Hello!
As someone who is very busy and has a lot going on, what do you do to stay organised and on top of everything?
I find myself with more and more on my plate these days, between working, studying, looking for more work, and starting a business. It's got me wondering how other people handle doing so much
- I bullet Journal thanks to fan suggestions from years ago.
- Read ‘Atomic Habits’ the only practical organisation/ self improvement book I ever saw that was just practical with no wishy washy nonsense.
- I try to do a few jobs every day even if only for 10 seconds: file paperwork, clear emails, tidy workspace
- I arrange for a “treat” job so when I feel like procrastinating I can treat myself with a job that is more fun/ different to the thing I am escaping from but is still actually productive.
- Automate everything you can.
- Delegate everything you can.
- Constantly focus on reducing your responsibilities as low as possible to just the stuff you care about you will automatically be prioritising better. Once a month, sweep through your responsibilities and ditch everything you possibly can. More will always replace them but it will ease the load.
- “One in two out” for all things. Email, clothes, responsibilities, whatever. It has to be two because somehow extra always manages to sneak on.
- Batching. It’s easier to do multiple iterations of a task in a row so put them in batches.
- If something is regularly urgent you are doing something wrong and need to figure out what.
What is your favorite type of bird? (Specifically of the corvidae) ((which is stuff like ravens, crows, magpies, blue jays etc. if you aren’t a bird nerd)) (((sorry about all the parentheses lol)))
Ravens. Ravens are cool.
Hi, The picture of you at Empire on Instagram looked absolutely awesome!
Could you tell us about:
1: Your character, how you made him and ect...
2: How you managed to get such a cool costume!
And 3: How the event was?
I've been looking into possibly going but I'm fining the costuming and character creation (mainly backstory) difficult, and I'm a bit nervous about what it'll be like when/ if I go there.
1: Character was kept low-key since I needed to get lay of the land at first event. I just researched the nation our group voted to join and then reverse engineered from there.
2: Costume = is mostly Etsy with some Amazon thrown in for stuff I couldn’t find elsewhere. I don’t have the time to make stuff from scratch but I am pretty crafty so can customise/ resize etc. So the armour was ordered then i did some leatherwork to fix it up and reshaped it.
3: It was like when I first played Dnd. Brilliant but I regretted not trying it 20 years ago!
I am NOT a veteran and there are many more knowledgeable people than me on this site but from my humble perspective I would suggest don’t worry too much about backstory and focus on just getting a few bits together first. I went ridiculously overboard for my first event because that’s just how I role on special interests.
Hiya Sir Alex, sir.
May I ask how old are you? Sorry, if it came out too strong. Because you act/sound like you're in your mid 20s but out of nowhere you just say stuff like "Ah, yes. When I was a younger man, I used floppy disks and wrote with quill and ink". I mean you still look fairly young in my opinion. My working theory is that you're an immortal being or you moisturize to have a younger looking face.
Sorry, if this is too personal, no need to answer.
Lol you might be the only one who thinks I look younger than I am!
So I am 35 meaning I grew up in the early 90s inheriting hand-me-downs from the 80s. (hence the floppy disk talk). I remember living pre mobiles, pre internet and even pre-computers in that I only knew one family that had one and they were all doctors. I also had a very “traditional” upbringing that even included ettiquet lessons from my father. (not joking).
That said I have been online for most of my life and been making memes since before a lot of our audience was born. I also have a lot of younger relatives which helps.
Lastly I think people in the creative industries just tend to give off that vibe in general. I have this theory that it’s because none of us allow oursleves to act like adults until we’ve properly “made it” but since none of us actually achieve that we are left as perpetually adolescent in some respects.
Also I can’t stress how immature I am in certain ways.
I think I behave like a pompous teenager but look like a 45yr old dad with body problems!
Hello Mr Bossman! (and possibly anyone else who reads this)
Its an honour to be here, I have a few questions. First i appologise for the long paragraph, you may dismiss it for the questions at the bottom.
For context, i am here after finishing TMA and being up to date with TMAP, i then went over and listened to RQG, and have just finished listening to Epilogue 3 and might i just say, good sir I am grateful for your podcasts. I am currently just a few months away from my final exams of High School, and as someone who even just 1 year ago was very lost, struggling with school and being just overwhelmed. TMA isnt exactly comforting, but the characters and plot managed to serve as a good form of escapism while sorting myself out. I found my self engaging more in creative things that i had originally put aside in favour of maths and science (which i hated but thought i needed to do). I started drawing again, even if just fanart. and i found things going well. By finding podcasts, story telling and these communities have helped me in my own understanding of what i want in life. I got an ADHD diagnosis earlier this year, and almost directly after started RQG and as my first hyperfixation (that i was aware of as an hyperfixation) gosh dang it hit hard. (in a good way). Ive been able to do so much more creative writing and drawings, and got re-involved with a small dnd group with some friends who i played one game with almost 4 years ago now. So overall, inspirational sounds cringe, but it was. Im doing my best with the upcoming exams, but trying to get in to Medicine is not my only prority, and the fact ive been re-introduced to my first love (Literature and story telling), im planning to go do an Arts degree and i know i wouldnt have been able to confidently make this decision, or even have survived this long in the school system without the work you and your coworkers do.
