Besides tracking my progress in a 5x8-inch Field Book, I also use Basecamp. True to its word, it is simple project management. I use it with the family, with my writing and programming. One feature I enjoy is the automated question. At a period you choose, an email is sent for you to respond to its question. Every Monday morning, I'm c...

We've all seen the scene. Two skilled combatants square off in a duel, waiting for the other to blink so they can strike. Such as it was with me. I stared at an upcoming month and blinked. It did not. My attempted habit is to record in a few different places what happens. I have a Finish calendar behind my monitor. I have a 5x8-inch Fi...

As weekly updates go, this one might be lean. Not lean like last week, but lean as in fewer words. For a change. Maybe. New Series Progress. Progress continues, though perhaps not the pace I would like. I have a 4+ page Treatment for the first novel, 1-page synopses of the other three. I'm putting the main character with a group of fri...

I hope this update finds you well. The Eclipse of 2024 nearly brought an end to all mankind. This was my third eclipse, though there might have been a fourth that I don't remember. I remember the 1984 eclipse in part because it happened around the time of my Papaw's death. The last one was just a few years ago when we were moving betwe...

Are you a speculative fiction writer looking to create a captivating fantasy or sci-fi series? Do you struggle to keep track of your story-world's intricate details, character arcs, and overarching themes? If so, it's time to consider creating a Series Notebook. A Series Notebook is a comprehensive tool that helps you develop and maint...

Overall, the past week has been quiet. As I look over my notes, so little "progress" was made. Is that a uniquely American concern---that I did not do enough in my spare time---or am I one of those odd types? I said I would give writing with Obsidian a whirl. As whirls go, it was not as dizzying as I hoped. But I started in on a scene....

This morning, Microsoft asked me if I would recommend Windows. This may sound like heresy, but I said I was a promoter, and explained why. I've only willingly had three Windows computers. I built my first computer in 1998, and not knowing any better I installed Windows. Then I built my next Windows computer in 2018. Then in March 2024,...

It was just a week ago I said I was going to use Ubuntu on Dell XPS as a daily driver for 30 days. Seven days in, I'm already pivoting. There were petty annoyances, such as the scroll direction never complying with my wishes or being inconsistently applied. What's the pivot? I'm going to use Windows 11 with WSL Linux. This will have me...

Most of my aware life involved computers. My dad had Pong when I was six. I had an Atari at 8, and by 12 I was enmeshed in the Commodore family. I grudgingly used Windows until I got out of the Army in 1999. As soon as I could, I switched to Linux. Even in law school, I sported a Linux-powered laptop (Gentoo). That changed when in 2009...

I do most of my goal-setting in October. What follows is my reflection on those goals and a revision to my plan to complete said goals. In 2013 and 2016, I used the "three word" concept to define what I hoped to accomplish over that year. In 2013, it was "write. right. lead." The three were intwined and focused on being a better father...

As a writer, juggling multiple tasks is part of the game. From brainstorming ideas to engaging with my community, there's a lot on my plate. That's where Basecamp comes in. This all-in-one tool has become my go-to for managing my writer's business. Here's why. All-in-One Platform Basecamp is like a Swiss Army knife for project manageme...

Hello, everyone! If you’ve been following my journey, you know that I hit the pause button on my writing for about six months. It wasn’t an easy decision, but sometimes life throws curveballs that you just can’t ignore. Between work, family, and programming Verkilo, my plate was full. But guess what? I’m back, and I couldn’t be more ex...

Last month, I mentioned a pivot toward writing software. The problem with someone like me is that I have many interests and want to pursue them all at once. I managed to timebox my software venture to six months, April to October. I hit a good stopping point a couple weeks ago on the software project. This week, I returned to my curren...

I'm back with another update, released about every six weeks. I read something this Summer that coaxed me to start watching classic westerns. Stepping back into the 1930s with classic westerns, I've discovered a treasure trove of inspiration. These films, raw and unrefined like home movies, carry a charm that echoes the spirit of self-...

Originally Written 22 March 2023. With the explosion of AI, I wanted to offer a use case I've found helpful for me that might interest you. In 2022, I released four novels that I spent 12 years rewriting. As a plotter, my characters often derail scenes, rendering my treatments useless for quick reminders of the novels. Some treatments ...

This article summarizes what I’ve been working on for the past six months. In a later post, I will summarize what I’ve been doing to prepare for future novel writing series, and how I’ve used AI to help. My writing year runs from October to September because of my birth month. This year’s plan was to draft four novels, but I added a fi...

Hey there! It’s me, your guide through speculative futures and beyond. It’s been quite a ride since I penned down my first book back in 2011. We’ve traveled through time, through universes, across bleak and promising landscapes. I’m deeply thankful for your company on this journey. I have news! We’re about to pivot---from dystopian sci...