Still Need a Push?

Journal 144 10-23 March 2025

I don’t think I’ll keep to my schedule. But I’m still here and trying.

If it helps, I actually have projects that are calling for my time and attention. And I have to choose to write this journal or go take care of them. Last week, the projects won out and I spent time in my office.

This week, I’m prioritizing the blog and trying to make miracles happen with the project. Certain aspects of it are not working out as intended.

On the writing side of things, I’ve been doubling down on characters and have some world building I might start soon. And just recently I ended up talking with some new friends about my writing. I had a really positive experience with people asking to read.

Proofer Problem

So many successful writers talk about how they have circles of friends who read and critique work. These circles have driven each other to push their work forward and find problems. Even with the my wide list of friends who are also writers, it is impossible for me to find people who will read and honestly proof work.

Don’t get me wrong. Many of them have good intentions, but they don’t have the drive, time, or work/life balance to add in reading a 200k manuscript. Perhaps if college had been an in-person, instead of on-line experience I would have gained closer friends who wanted to keep in touch.

Anyway, I’m not trying to complain or cry about it.

I’m just pointing out that it is hard to find people who are willing to read.

So, I was pleasantly surprised when I got offers to read through some manuscripts. Of course, me being a cynic I don’t actually believe they will read. I just thanked them for the offer and moved the conversation on from there.

Still, it was a nice time talking about writing again and it has sort of pushed me to get back to work.

Gaming Stories

Most of my energy with story-telling and writing has been channeled into gaming. With two rotating games that allows me to explore four different characters. Moreso, the “School Daze” (in the last 6-7 posts I explain all the details) where I have 11 characters to work through.

Normally with a TTRPG I spend a decent amount of time coming up with a backstory, family, and short-term goals for a character. I’ll spend a couple weeks working on the character before the game creation night happens.

But with the School Daze game I haven’t been allowed the luxury of time. Each prequel chapter is only a couple sessions long. So, as soon as the game ended, I was only allowed a single week to come up with the next character.

Luckily, my Tuesday game has recently gone back into rotation. Allowing me a two-week period between to think.

And now, I’ve heard I might have a chance for a third game night a week. We’ll just wait and see what happens.

Two Week’s of Activities

So, what have I been doing these last two weeks?

I’m working on a project painting up these prototype panic buttons. Trying to make them photo ready. Its for a good cause and I’m enjoying the work. Even if I’ve been frustrated with the paints, body filler, and other issues that have happened.

I also finished a box for the train company, and probably should get the next batch readied.

The rest of my time was spent with a LOT of k-drama and even a couple c-drama.

Drama Time

I went on a power watch through about 6 shows in the last two weeks, finishing four of them and about half way thru the final two.

I powered through:

Workplace Romcom.

Legal thriller romcom.

Chinese workplace romcom with ML has mysophobia.

2016 romcom “classic.”

Third of the way through Cdrama, revenge driven ML uses his dead fiance’s doppelganger to replace her so he can seize her company, family holdings, and avenge her murder. It is as batshit as it sounds. But fun.

Started but had to pause (because the last three episodes won’t be out until the end of the month); what could be called Korean 21 Jump Street. If you replaced Johnny Depp’s (or I guess Channing Tatum’s) character with a very lethal CIA agent instead of a cop.

And I’m halfway through another workplace romcom with two characters who had a falling out when they were kids but don’t recognize each other as adults.

Reading Break

BUT… I need to take a short break from the dramas. Mostly because I have 8 weeks of comics piling up beside the bed, and hundreds of books to read. I made a resolution to read more. And the only way I can read more is if I stop watching shows with subtitles.

So, today is laundry, some painting work (I need to wait for cure times, drying and such), and then reading at least 20 comics. That is the goal. 20 today.

IF get that all done, then we’ll see what happens after.

I wish I had more to talk about, but really, I don’t and time is short right now. Perhaps I will get everything worked out in the next few weeks and get into a better pattern of behavior. We’ll see what happens together I get.