Now the sap is out of the way, Question time! (if you could answer even just one of these questions it would be so cool)(they go in order of RQ relevant to random stuff)(dont feel pressured to answer all/any. i know i wrote alot):
1. what would you say is the best way to draft out a long-form story. (with "Erasing the Line" as an example) Did you start at the end, with the links to the overarching plot.
2. When working with the players (in a form of TTRPG), what did you do to make sure you didnt miss relevant timing of plot points/ avoid creating spoilers while still giving enough detail?
3. What are good places to start with making a job out of storytelling/voice acting/audio etc. In the case of RQ, how is this a job and where do i sign up please! /j (what i mean is, how is best way/how did you find all the people involved and was there a common path that you were all on before getting to where you are now?)
4. Do you have recommendations for Terry Pratchett Books, i may be an literary-leaning student, but it seems i have never actually properly read any of his books. so where is best place to start?/What did you read first?
5. Similar authors or similar inspirations? Did you have a favourite podcast you listen to in your free time that you havnt had a hand in producing/directing/working on.
6. Favourite song/album/artist. And more specifically, what you like listening to in background when doing either writing or (for ttrpg) character research/game planing.
7. Since the olympics are on at the moment, what has been your favourite sport to watch, if you have been watching at all.
Thank you for your time :)
Thankyou for all the kind words. Knowing our work is helping people really keeps our engines fired up. Let’s see if I can’t answer your questions:
1. I “sandbox” which is where I just shove everything I can think of into an unorganised bullet point list. Characters, setting, plot, all of it in one big mess. Then I decide what type of story you want to tell, copy and paste to a new document and then start to organise the thoughts (with the sandbox on standby if new stuff comes in I don’t know what to do with). I think of it like scultping, you cut away bits and reshape until something comes out the other end that is story shaped. Only then do I attempt to build the sandcastle and put something coherant together like a synopsis or scratch draft etc.
2. Very tricky. I did a complete review and update of all notes after each recording session and don’t forget the audio eas edited. I made lots of gaffs that you never heard as audience.
3. I contacted anyone I could convince to take part and just proved I was serious by overworking. I don’t reccomend that route. Unfortunately it really is “who” you know. That doesn’t mean chase established professionals as much as it means you need to get out there and associate with other up-and-comers who match your vibe. For me the route was long and windy and not a particularly good example.
4. I normally recommend people do not read his books in publication order. Don’t get me wrong, its wonderful watching his craft grow from one title to the next but I would recommend new readers tip their toe into his later works to see if they like where he ended up before committing the time. I often recommend ‘Monstrous Regiment’ as people’s first one. My favourite though is 'Thief of Time.’
5. I don’t get much time to listen to podcasts in the last couple of years. I used to listen to a lot of non fiction. 'Stuff you Should Know’ and that ilk. I also read a fair amount of classic YA fiction to unwind (Windinsger trilogy, Bartimeous, stuff like that.)
6. Paul Simon’s Graceland but when working I assemble a playlist for each seperate project that is tonally appropriate. If I really need to focus I listen to Classical Minimalism. Or the Old School Runescape soundtrack. I’m allowed to be ecclectic.
7. I am actually in an incredibly busy work crunch at the moment so haven’t seen any of it!
Hello,
Without it sounding like a pretentious thing:
Have you/have you considered writing anything autobiographical? I have engaged with a lot of what you’ve spoken of in terms of life, career and similar topics. Truthfully you have taught me a lot and it seems you have valuable lessons to share. It’s a great thing you have achieved!
For example I’m currently in film school and have gained more insight into the ways of the craft from you and your peers than I have in a year of university.
Thank you for your impact.
Wow now that is a flattering ask!
I used to but the older I get the more I realise how little I know and how disingenuous it would be to start acting like some kind of guru. Ask me again in 30 years when I am a grownup.
So glad to hear you enjoyed Empire! I don't larp myself anymore, but my Wife still does and loves it. She's one of the Empire skirmish crew leads, so if you got run over by monsters at any point, it was probably her fault xD
Did you get a chance to join the monster team this time around? Or are you saving that until you've a few more events under your belt?
I did get run over by monsters on my first time out so please pass my thanks along!
Unfortunately I had to leave early on the Sunday due to family health issues. Looking forward to next event though where I can double-monster to pay my dues. :)
Boy band preference?
As far away from me as possible.
(Personal taste thing, not casting shade on the entire genre just nothing has spoken to me yet.)
Hi Alex, what is your view on parsnips? delicious and wholesome, or a vile imposter that has no place in a roast?
When cooked correctly they are a delicious and wholesome proof of the superiority of a Sunday roast dinner
hey Alex, hope you’re well!
seeing your empire pics, I realised I’ve never actually seen your bare arms, or your cool celtic-looking sword tattoo. Does it have a special meaning (besides being cool)?
So I don’t actually have a tattoo! That’s just a temporary one I put on for Empire.
