The Mark Williamson Creative Universe

Boss rush anyone? We delve ever deeper into the papery realm of Sketchtopia.   Trusting in our leveled-up stats, here is the first round of a bevy of bosses guarding unique dungeons.  Each dungeon has a hidden chamber where the boss dwells.  Dive in. Hezgath, Lord of the Desolate Chutes: A flying mix of gargoyle and demon, Hezgath relies on tough skin and aerial dominance to defeat grounded adventurers. Shzarrd, Keeper of the Winding Tunnels: A gigantic amalgamation of the most terrifying aspects of arthropods, Shzarrd waits until adventurers are hopelessly lost before striking.  Gnarrithe, Master of the Hollow Caves:  Nearly impregnable under its shell, Gnarrith likes to hide on the ceiling like a stalactite and drop down on unwary adventurers. Jayner, Jailer of the Dungeons of Despair:  A shattered wreck of dark magic, poisonous artifacts, and disfigured flesh, Jayner keeps his adventurer victims trapped and languishing before finishi...

To boldly go where no thesaurus has gone before...   On this episode of the Power and Thrill of Naming Things , we'll be doing things a little different.   We're going to pilot our ship towards three anomalies, aka random word generators.  Whatever the generators spit out, we'll craft into short chunks of creative writing.  Ahead, word speed 10. Zone 1: randomwordgenerator.com    Setup: 3 words (any type), make into title of book Oven Knight and the Inject ion Fraction Battalion Sea Monsters and Salvation : A Romantic Anniversary on Apocalypse Beach Three Freckles and Obscure Cancer: A Doctor's Analysis of Irish Melanoma How to Ostracize Allies and Tie Knot s in Foreign Aid Un natural Selection: How a Menu of Bizarre Forms Persist Seven Step s to Sharp , Clear, Ice-Knife Combat Cool Whip Sally and the Trouble with Charm zilla  Nautical Fax es Don't Lie:  The Ambition s of Boat y McBoatface Book 7 Zone 2: wordcounter.net...

Monsters from my earliest clay making days...   I present to you, some of the oldest clay figure in my collection.  I've since dubbed them Dawn Colossi .  With each of them, I've attached a name to explain what was going on when my feverish young mind compelled my hands to shape such forms. Sherzall, Ooze of Eternity Raddock, The Unstoppable Fist Toc, Crocodile God of Tornados Aber Tack, Eterni-tank Fen-Bolki, Shattered Dragon of Doom Iribi, Watchful Eye of Measurements Bonus: Dwebble Diggers.  These earthmoving machine-wielding characters are from another early claymaking chapter.  

Dip your toe or cannonball?   You come into work and sit down at your desk.  You have a list of tasks set out for the day.  For the sake of the visual metaphor, let's imagine that your tasks are to eat 10 peppers of varying degrees of hotness.  So, should you start with the hottest pepper first (hardest task)?  Or should you begin on the other end and eat the mildest pepper first (easiest task)?  Let's make a pros and cons list. Hot pepper first Pros:  Gets worst out of the way first Doesn't hang over head all day Makes the day go downhill Cons: Makes start very daunting Can discourage momentum Encourages initial procrastination Mild pepper first Pros:  Makes it easy to get started right away Builds initial momentum Encourages confidence with early wins Cons: Makes the day go uphill Harder tasks loom over your head Discourages promptness towards what are probably more important tasks So, which pepper do I eat first?  To be honest, it rea...

Yes, Dinosaurs and Dracula in one post...   Video: Time for some more cool dinosaurs.  The top dinosaurs that start with C are waiting for you below.  Fair warning, they're all theropods, so keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times.   Writing: I've closed out my latest exposition with  The Monsters We Became Part 2 .  You'll find out whether Cenn O'Bryan will obtain the aid he's searching for.

You'll think twice about going into the woods...   This is Part 2 of a 2-part series of sketches on treefolk/ents.  I'll keep commentary to just the names and let the pages do the talking. Tree Dragon Evil Ent Axed Monstrosity Hell-Fire Spewer Lich-of-the-Woods Treefolk Ent Bonus:  The only non-tree character found in the pages.  In a homage to Monty Python, the Killer Bunny.  

