Reading the Room
Wednesday, the final day off before my work week begins again. Got lots on my mind today so lets get this all going before I spin out in uncoordinated madness. I wanted to discuss some quick topics that are floating around inside my aging skull, starting with my writing projects.
Bulldog 3 is taking very real shape, the Frank chapters have been coming along at a rate I was not expecting and with the addition of a new character, the fire has been stoked. With the waking realisation that this book will be the closing chapter in the series, I find myself excited to get this done. Bulldog started as a side project, just a short story based on a nightmare I had one restless evening, but as often these stories do, it grew legs and climbed from the grave to disturb my calendar. Now I am looking at over a year into this project and the third book approaching its final draft. I have loved writing this series, I have loved the characters and the horror. But I will not be sad to see this finished.
Sidenote on that Bulldog conclusion, I am getting my ducks in a row to get some real covers made up for all three books. Something of a treat to myself and the people that actually buy my books, this will be the first time I have outsourced my cover design as it always felt unimportant (I know that sounds like writer suicide) but now I want to see what the artists online can offer me. It might be shit, it might be my new means of getting covers done, we will have to see.
I picked up and dusted off a great habit these past six months, maybe a year but who can remember that far back. I have been reading at work, on my break of course, reading before bed and reading in the little moments that I cant find something else to occupy myself with. So far I have smashed out some classics from my reading list; Holes, The Shining, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck, Carrie, The Mist (not that one) and Frankenstein. Alongside some of my favourite books on Stoicism and works by Aurelius, Seneca, books on Cato and Rome's collapse, I have found this to be a really peaceful and meditative practise. It got me thinking about my books and while naturally the world isn't set up for instant greats anymore, unless you can manoeuvre your way onto the best sellers lists (research the shady shit that gets books on there), I wonder if my books will someday sit on someone bedside table or in a lunch bag and be looked upon with a smile. Vanity, thy name is vanity.
Currently I have four books on the go, maybe five. Having just finished the first Lord of the Rings for the first time. I am now reading Fever Pitch, Rome's Last Emperor, 48 Laws of Power and a book on some Chinese philosopher that Tanya bought for me mistaking it for a different book. All that to say, pick up a damn book that interests you and start reading. Conversations with the dead.
The cat is doing much better, she saw a new vet and got some new medicine to help her pooping. Handfuls of cash now she is looking more active and using her litter tray more frequently as her body adjusts to a healthy gut again.
What else am I thinking about?
Simplicity, I actually began writing a blog about simplicity then gave up on the idea as it in itself didn't feel simple enough. Why not just tag that passage into a blog post like this? I certainly cant dent that I have in the past overcomplicated things, overthought things or allowed myself to dwell on situations outside of my control for way too long. Instead now I am seeking a new practise, is it something I can control? No? Then handle it the only way you can and make best use of what you CAN control.
I am thinking about minimalism, both digital and physical, and also this lingering word "Simplification" a lot lately. After the fire we don't own much in the way of material possessions. Looking around the flat I think the turtles and the cat have more items here than myself or Tan. But still this idea of having things I am not using that take up space, it annoys me. Especially things that could be loved by someone else or used to raise some pocket money. Simplification, just going to sit with this word and think about what that means.
Oh! That reminds me.
I have been making a concise effort to do more things that lead to positive habits (reading, writing, meditating, conscious eating and drinking, exercise and having deeper conversations more regularly). Holy shit that was a big bracket section. It stays in. But something that I really need to get into is journaling, every prominent historic figure I read about and take inspiration from to cope with the modern world journals. Every one of them wrote something down every single day in a quiet moment that gave them clarity and peace in the chaos of the times, and lets be real, it has always been chaotic times. So journaling, that's another word to sit with.
Okay, I have rambled long enough. I could have gone longer but its time to post this and let the void that is the internet do with it what it must. Train AI most likely. God the digital world is a hellscape.
Stay frosty and keep your head above the water, speak again soon you savage little biting gnats.
P.S. Buy my fucking books. Here's a link:
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