Day: December 5, 2024

I haven’t posted word count over the last few days because word count hasn’t actually changed over the last few days. 611. That is it. School got me. That slowed me down, but what stopped me was not really being balanced in my use of time. So, here I am nearing noon on a Thursday and realizing that I have 10 days ledt to come up with the other 11, 400 words. Doable? Sure. Is the research phase done? No. Not hardly. However, I am much further down that long dim road of understanding than I was a few days ago and I have a sense of voice in terms of what it is I am trying to create in the work.

I cannot talk about the work–NDA–but I can talk about the process. Research always comes first. See what has been written before. Next do the real world stuff that melds what has been written with what is legitimate in the place I am writing about. Then the futurist in me does what I like to call ‘proper extrapolation’ to reach a sense of culture and vibe to reflect what it is I am trying to create.

I am trying to create a lot lately–especially outside of the NDA work. I’m finding a story in the fantasy writing. I found a way in, but I need to play with the world quite a bit before I get there. I wish is that I could load up all the characters and regions and cultures into a total war simulator and just build it out from the game. That would be really cool… actually, I think there is. Perhaps that becomes a neat summer project for me.

The key is that I am ready to do some technical world building and story shaping in the fantasy world and try to create a world and a story that is worthwhile. I have the titles of the first two volumes of the tale and they directly correspond with what is happening in these volumes. Still, this is not what is going to launch me financially. I think the Justice Engine accomplishes that–if I can actually get around to writing it.

I am mathematically eliminated from the playoffs in two of the three leagues I am in this season. The reason: 9 losses. each league. I cannot give a good reason for what happened–for why I fell apart for extended streaks in these leagues. I didn’t have the same players, but they shared the same fate: sucking. This is a hard lesson to learn in a fun activity–you may be the bottom. It turns out I was bottom two years running in this sad sauce situation. I refuse to make it three. Part of that will be dedicating legitimate hours to study the game and make sure I know who to get and who to back that up with. The only thing I was certain of this season was that Barkley was the guy. I got him via trade, but I made other trades that absolutely tanked my squad in the family league. I was DOA in the money league because of the CMC keeper flatlining my team. I dropped the dude in that keeper league in order to force someone else to shoot their shot on him for next season, giving me a chance to grab a higher draft pick by holding on to a different keeper… best laid plans and all.

I still enjoy it. But it is nothing like the intrigue of the real thing.

On that note, my kid has entered the portal. His head Coach took a better paying position and took the entire coaching staff with him. My boy hopped in the portal the day it was announced. Now he’s looking at options across the board. I know what he wants and I hope he gets the chance to climb to the next level and show he can ball. The tape he put out was solid evidence that he can play. 7300 views on the first day (11 hrs) argue that people are paying attention. It isn’t enough to catch fire, but enough to get this thing moving in the right direction. He has a tough road ahead of him, but he is resilient and talented and will get offers.

I hope his little brother learns from the experience. He needs to learn what it is really like out there.