Wow, it’s already time for Part II. Vecna’s clock continues to tick.
SONG INSPIRATION
The second blog of the month is inspired by a throwback – Trick Daddy’s “Take It to the House”.
TRAVEL
Since part I, I’ve travelled to El Paso and Sedona for a graduation and a wedding, respectively. Both of those trips, albeit short, were much needed breaks from work. I’ve been suffering from burnout since late May, which worsened in June, but has since stabilized. This was in part due to those much-needed getaways and some quality time with friends and family. As I’ve mentioned before, there’s more travel in the second half of the year. And that sustained travel (roughly every 2 – 4 weeks) begins with a trip to Iceland next week. More on that in my next blog.
WRITING – WORK & INSPIRATION
Whelp, I received the reviewer comments back for paper 3. They wanted major revisions and, baby, they GOT major revisions! Luckily, I was given 8 weeks and I’m happy to say I’m damn near finished. I’ve been working too hard on completing these edits since I’ll be in Iceland for 2 weeks. All that’s left is feedback from 1 of my coauthors (the other has signed off). Hopefully, I can submit it in late July after I return. The reviewer edits were EXTREMELY, MIND BLOWINGLY thorough, which only served to strengthen the manuscript by orders of magnitude. Because this is the first in a 3-part series of related papers, I can proactively apply most of these critiques to papers 4 and 5.
Okay, that’s work. But what about creative writing? Steady progress on my novel continues. However, recently, I’ve started meeting up with a writing buddy and that has been a super inspirational and motivating experience. We complete writing exercises, offer constructive critiques, and talk life. Not only has it given me oodles of ideas regarding my novel, but it’s also lit a fire under my ass. It has forced me to think more about the revision process, specifically who I’ll want for my alpha and beta readers. That’s down the road aways, but if I finish my first draft this year, then I’ll start revisions next year. And revisions are where I shine apparently. I’d like to push out first-round revisions in ~6 months and get a draft to my alpha readers. One of my goals is to increase the efficiency of my writing and better incorporate it into my daily work routine. Believe it or not, it’s easier to write more efficiently when I work in an office. There are limited distractions. I’m not at home. And it’s a work environment. In Japan, I used to write for 1-2 hours straight in my downtime. Recreating that groove is crucial to writing (and hopefully publishing) more non-science projects.
ON EXISTENCE
Another captivating concept courtesy of a conversation with my new writing confidant is the purpose of existence. No, not THE purpose. But how we define our existence and, specifically, the values and morals surrounding it. First, some background. Lately, I’ve been thinking more about interrogating systems and interrogating our place within those systems. Of course, that means we have to interrogate our values and beliefs as well. Recently, my writing partner suggested the idea of neutrality. Not neutrality in the sense of not caring or not getting involved. But neutrality in the sense that everyone has a right to their existence and one shouldn’t intrude on someone else’s existence unless consent is given. You can be neutral and have empathy, morals, opinions, etc. But it’s more like…live and let live*. As long as the let live* doesn’t infringe on or threaten someone else’s existence.
This neutral existence means that everyone has their own experiences that shape their truth. Now, that’s discomforting for some – the idea of no universal truth. But really all you have is your perception of reality and your actions. You get 80 years, if you’re lucky, in a 14-billion-year-old universe. Do you really want to spend that minuscule amount of time (0.000000571% of the universe’s total existence) telling someone else how to live? Toiling away in a job you hate? Stuck in a bad relationship? How do you want to manage your existence? What are your values? Why are those your values? I realize I’ve crossed into the realm of spirituality and I know there are some obvious Buddhist overtones in this philosophy. Given the current state of the world, however, I feel it’s important (to me) to interrogate oneself, the systems one is a part of, one’s values, and one’s actions.
CURRENT SHOWS AND BOOKS
Recently finished: Bridgerton (s2); Brooklyn Nine-Nine (s8); Invincible (s1); Obi Won Kenobi; Pacific Rim: The Black (s2)
Currently watching: Law & Order: SVU (s23); Modern Family (s11)
Currently reading: Wine for Dummies
Thank you for reading! My next blog is scheduled for Thursday, July 28th. Until next time….
The Planetary Novelist 