How Anthony Potero Uses 50-Year-Old Psychology to Build Obsessed Audiences (And What Every Scribbler Can Steal)

Reframing creativity in the age of artificial intelligence.

Warren Spector, creator of the original Deus Ex has talked about how his team decide what elements to protect during development. They use a tiered priority system - a quality bar - that helps them make tough calls when time and money get tight.

“I used Google LM to generate an audio podcast to help me grok some insights from an LLM-generated deep dive into the current state of transmedia storytelling. JA”

A Scribbler’s Survival Guide to Avoiding LLM-Induced Cognitive Decline and Pre-Dystopia Depression

I'm deep into Joe Abercrombie's new book, The Devils, and it's reminding me why I fell in love with his writing in the first place. His characters are always razor-sharp, damaged, stubborn, and impossible to forget.

How a satirical co-op shooter taps into a deeper human need: purpose, belonging, and being part of something bigger.

I was just reading the news about President Trump reversing some of his tariffs on trade. It got me thinking about the “Arsonist" archetype, someone who covertly creates or inflames problems only to publicly fix them later.

Technology has disrupted many legacy systems, leading to new professions. Many of those professions are now under threat from the AI tidal wave.

The traditional studio system may be faltering, but creator-led studios are rising. You don’t need permission to create anymore. And you don’t need to wait for a greenlight. Robert Rodriguez, legendary director of Sin City and Spy Kids, just launched Brass Knuckle Films in Austin. It’s not just a studio; it’s a movement.

Every revolution, every empire, every social movement has had storytellers at the center, shaping how people see themselves and their world. I asked my LLM pals: What jobs emerge when storytelling becomes the main vector of influence, identity, and power?

Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, systematized humor with the rigor of an engineer, right before he torched his legacy in a blaze of social media "honesty." 

I read Scott Mendelson’s article about the tech patents Amazon has been locking down for AI tools to make movies and shows. It made me wonder: are we looking at the end of human creativity, or the birth of a tireless, idea-generating, doesn’t-eat-all-the-M&Ms scribble partner?

Story scribblers love our character arcs and emotional beats, but in multiplayer video games? Too much scripting can kill the magic. Players don't want to be told their story. They want to live it.

I pitched my agent an idea for a Western. He paused, then said, "It’s a cool idea, but it doesn’t really align with your brand, and a period piece like that could confuse buyers." It got me thinking: What is my brand?

I’ve spent my life writing stories. TV, games, movies. Now the same tech that lets me prototype a story faster could one day replace the job entirely. Not just for me, but for millions of people who thought they had “creative” or “safe” careers.

Let’s go inside the early 2000s digital spy thriller that unfolded alongside TV's hit show Alias, not in prime time on ABC, but on hidden websites, in chat rooms, MP3s, and JPEGs.

This week’s Google I/O was a whirlwind of AI innovation. They unveiled over 100 AI advancements. Tools designed to empower creators, offering unprecedented capabilities to create cool stuff. Watching these announcements, I was struck by the contrast to the early 2000s when we were DIY crafting the ARG for the TV show, Alias. 

A look at two storytelling styles. Mystery Box keeps you hooked by hiding answers, while Magic Show shows its hand but surprises you with how it all pays off. One teases the trick, the other delivers it. Both can work, but some folks in the audience are getting tired of endless mysteries with no real payoff.

In your favorite flicks, there’s a hidden framework holding all that emotion, action, and drama together. And no, it’s not just good luck or a room full of caffeinated writers. It comes down to three core building blocks: Scenes, Sequels, and Sequences.