John August

Projects

Tuesday Reviewsday

Challenge, Projects, Reviewsday, Store

As someone who makes [apps](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/highland/id499329572?mt=12) and [other things](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R6ZLIOY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00R6ZLIOY&linkCode=as2&tag=johnaugustcom-20&linkId=KG2OFS7AER67FMGO), I know how helpful reviews are. They let makers know how much you love their products, and encourage potential customers to give new things a shot.

One of my goals for 2016 is to be better about writing reviews for the products I love. Every Tuesday I’ll be leaving reviews on the applicable store.

Today’s picks are:

– [Way of Life](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/way-life-ultimate-habit-maker/id393159800?mt=8) (iOS)
– [Slack](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/slack-team-communication/id618783545?mt=8) (iOS/Mac)
– [Throwing Shade](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/throwing-shade/id479583266?mt=2) (podcast)
– [Sushi Go](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J57VU44/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00J57VU44&linkCode=as2&tag=johnaugustcom-20&linkId=KRC76AABLCUBZOEF) (game on Amazon)

Leaving reviews is not a big time commitment. I wrote all four of these while waiting for an appointment.

If you’re looking for something to review, many readers are probably familiar with some of the things we make, including [Highland](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/highland/id499329572?mt=12), [Weekend Read](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/weekend-read/id502725173?mt=8) and [Writer Emergency Pack](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R6ZLIOY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00R6ZLIOY&linkCode=as2&tag=johnaugustcom-20&linkId=KG2OFS7AER67FMGO).

Podcasts are especially review-dependent, because they signal to the powers at iTunes to feature certain shows. A review for [Scriptnotes](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496?mt=2) would be much-appreciated.

The road to becoming a professional artist

One Hit Kill, Psych 101, Random Advice

Noah Bradley, who illustrated several of the weapon cards for [One Hit Kill](http://onehitkillgame.com), has a great post up about his journey to becoming a [full-time professional artist](https://medium.com/@noahbradley/how-i-became-an-artist-4390c6b6656c):

> The reason I decided to become an artist has nothing to do with what would make me the most money, or what I was “talented” at, or even what I necessarily always enjoyed the most. It was simply something that, in my gut, I just knew was the right choice. Without anything better to go on, that’s what I relied on.

> From this moment, the fear began. I have spent every day since, with some variance, utterly terrified of failing. Of not being good enough. Not making enough money to support myself. Being a horrible, embarrassing failure.

> And it was this fear that propelled me to improve.

Every writer can relate.

One of the things that’s impressed me about working with Noah is his commitment to working on his own projects in addition to assignments. Particularly in the fantasy art industry, it feels like there’s an easy path to burnout. How many orcs and angels can you really be proud of?

Working screenwriters face a similar grind with endless pitches and revisions, while TV writers have to find new stories to tell with the same characters each week.

Devoting time to your own work is one key to staying sane. The work you do for yourself is almost always a better expression of your potential, because you’re not trying to meet anyone’s expectations.

This is one Noah’s personal illustrations. It’s what first got my attention:

landscape

I have no idea why this piece exists, but it compelled me to contact him. When stranger shows up offering you work, you’re doing something right.

Really Short Stories

Big Fish, Words on the page

Daniel Wallace, who wrote the novel Big Fish, sent me the syllabus for the college writing class he’s teaching. I love the first week’s assignment:

> Write a story as close to 100 words as possible, each and every word a single syllable.

> Then write a story as close to 100 words as possible, a single syllable, but add this twist: no word can be used more than once.

For inspiration, he includes a link to [420 Characters](http://www.420characters.net/).

The Automatic Gate

Genres, One Hit Kill

As a screenwriter, I’m always looking for ticking clocks to increase the tension in a story. One of my favorite sub-tropes is the Automatic Gate.

No matter what you do, it’s going to shut, and you’re either in or you’re out.

maze runner gif

At noon Friday LA time, Kickstarter’s automatic gate will slam shut on One Hit Kill. The backers will be inside, and the rest of the world will need to wait.

I think part of the appeal of Kickstarter is that it’s an Automatic Gate at heart. From the moment I launched the campaign, there was nothing I could do to speed up or slow down the closing gate. The deadline really is a deadline, and nothing can stop it. ((One of my favorite Automatic Gates comes in The Abyss, where (mild spoiler) Ed Harris’s ring does in fact stop the gate. But I couldn’t find a good gif for that.))

We’re more than triple funded, and will be shipping OHK to backers in September. Some will see it a lot sooner at playtests. ((We’re always looking for great playtest venues, so by all means reach out if you have a spot.)) Everyone else will need to wait.

If you want to get it on One Hit Kill, and you want it in September, now’s the last chance. The clock on the Kickstarter page is literally counting down.

ks last day

In just a few hours, it’s One Hit Kill or squish.