orange juice with bits, smooth orange juice, or apple juice
In quality to order:
1) Smooth orange juice (because I am clearly an ickle child still.)
2) Orange Juice with bits (because I am clearly an old man who needs all the fibre he can get)
3) Apple Juice (I once played a severe alcoholic on stage and was made to drink so much apple juice as whisky that it really steered me away from it for life.)
Opinions on potpourri? I'm trying to win an argument with a friend.
Not as moreish as it looks.
You mentioned being a drama kid. What were some of your favorite shows/roles that you were in?
I was in Oliver Twist more times than I can count.
My favourite from those days was wearing a purple suit as Nicely-Nicely Johnson.
He might not be a cool character but Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat is a jam.
Mr Knowall, I want to ask you this because you're built up a reputation for being quite the workaholic and have also spoken before about pieces of art opening creative doors for you. I write and create a little bit (you and jonny have inspired me so much) and I find it really difficult to deliberately engage with art? Because even if i enjoy a piece of media sometimes it doesn't necessarily inspire me creatively because of that it feels redundant even though it still brings me a lot of comfort and is often objectively well made. I am also hyper aware of the fact that I could be WORKING instead of engaging with it and it just brings a lot of guilt.
How do you balance engaging with media just for the fun and entertainment of it vs using it as inspiration for your creative work?
I don’t really which is sad. I have certain compulsions which can be a gift and a curse.the only workaround I have found is I split media in greens and desert. Greens =stuff I watch and critically engage in, desert is stuff where it’s chill enough that I can keep it at bay for a bit. For instance my current desert is the original run of DBZ. This is all mental gymnastics though as they are all equally valid really.
I don’t actively hunt for inspiration though. It’s a passive process for me, most often sparked by conversation.
is this your only tumblr account or do you have another secret one that youve been using to spy on us for years?
I have another one that I used to use for Magnus to follow a specific tumbler user who was in my opinion the most well reasones and critically astute listener I had ever encountered. I won’t share their name in case it suddenly swamps their feed but they were an excellent barometer for if we were doing it right.
It's A-level exam time!
Do you have any advice for those of us suffering? Or were you one of those students who didn't leave their revision until 2 weeks before the exam?
Let’s just say that my particular cocktail of neurospice left me racked with anxiety and grossly OVER prepared and neurotic.
I would also say that whilst they help your start they aren’t the final destination.
For instance I did maths, physics, biology and English Literature and now I work in queer horror podcasting. Anything is possible :)
What entitiy do you feel effects you the most. Or would effect you?
I get asked this a lot and struggle to answer because it’s not really how I engage with fear personally.
If pushed I would day I get a touch of Vast now and then, and it used to be Terminus but now I struggle with Stranger (alienation) and Buried (overwhelming responsibility)
Any advice for good creative writing? I have my English language GCSE tomorrow
Exam writing and fiction writing are different. Exams are for you to show off with. Fiction is about affecting the audience.
I would say for your exams focus on demonstrating what they want you to rather than trying to be “good”.
Same for any education really. I have thoughts on exams in general. (though to be clear am massively in favour of teachers and education in general)
why do you think people got so attached to Michael/Helen over some of the more "good" characters (aka, those who are not literally delusion incarnate)?
also, do you have a favorite between the two? (I personally have a soft spot for Michael, but Helen really is delightful hehe)
Michaek/Helen were designed to be appealing. That is their danger. I guess we did a good job.
I prefer Helen. It’s not often you get to write an unapologetic monster that is also fun to be around.
Favorite curse word?
Sorry for the ask spam I just want to Know
Cockwomble.
As a theatre person I have to know what your favorite musical is
Or favorite play if you’re not a musicals guy
Anything by Martin Mcdonagh is absolutely fabulous.
What is your favourite cheese? Do you have a top ten?
Lots. My favourite cheese is lots.
What has been the most rewarding part of starting a company? Is there anything you wish you knew beforehand?
Watching April Sumner grow from nervous interviewee to production powerhouse.
Yes. So much. Too much to go into here.
hi! i hope you're doing well, hope figuring out tumblr isn't being too weird. i've been relistening to rqg again and i just wanted to say, i still respect your craft 👍🏽
i do also have a question: i am interesting in recording things such as music and maybe some voice acting, so as far as DAWs go, what programs have been the most effective for you in your experience?
Audacity. Though it is not what it once was.
Hello Mr Knowall, I hope you are well.
