Wisdoms of Skinner: The Magick of Collaboration

Joy & Wisdom—two words that describe any SKINNER appearance on our humble show, but most especially last night’s! We spoke of REALM RUNNERS—its origins, its mind-blowing crowdfunding success, its sick radness—then we spoke of life, of art, & the importance of finding PARTNERS.

I shall distill for ye here 3 major pieces of wisdom we received last night, between dodging attacks by Elon Husks!

First, a moment when we moved deep into what makes someone an artist, & its double-edged nature:

A lot of artists become artists because they're trying to escape some kind of reality, or they're trying to make themselves feel more comfortable as, like, young people. & the very reason that you go into escapism through creativity, & through these nerdy interests & shit, is kind of the thing that's going to haunt you your whole life, unless you make peace with it & like, learn how to love yourself.

Peace & love of self were central themes, appropriate for someone who so passionately uses his platform to advocate peace & love of others! We spoke a bit about that driving pain, & how artists truly flourish only when they can heal. Skinner concocted an irresistible analogy:

It's like, you know…the territory, the map of who you are as a person, doesn't grow unless you shine a light on it...You like that? I brought maps into it.

We then chanted MAPS, MAPS, MAPS, for what do fantasy nerds love more than a good MAP? But maps can be lonely things; they, like art, are best charted & shared with others. This piece, I think, resonated with me the most:

I was super, like weirdly protective over projects where I'm like, “if I don't come up with all the ideas, it's not mine.” & then over time, I was like, it doesn't matter. & it truly does not matter. & I think that, like, it took a long time for me just to be like, “What matters is being a part of the catharsis”…I mean, I'm have a lot of projects going because I'm a very obnoxious little imp-man. But I also I have a million other things that I want to do too—but I can tell that something’s missing, & that thing is the avenue with the people where it should be made…

…Finding, like, really cool, inspired & encouraging, open & curious-type collaborators is key. That is super, like the key to it all.

Truth! So bright it shines, once ‘tis found. All my greatest works, of art & magick, were not mine alone, but the work of partners, allies, of a coven. I am lucky to have formed a powerful coven, this late in my 6,000+ years of life:

Cynthia Weatherwax, Soren Summersbane, Cutie Berry the Tír na nÓg Faerie, Bartlebean—where might I be without them? Tormented in some Hell, perhaps. Trapped alone on a rocky crag above Zirak-Zigil, maybe. Broadcasting alone to no one—CERTAINLY. WizWorld could not LIVE without them, & even ren faires would lose their zest!

I hope, for all of ye, that ye find such a powerful coven, such treasured & positive collaborators, so that ye may chart the map of self in good company! For more of Skinner’s wisdom, plus lots of jokes, stories, & behind-the-scenes info (Froglore) on REALM RUNNERS, watch the replay of our episode here!

I shall write ye again MONDAY—to tell ye of the final part of my journey INTO THE GIGA DUNGEON™! Before then, please consider sending a referral to a friend—& if ye have enjoyed our works, please also consider supporting us for $5 monthly.

Cheers,
Amoenus Franco
Writer, Wizard, Realm Walker

P.S.: To reserve a copy of REALM RUNNERS, visit their page on BackerKit!