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's word play!      The news is just in.  More Power and Thrill of Naming Things topics have been spotted across the globe.  They're appearing in the form of superheroes.  Group 1: Cloaked Campaigners Extraman (the powers of an ordinary man, plus extra) The Flush (faster than a speeding wastewater disposal system) I-Wonder-Woman (defeats evil by posing inspiring questions) The Beige Lamp (powers are based on conformity and repetition) Richman  (fights crime by throwing massive stacks of cash at villains) Group 2: Revengers Amass! Platinum Man (even richer than Iron Man, only uses suit for fancy dinners) Captain Moon  (stronger than Captain America, smaller than Captain Planet) The Baryonic Bulk  (exposed to a powerful source of baryonic matter) Forseti (Norse god of justice, carries a magical gavel) Group 3: Z-Men Professor Zanzibar (paralyzed from the arms out, controls objects with his hair) Pine Marten ...

Admit it, you're going to miss them.    Our final foray into the world of the  mushroom folk  is nigh. Leading the procession, a purple mushroom drives a plant-matter vehicle that looks an awful lot like a primitive automobile.  He rides alone, no umami troops to transport today.   He is followed, however, by a sweeter sort of transport.  A watermelon transport trundles behind on four stubby legs (it originally had six, but two were lost at some point and could not be glued back on). In the wake of the living transport of red and green, four mottled mushrooms march.  Only one has a spear, but the top left one's body is composed of vines with arms that end in claws.  The bottom two look shriveled. Briskly breaking out into a stride behind them, four more come clopping over.  The top left one has affinity with flames, as a volcano-like eruption encapsulates its cap.  The top right one has an atypical cap, with many bulges rather ...

 Powerful like the tides, fragile like the dew...   Flow is described in many ways. Being in the zone.  The realm where time falls away.  A creative peak.   Psychology Today describes it in the following way: "Flow is a cognitive state where one is completely immersed in an activity—from painting and writing to prayer and surfboarding. It involves intense focus, creative engagement, and the loss of awareness of time and self." How to get in the flow?  Here are some ideas clad in the garb of golden adventure. Kill external distractions with a broadsword Feed your phone to a dragon Lock the door with a Level 3 enchantment Send a donotus disturbus scroll to your friends and family Quiet internal distractions with an orb of power Pick a Patron Saint of Flow Have your leprechaun companion remind you why your creative project matters Post yourself a hearty reward for completing the Flow Quest Clear time and space with a scythe Block off at least a dun...

  Happy St. Patrick's and Early Halloween  Video: If you missed my Better St. Patrick's Day video yesterday, I guess the luck of the Irish wasn't with you.  Oh well, you can still check it out below and imbibe the lessons for next year (or just celebrate Irish culture year-round). Writing: Another exposition is on the horizon, The Monsters We Became Part 1, available here .  Imagine if all the monsters in the world, like vampires, werewolves, etc., were real and a terrible scourge on humanity.  But then, just as most of them were finally vanquished, a new threat emerged, of man's own making.  An inversion of the superhero types (Justice League, Avengers, X-Men), these radiation, technology, and genetical manipulation-fueled forms are bent on conquest and destruction and are called the New Monsters. To combat this threat, the once-hunter Cenn O'Bryan, must search out the help of a most unlikely source.  Three of the last remaining monsters, of which y...

Tree?  I am no tree!   This is Part 1 of a 2-part series of sketches on treefolk/ents.  Each has a name, types (multiple possible), and stats (power, defense, speed, and ability).  Since the pages have writing, I'll keep my commentary to the bare minimum. Bearer of the Golden Apples Rootwood Cauldron Folk Frostbranch Ent Green Foliger Infernal Firewood Jagged-Claw Hunter Knot-Trunk Bonus: Ship design (meant to print out on cardstock and assemble into a 3D ship)