I always wanted a full sleeve but I doubt I will ever get one. I am too flighty in my passions and nowhere near cool enough. (also makes certain aspects of my career harder.)
Fun fact though, it was so hot than I now have tan lines in the shape of that tattoo which is pretty great!
Alex why are you blogging at 8 in the morning
So real-talk, I don’t really use social media for anything but work. I personally hate it (too many hot-take haters on every issue for my taste) but it’s important that I engage rather than go full on recluse so I have a dedicated timeslot for posting online in my day to force me to do it and I picked the least valuable time of the day which is when I am downloading work from our servers to edit etc.
Morning Mr. Newall, as someone who is sustained solely by the stuff, I'm curious to know :
How do you take your tea, and what's your biscuit of choice? Are you someone who drinks a variety and has the nice loose leaf stuff, or is it Tetly-till-ya-die? If the former, what's your favourite?
Thanks a ton from someone who owns 12 variations of earl grey. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !!!
I take my tea without tea or milk. With a poor man’s cheescake. (Hot water with a Chocolate digestive that has cream cheese spread on top.)
I like to listen to older episodes of podcasts I enjoy while I do my crafts (I'm making a quilt right now, it's great) and relistened to the 2015 Halloween episode of RQG.
My question is- do you have a better diet now?
(this is only a semi-serious question, eat what you like and take care of yourself)
I also hope you know that the actual horror of that episode is that the housing market is no better than it was 9 years ago.
I do not. I also do not take care of myself properly.
I do however now drink the occasional chocolate flavoured Huel to give me essential nutrients. Progress not perfection I guess.
Hello Alex! Hope you’re well!
I have made multiple Magnus inspired playlists on spotify, and all of them have songs from “Inside” by Bo Burnham, more specifically, “Look Who’s Inside Again” and “Shit”.
Have you watched this special from him on Netflix? If not, I’d definitely recommend!
I have and it’s very good. I found it profoundly worrying at first though until I got confirmation that he was actually fine and it was heavily fictionalised.
Mr Newall!!
Are you a fan of radiation?!
I am a fan of what you can do with it when it comes to power generation etc. And encourage others to look up the data when considering environmental issues but it truly horrifies me as an abstract concept. I actually have a deep seated fear of nuclear radiation as I know too much about how it works, what it does to you etc. The series Chernobyl is effectively the ultimate horror movie to me. A story about human hubris harnessing unspeakable powers and inadvertently releasing them upon the world quelled only with a vast expenditure of brave souls? Yeah pretty certain Lovecraft pitched that. In summary, I guess I end up a lonely extinction avatar?
Hello sirrr,
I was just wondering if as a child you knew you wanted to do what you do now or something close to it, or what kind of career paths you thought you'd take? Any you'd still like to try?:Dd
Have a great day and hope you get better soon! (Assuming you're reading this the same day i wrote it, cause you tweeted about it?)
ALSO I JUST NEED TO KNOW: WHEN IS THE TMA TTRPG COMING OUT:DD?
So as a kid I day dreamed a lot. (still do).
Realised the closest I could get to entering a fantasy world was as an actor.
Started acting. Saw Lord of The Rings on release. Realised I actually wanted to direct movies.
Started podcast portfolio piece as the only thing I could afford.
Accidentally became an expert.
And that’s about it. I have always had a destination in mind but that’s not necessarily a good thing.
hello mr.newall i have a an odd question but i need this for my own inner statistics: can you smell ants?
Ha!
Potentially.
For some reason I have a ludicrously overdeveloped sense of smell.
Most people don’t believe me but I can tell when an incandescent bulb is going to blow by the smell, I can tell if someone has turned on the air-conditioning in another room with all the doors closed etc, I can normally tell if you have been outside at some point in the day and yes I can smell if it is going to rain. Petrichor is the best.
In my experience I normally know there are a number of ants nearby when I smell a slightly off combination of woody and acrid.
I am curious regarding you saying you hate social media (an utterly valid view). Do you hate the function of it or the purpose? Do you think we'd be better without it? (I am unsure of the answer to that, honestly, I think I'd just like an opinion).
I am painfully aware that my current privileged career would be impossible without Social media but nonetheless, the origins of social media are not benign and it’s development has continued in the same vein exacerbated by the silicon bubble.
I hate it because market pressures mean the only real way to function is to trigger addictive behaviours for profit and political gain via nudging.
I hate how poorly it has been regulated and how damaging it has allowed to become to children.
I hate how constantly it has been used as a tool by the vindictive to erode the independent critical reasoning ability of people.
I hate that it has effectively co-opted the concept of digital society/ communication in such a way that children are being lead to believe they need it/ there is no other way.
The brutal truth is that there is a “tragedy of the commons” at play when it comes to mass attention. There is enough to go around but because everyone is afraid they won’t get their share they grab for it and then you are left to either do the same or go without due to the competitive disadvantage.
And worst of all, history is repeating itself with A.I. It doesn’t need to be malevolent but unfortunately I have come to the personal conclusion that it inevitably will be because the cultural mechanics behind technological development are largely unchanged i.e. “We’ll figure out how and then figure the rest out later”
Sorry for the downer but you did ask.