Podcasts about gaming geeks

Today, we talk about the trials and tribulations of writing from real life: Can I write a memoir if I don't have concrete memories? Am I trying to stay too close to my original experience in turning that experience into a novel? And when does writing fiction based on real life become exploitive of others? Some tough questions, but we've got writers Anjali Mitter Duva, Alex Ferraro, and Ethan Gilsdorf to help us out.Watch a recording of our live webinar here. The audio/video version is available for one week. Missed it? Check out the podcast version above or on your favorite podcast platform.Looking for a writing community? Join our Facebook page.Anjali Mitter Duva is the author of the historical novel Faint Promise of Rain and the co-founder of Galiot Press, a new publishing company ushering in a sea change for the written word.Alex Ferraro is a graduate of the Novel Incubator and is working on his novel, a twisty Texas noir called Like Thunder in the Next County.Ethan Gilsdorf is an essayist, critic, journalist, the author of the memoir Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks and teaches GrubStreet's Essay Incubator program.Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

We've got two very different listeners' questions today but they're both common issues for writers to deal with. The first is trying to re-enter a 15-year old memoir manuscript the she needs to cut down enormously (either by 750K words or by 500 pages, depending on our understanding of her question. Either way: A lot!). The second wonders how he's supposed to know what's wrong with his query letter or sample pages when agents these days don't offer a word of feedback. We've got Nancy Crochiere (Graceland), Henriette Lazaridis (Terra Nova), and Ethan Gilsdorf (Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks) to help them out.Looking for a writing community? Join our Facebook page. Watch a recording of our live webinar here. The audio/video version is available for one week. Missed it? Check out the podcast version above or on your favorite podcast platform.Nancy Crochiere is a former humor columnist whose comic debut novel, GRACELAND, published in May 2023, was named a best book of summer by Parade, Woman's World, and Deep South Magazines.Henriette Lazaridis is the award-winning author of three novels: her debut The Clover House, the antarctic adventure Terra Nova, and her newest book coming this April, Last Days in Plaka. She is the co-founder of Galiot Press and also runs the Krouna Writing Workshop in northern Greece.Ethan Gilsdorf is an essayist, critic, journalist, the author of the memoir Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks and teaches GrubStreet's Essay Incubator program. Photo by Eugene Chystiakov on Unsplash This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

Because one size does not fit all. Today we discuss how to find alternative structures and shape your own with writers Christopher Boucher and Ethan Gilsdorf. Referenced in today's podcast: Matthew Salesses Craft in the Real World and Jane Allison's Meander, Spiral, Explode. Also, the traditional plot structure in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean literature known as Kishōtenketsu. Read more at https://bookriot.com/kishotenketsu/ Christopher Boucher received his MFA in Creative Writing from Syracuse University in 2002. Chris is the author of the novels How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, Golden Delicious and Big Giant Floating Head (a 2019 Massachusetts Book Award Finalist). He's also the editor of Jonathan Lethem's More Alive and Less Lonely: On Books and Writers. He's an Associate Professor of the Practice of English at Boston College and the managing editor of Post Road Magazine. Ethan Gilsdorf is a journalist, memoirist, essayist, critic, poet, teacher, and the author of the award-winning memoir Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Esquire, Boston Globe, Wired, Salon, National Geographic, Poetry, The Southern Review, North American Review, among other publications, and twice was named "Notable" by The Best American Essays. He teaches creative writing at GrubStreet in Boston, where he leads the 9-month Essay Incubator program; he also leads writing workshops for non-profit social justice organizations. He presented the TEDx talk "Why Dungeons & Dragons is Good for You (In Real Life)” and has appeared on NPR, The Discovery Channel, PBS, CBC, BBC; and in the documentary Revenge of the Geeks. More info: ethangilsdorf.com, Twitter @ethanfreak.For the short fairy tale, “The Rosebud,” that I promised at the end of the show as an example of “intuitive logic,” which breaks from our usual Cause & Effect expectations, check out Kate Bernheimer's essay on fairytales: https://www.academia.edu/3174316/_Fairy_Tale_is_Form_Form_is_Fairy_Tale_The story itself along with other wonderful translations of fairy tales, can be found here: https://i-share-uiu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?vid=01CARLI_UIU:CARLI_UIU&search_scope=MyInstitution&tab=LibraryCatalog&docid=alma9931305812205899&context=L This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 7amnovelist.substack.com