Without revealing too much regarding the plot of The Magnus Protocol, is there a character in the upcoming episodes you are particularily looking forward to see the fans react to?
Yes.
Hi Alex,
During a stream you did with Monte Cooke as well as during the pilot digital premiere, you referenced a fan that attempted to use a supercomputer to break the ARG.
So that was me.
And I just want to assure you that at no point did I have actual access to a supercomputer, and none of the people I know who work there would ever actually let me near the thing.
I apologize If I caused any actual concern.
I can’t believe you used a supercomputer and then lied to me about it.
(it’s all good)
The most vital Tumblr question to ask, if no one already has. Which do you like best, vampires or werewolves?
Vampires = weekdays
Werewolves = weekends
One takes themselves too seriously and the other tends to leave a mess.
It’s been established that Martin is a big retro/video game nerd. Any clues what one of his favourites might be?
I honestly don’t remember that being established so I am not going to suggest anything here in case I get it wrong.
I am a pretty new fan and I was wondering if, before The Magnus Archives was on Spotify, the characters were still allowed to use cursewords?
So my actual question is: Are there secret edits of older episodes that contain them cursing? I wish Jon could say "Fuck".
So the reason there as less swearing is because American listeners were more likely to avoid anything marked explicit and the platforms reflected this in their algorithms. Interestingly this is still a thing although not so strong.
Hi Mr Newall, I hope tumblr is treating you well and you aren't too overwhelmed by these questions. Do just stop responding for awhile if you are, we can be a lot.
As a self proclaimed workaholic, do you have any advice for finding a balance that's both healthy AND productive? Or more specifically how did you convince yourself that it was worth doing so? Sorry if that's too personal, no pressure to answer!
I have never struck this balance and honestly I don’t think my productivity is worth the personal costs. I strive to but thee things that make me work hard absolutely wreck my personal life if I let them. If you figure it out, let me know!
Hello, Alex
Now that there's been some time since then, do you feel any fondness for making an entire podcast pilot in 2 hours for the Kickstarter reward? Did you enjoy it, despite the stress of it all? (It was very enjoyable to watch, so I hope you at least had some fun making it)
I’m actually a bit frustrated and want to try again. I reckon I could do more in just one hour if I didn’t have to be entertaining at the same time.
If you had to pick one thing, what part of Erasing The Line would you say you're most proud of?
Finishing. Not joking, getting something of that scale to actually land is almost impossible. I know people have their issues and goodness knows there are other ways it could have gone but at least it Has an ending.
How do you motivate yourself to write when the brain worms aren’t taking over? (Currently struggling from the curse of Everything I Write Is Written Two Days Before The Deadline)
I don’t. I just have LOTS of fear, anxiety and compulsions that happen to result in work because if I miss a deadline hundreds of thousands of people get angry at me and then they get cruel. I’m just fleeing the monster.
So good to see you on here, finally!
Just wondering if your advice on making an audio drama is solid, I may have started writing one off the back of it.
I stand by all my advice unless I was being obviously sarcastic. I hope to one day give some more formal advice but my workload is vicious at the moment.
How many pelicans you'd have to suddenly find in your house before you'd start suspecting that someone is putting them there on purpose
0.1 Pelicans. Less than that I would just blame Casper the cat.
Hey Alex, how are you doing today? What did you have for breakfast?
I am very tired from a work crunch. Also I don’t eat breakfast or lunch anymore really so… Nothing?
do you think if i asked him nicely enough mr bonzo would do my top surgery
Not in a way that would be helpful.
Have you ever microwaved something that definitely shouldn’t be microwaved?
A metal bottle brush. Microwave was fine but the brush melted itself through a bunch of plastic before I realised what I had done.
hi Mr. Newall! I was just wondering if there’s any things-that-you-wish-you-knew/lessons from say s5 of The Magnus Archives that you’re taking into account for The Magnus Protocol? whether that’s writing tips, editing, the planning and plotting etc. I’m interested in the whole ordeal.
have a good day!
Some people don’t like change and some people don’t like repetition. Just tell the story you want.
I'm interested in playing some tabletop role playing games but the fear of the unknown and embarrassing myself around strangers is holding me back. You mentioned in a Q&A that RQG is not an accurate representation of playing pathfinder, and someone said you would come across badly if you tried to emulate the way you play in the podcast. In what way is it different? So I can prevent doing whatever that embarrassing thing is.
