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

I met Matt at Boston Comic Con last month and talked to him for a few minutes (which I recorded and shared in the Boston Comic Con Recap Episode) and now we were able to sit down for a much lengthier discussion where we cover:

  • His lifelong writing career
  • Working as an actor and director before focusing on writing
  • How comic books influenced The Indestructibles
  • Finding a writing schedule and process that works for him
  • The difference between “Planners” and “Pantsers”
  • How comic cons puts him in touch with his ideal audience
  • Building an expanded universe of books
  • Future plans for The Indestructibles series

Books 1-4 of The Indestructibles, Echo and the Sea and all of the one-shots and holiday stories set in the “Indestructiverse” are available in paperback, Kindle, Nook, iBook and Kobo formats. For more information, visit theindestructiblesbook.com or follow Matt on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!

Episode 10: Rob Salkowitz

Episode 10: Rob Salkowitz

Posted on by Tim Ludy

Rob Salkowitz Comic con and the Business of Pop Culture

My guest this week is Rob Salkowitz, author of Comic-con and the Business of Pop Culture: What the World’s Wildest Trade Show Can Tell Us About the Future of Entertainment. Rob writes, speaks and consults on the social implications of digital media and the digital generation. Author of Young World Rising and Generation Blend, Rob is Director of Strategy and Content for MediaPlant, LLC in Seattle and teaches at the University of Washington. He writes about the business of comic books and the pop culture industry for Forbes and ICv2 and frequently speaks and moderates at San Diego Comic Con and other events.

Listen on iTunes or Stitcher.

Rob will be a panelist on and moderating many panels at San Diego Comic-con next week, including:

  • Law and Comics – Tuesday 4:30pm-5:30pm, San Diego Central Library, 330 Park Boulevard
  • How to Get News Coverage – Thursday 10:30am, Room 8
  • Celebrate 50 Years of Underground Comix with Denis Kitchen – Thursday 11am, Room 9
  • Pop Culture Shark Tank – Friday 3pm, Room 32AB
  • The 7 Comic (and Card) Shop Archetypes: Who Triumphs, Thrives, and Survives – Friday 6:30pm, Room 26AB
  • Comics Entrepreneur Secrets – Saturday 5 pm, Room 28DE
  • Spotlight on Sarah Glidden – Sunday 1pm, Room 4

In this episode we discuss:

  • Future of San Diego Comic-con and the comic book industry
  • Making it in the comics industry today
  • Pop Culture Shark Tank
  • The growth of Digital Comics
  • Tips for Pop Culture Writers
  • Mainstream publications covering comics
  • Experiences moderating panels
  • Future projects he’s working on
  • Importance of being open to new opportunities as a creator or entrepreneur
  • Not giving up on your dreams

Here are the links to everything we discussed:

If you’re interested in comic-con or the comics industry I highly recommend Rob’s book, Comic-con and the Business of Pop Culture which offers a really entertaining and detailed look at the future of the pop culture industry

You can read more of Rob’s work on Forbes or ICv2, follow him on Twitter @robsalk or check out robsalkowitz.com.

This Monday I’ll be posting a special pre-SDCC episode where I’ll have some friends on to talk about our plans for the con and I’ll be sharing quick clips from past guests where they share tips for making the most out of San Diego Comic-con. Should be a lot of fun and give you some great tips as you make your way to San Diego.

I’d really appreciate any feedback either on Twitter @UndertheCapes, in the blog comments or through a rating on iTunes or Stitcher. Thanks and see you soon!