Episode 61 features Chris, Bill, Amy, Becca, Lauren, Ilana, Ethan, Corey, and my Mom. Discussing the future, the past, and a few things in between from the "One Final Question" after-credits of The Palmer Files podcast. During the episode we cover: What would I want to create to make money? Where do you see yourself in five years? What did you want to do? Forcing a habit What would I teach? On being a Baltimore Orioles fan. Mom's influence And much more... Mentioned and Helpful Links from This Episode AgentPalmer.com Episode 26: Friendship: Episode II - Christopher J. Hughes Episode 27: Friendship: Episode III - Bill Sweeney Episode 35: Space with Amy Shira Teitel Episode 38: Inputs and Outputs with Rebecca Seidel Episode 39: The Story of a Creative Entrepreneur with Lauren Beck Episode 43: A Little Conversation with Ilana Levine Episode 44: Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks with Ethan Gilsdorf Episode 47: From The Hobbit to Signum University with The Tolkien Professor Episode 50: A Conversation with Sybil Stershic a.k.a. My Mom Tweets @ThePalmerFiles @AgentPalmer @TriforceDad1984 @WickedTheory @AmyShiraTeitel @BeccaHope24 @ilanalevine @ethanfreak @tolkienprof @SybilQSM   Other Links ren.and.ink (Instagram) Dragon's Milk offers a cup full of life lessons The Beatles: Get Back Isn't 100% For Everyone   You can also hear more Palmer in the meantime on Our Liner Notes, a musical conversation podcast with host Chris Maier and as mentioned on this show as co-host of The Podcast Digest with Dan Lizette. Music created and provided by Henno Heitur of Monkey Tongue Productions. --End Show Notes Transmission--

Ever wondered about the link between fantasy writers like Tolkien and the multitude of subcultures they inspired, from Dungeons and Dragons to LARPing, and video gaming. In this episode, we discuss these worlds with special guest Ethan Gilsdorf, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. We discuss Ethan's quest to rediscover the world that enchanted his teenage self before such things became ‘cool'. He explains exactly what D&D is and how the game sits alongside fantasy fiction both influenced and influencing. We discuss his visits to LARP (Live Action Role Play) camps and conventions, and the limitations and possibilities of video games. We dig into some of the possible negatives and positives of a role-playing habit and what it might have to teach people IRL (in real life). And finally, we pick where is the best fantasy world to be a geek. There's a surprise revelation as to who is the Shire's geek so stick around for that!

This episode the Gals talk with the lovely Rhi Spawn. Streamer, I Freaking Love Comics host, and all around badass.

Episode 44 features Ethan Gilsdorf, journalist, teacher, essayist, author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks. We discuss his book, how gaming is important to who we are, being creatives, finding your place, and so much more. During the episode we cover: Generational Geekdom Gaming Apprenticeship Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks Dungeon Master or Player Theatre of the Mind When it all clicks Grognard Digital Infringement on Pen and Paper Being a Creative Teaching Inclusion Escapism And much more... Mentioned and Helpful Links from This Episode AgentPalmer.com EthanGilsdorf.com

Charles and Sonja discuss their experiences growing up with games. From High-Ho-Cheerio to Ocarina of Time, and even Dungeons and Dragons they talk about how games have influenced themselves, their social lives and how Zillenials see the world. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Dan & Paul are visited by special guest Ethan Gilsdorf — Journalist, memoirist, essayist, critic, poet, and teacher. Author of the seminal book, “Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks”, documenting a year of traveling and speaking with the people involved with D&D, TTRPGs, LARPs, comic conventions, Renaissance fairs, and more. Featured on NPR, The Discovery Channel, PBS, CBC, BBC, Mortified, and in the documentary Revenge of the Geeks. And much more! We’ll ask him: How has D&D and gaming culture exploded in the decade since “Freaks” was published, in ways that none of us could have imagined? Has the rise of online play and visibility changed everything forever? And more question from our viewers in live chat! Visit Ethan’s website — http://www.ethangilsdorf.comFollow Ethan on Twitter — https://twitter.com/ethanfreakWatch Ethan’s documentary videos — https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0IW6ldnGAgXgshIsB2c1sF2viMsYy5FDView Ethan’s TEDx talk, “Why Dungeons & Dragons is Good for You (In Real Life)” — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PaHJqpQnyw&t=745sRead a synopsis and first chapter of “Fantasy Freaks & Gaming Geeks” — http://www.ethangilsdorf.com/synopsis Visit dScryb, purveyors of finely crafted boxed text, and use code WANDERING at checkout to save 10%! – https://dscryb.com/wandering Wandering DMs Paul Siegel and Dan “Delta” Collins host thoughtful discussions on D&D and other TTRPGs every week. Comparing the pros and cons of every edition from the 1974 Original D&D little brown books to cutting-edge releases for 5E D&D today, we broadcast live on YouTube and Twitch so we can take viewer questions and comments on the topic of the day. Live every Sunday at 1 PM Eastern time. Subscribe to Wandering DMs for new episodes

