The Know Direction Network once again opens our doors to our friends in the industry, influencers we admire, and people we believe have something to say, and we want to hear it. For the next two weeks, the Know Direction staff gets a break from writing and gets the pleasure of reading interesting and insightful articles on gaming.
This year marks Guest Blogger Takeover’s second year in a row, meaning it is the first time I can confidently call it an annual event! I loved last year’s Guest Blogger Takeover. It spotlighted interesting people we thought deserved the attention, caught up with past guests, and directly lead to the Know Direction staff growing. Last year’s Guest Blogger Takeover featured the first network contribution of both Dustin Knight and Rob Pontious, now both regular contributors. I’m not sure we’re ready to grow again by two staff members this year, but it was nice to reach out to prospective guests that I’ve admired from a distance but had not yet interacted with directly.
Week 1 Guests
Here are the guests you can look forward to this week, starting today.
Monday, October 5th, 2020
Chris A Jackson
As requested by our Patrons, the author of the high seas series of Pathfinder Tales (Pirate’s Honor, Pirate’s Promise, and Pirate’s Prophecy) as well as several other fantasy, sci-fi, and horror novels. Chris answers the question he hears the most as a professional author in today’s That Most Difficult Question.
Karee Vogrin
Even if you don’t recognize her name, odds are you recognize her company: Critical Hit Cookies. Karee shares her motivation and methodology that lead her establishing a cookie company for gamers in today’s How To Start A Gaming Themed Business.
Tuesday, October 6th, 2020
Jessica Catalan
As a fellow parent, blogger, freelancer, and Canadian, Jessica landed on my radar as someone I not only can relate to, but someone I admire for her work rate and ability to balance hobby, work, and home life. She reviews her quick rise to prominence as a Paizo freelancer and shares what she’s learned from it in Tuesday’s Freelance Musings.
Chris L Kimball
Fans might know Chris as the illustrator of the Know Direction Uncondition Cards (most prominently seen on Know Direction’s current Facebook banner). I reached out to Chris assuming he might want to share his thoughts and experience as a professional illustrator. He surprised me with a personal and insightful piece, Tuesday’s Regaining Focus, Tips and Struggles Gaming with ADHD.
Wednesday, October 7th, 2020
Jason Lillis
I don’t use Twitter often (I don’t even manage KD’s official Twitter account, Luis Loza does), so a Twitter account that catches my attention defies all expectations. Jason’s What Do You Do Pods account, dedicated to Pathfinder and Starfinder actual plays, made me want to know more about who he is and what motivates him. Co-founding (along with Know Direction’s own Vanessa Hoskins) the actual play podcast tournament, Super Smashfinder, turned that want into a need. He share his thoughts on the value of actual play podcasts in Wednesday’s Into the Paizoverse.
Thursday, October 8th, 2020
Christen N Sowards
In a recent conversation, I found out the founder of Lost Spheres Publishing runs an estimated 365 games a week, each in their own setting. I may have my numbers wrong, but instead of going back and checking, I will just say he definitely runs a lot of games thanks to the depth of his well of creativity. He lowers a bucket into that well for you to get you a sample in Thursday’s A World to Call Your Own.
Friday, October 9th, 2020
Stan!
Gaming cartoonist, editor, and game designer Stan! recently shifted from mostly roleplaying and fantasy setting based humour in his comics to more topical fare. The current climate (in every sense of the word) clearly influenced his outlook, which he goes into in Friday’s Creativity in a Time of Pandemic.
KD’s Regularly Scheduled Content?
The Know Direction bloggers can relax for the next two weeks thanks to the contributions of our wonderful guests. As for our podcast content, that’s more flexible. We invited podcasting staff to take the time off as well if they want, but it was optional. I can say that there will be a Know Direction recording Wednesday, followed by a Patron’s Private Sanctum for our Patrons. However, there won’t be an Adventurous next week. That’s mostly due to the Internet issues plaguing Perram (that should now be fixed) preventing us from recording a new episode last week.
If in the next two weeks you notice the absence of Burst of Insight, Phantasmal Killer, Something Creates, Bend the Knee, Fox’s Cunning, Guidance, Investing In, and Monstrous Physique, I suggest you reach out to Andrew Marlowe, Crystal Frasier, Andrew Sturtevant, Loren Sieg, Dustin Knight, Alex Augunas, Rob Pontious, and Luis Loza and let them know they’s appreciated.
Now you know,
Ryan Costello