Much love from the community for joining tumblr but final little note to only keep responding to asks if YOU want to.
So Pathfinder is pretty “crunchy”, i.e. Full of rules and I, as a player, am a bit of of min-max munchkin, I.e. I can’t help but make the strongest character possible every time. The reason the episodes would come me across badly if they were unedited is merely because I was looking stuff up constantly, everyone was forgetting basic rules and we were generally a bit all over the place when it came to mechanics. This is boring to listen to, trust me.
TLDR don’t worry about it, you aren’t gaming for an audience so you’ll be fine.
Hello Mr. Newall!
I was recently re-listening to the TMA S4 Q&A where you said you've bought three Mechanisms albums. Could I ask which three they were and which, out of all the Mechs albums, is your favourite?
Have a nice day :)
The only one I didn’t buy was The Bifrost Incident (ironic I know). My Favourite was probably Ulysses Dies at Dawn with High Noon over Camelot a close second but that’s probably because it was the order I first saw/ listened to them.
Hello Alex, what is your favourite song? if you don't mind me asking. :)
Have a nice day and be careful!
(PS I still find you super cool.)
I am a bit weird when it comes to music, that said it’s a toss up between Send Me On My Way by Rusted Root and Now We Are Free (that gladiator song everyone loves.)
hi! so sorry to be contributing to the flood i assume is currently flowing through your inbox.
i’ll be fully honest - i don’t know who you are beyond knowing vaguely that you’re involved with TMA/Rusty Quill, but i found this blog and you seem really cool!
any advice for a TMA listener on ep 4? i’m pretty much with no prior experience or influence as to what to think beyond some incredible fan art of characters i haven’t met yet! (one of whom i think you voice??)
so far the show is so cool and the community is amazing! obsessed with the cozy horror vibes so far <3 hope you have a wonderful day!
Hey! “Vaguely involved with TMA/Rusty Quill” pretty much sums me up.
My advice at this point is just listen to the show. Don’t try to get ahead of the story, don’t do research on what you should or shouldn’t be paying attention to. Just give it a listen and enjoy the ride. I guarantee you most of the people giving the advice would love to be in your position coming in from the cold for the first time again.
whats your favorite animal?
I’ll answer this honestly for a change.
Currently Pangolin but Octopi are making strong progress.
How is Casper?
Getting fat on treats from the neighbours and at serious risk of an intervention if it carries on.
Alex, this is a question which I believe you are the right person to answer. If one day all mammals started habitually laying eggs (like chickens do), where would we draw the line at what eggs are acceptable to eat? Would we eat any of these mammal eggs? What would the moral and/or ethical difference be between eating a rat egg and a lion egg (if any)? This haunts me at night and I desperately need answers.
This seems pretty straightforward to me. People would eat the eggs of animals they already eat, like with chickens. Generally speaking if someone says they enjoy lion eggs just back away slowly.
what's been your favourite magnus protocol episode to write so far?
One you haven’t heard yet. Jonny said it was positively dripping.
Have you listened to Welcome To Night Vale?
Yes but not all of it.
In fact I think it might technically have been the first fiction podcast I ever heard.
Hey Alexander!
I’m a massive fan of your work! And also a massive fan of bookmarks! My favourite hobby is making my own bookmarks with my favourite quotes on them ( with cut out letters or calligraphy).
Do you have any favourite quotes? If so, what are they? (tma, tmp or otherwise)
So I sort of collect quotes. I know they are generic but I always got good mileage out of:
“This too shall pass.”
“He who endures conquers.”
“All things in moderation”
But I love saying: “brosnað enta geweorc” ominously.
Yo. Favourite road tiling pattern?
Examples: chess-board-style squares, offset squares, offset bricks, herringbone pattern, etc.
Herringbone is my absolute favourite but it’s just not feasible for national infrastructure.
How do you feel about the other Tumblr account with your name?
I haven’t really looked since legal partners raised their initial concerns.
In broad terms though: I realise that it’s all meant in good fun and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and all that but at the end of the day it seemed like someone inconveniencing me for their own amusement. Imitation of living people outside the compact of produced media where audience understand the context (e.g. documentary, impressions, satire etc.) is always on shaky ground and I am probably not going to answer any more asks relating to it.
It would be nicer if stuff like this stopped but that will only happen if people stop validating such things with their attention.
And no that doesn’t mean I want people to go on a grand takedown campaign or anything, just don’t expect me to care much unless I have to.