We welcome Zack of STONEworks Gaming to the show to talk about his upcoming Kickstarter project. We then slip into MMORPG talk, Critical Role, and the personal side of why we play role-playing games. And of course we find out who's the geekiest this week. STONEworks Gaming D&D Cookbook D&D Halloween Costumes Fireworks Safety Tips Shop Secondhand Goddess: www.secondhandgodddess.net You can find Andy's Critical Hit Tavern & Gaming at: Facebook | Twitter Find Us On Twitter At: The Geekiest Podcast | Peter | Joe | Kaila | Will Find Us On Instagram At: The Geekiest Podcast | Kaila Email Us At: thegeekiestpod@gmail.com Or geekiestpete@gmail.com Watch Pete play on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/itsjustgamenight Watch Pete play on Mixer: https://mixer.com/jedipetelegend Theme Music: Bad Ideas Distressed by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100488 Artist: http://incompetech.com/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Finally Episode 2 of our gaming series is here! We continue the Marvel Vs DC cinematic universe conversation, and discuss marvel and Dc games, as well as other recent games and gaming news. Scott AKA Dyeosta is back at the table to take more games, along with newcomer to the table and newest 7even member Kevin. Featured Songs this episode, no copyright is intended, all ownership of the music rights belong to their respected owners. As always while you listen, Don't forget to Game with us, and Adventure with us.

SEASON 3 PREMIERE: J.R.R. Tolkien wanted his work to be taken seriously. But his magnum opus The Lord of the Rings was unlike most of great literature of the mid-20th century, which was modernist or tackled the great issues of the day. And wasn't The Hobbit a children's book? The critics wondered, is this sequel supposed to be serious literature for adults? But there was a group of people who took Middle-earth very seriously and pushed this cult classic into the mainstream -- they just weren't the people Tolkien had expected. Wheaton College professor Michael Drout, Gary Lachman ("Turn Off Your Mind: The Mystic Sixties and the Dark Side of Aquarius") and Ethan Gilsdorf ("Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks") explain how and why Tolkien became a folk hero to the counter-culture -- whether he liked it or not. ***This is the first in a six-part series on Magic and Fantasy***Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ethan Gilsdorf discussed some of the themes of his new book, Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms, a blend of travelogue, pop culture analysis, and memoir as forty-year-old former D&D addict Gilsdorf crisscrosses America, the world, and other worlds–from Boston to Wisconsin, France to New Zealand, and Planet Earth to the realm of Aggramar. He asks: Who are these gamers and fantasy fans? What explains the irresistible appeal of such “escapist” adventures? How do the players balance their escapist urges with the kingdom of adulthood? Gilsdorf talked about the culture’s discomfort with the geek/nerd/gamer stereotype and looked at society’s ambivalent relationship with gaming and fantasy play, and the origins of that prejudice, as well as the author’s own past misgivings and final acceptance of his “geek”

This week, we get sad AND silly. First, the boys say goodbye to Apple founder and tech visionary Steve Jobs. Then, to keep anyone from taking them too seriously they kick off this year’s Gobbledygeek Halloween (Gobbledy’ween?) Film Festival with a ribald discussion of the Sam Raimi classic The Evil Dead. Also: AJ reviews the Wasikowska/Fassbender interpretation of Jane Eyre; Paul hints at what you can probably expect from the  review of the Ethan Gilsdorf book Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks he’s bound to do someday; and a slew of Formspring questions.   Next: John Carpenter’s The Thing