I’ve been keeping up with schedules, notes, and a few things in the Moleskine. I’ve been keeping it as a sort of short hand journal. I opted for the one with lines, but now I’m wishing I’d gone lineless. I’m a big boy, I can write without lines, right? Well, probably not.

I’ve got the main character and a little of the plot worked out for the novel. I’ve got a lot more work to do. I’ve decided not to do too much work on this guy. I think that’s ruined it for me in the past. You do a lot of character work and then it changes in the story. Somehow you’re brain gets the idea that character biographies lie. Well, they do. Outlines lie, biographies lie, and really stories lie until they’re really done—and then they aren’t ever really done. So I’m looking for that balance. I have to keep this guy consistent and interesting, but not so much that none of it is even used in the story. I’ll be working on some of the other characters this week. Next weekend I’m shutting in. Total focus on the initial plotting and synopsis. I’m not completely comfortable with all of the protocol common to my character’s job yet. That will probably require more research, but I have some folks to help out on that.

I’m not certain when I’m going to get around to revising some of my short stories. I think what I might need to do is try to focus on one a week. Maybe I could just work on the rewrites in the morning and during lunch. I’m not sure if that’s going to give me the time I need, but at least it will be progress. I think the next one out the door will be one of my Clarion stories. I wrote one called One-Eyed Jack, but apparently another, much more famous author has a story with this same title. So One-Eyed Jack is going to be Black Dog and The Hunt. It’s first because the changes are simple.

Some of you may know that I retired my WOW character about three months ago. I’ve started a new MMO, but have no intention of playing it as much as I did WOW. I’ve been participating in the BETA for this new game, and I have to say I love it. Perhaps more than WOW. It’s just a little buggy at the moment, but for the most part everything it running smooth. I’ve only logged about four hours, so I don’t have a good feel for all of the mechanics, but it’s been fun at lower levels. I’m going to give myself six hours a week on it. I’m going for extreme casual MMO player mode. I think the game will stay more fun for me this way. And I’ll actually be able to get some real life stuff done.

Not going to any conventions for a few months. I just have too much work to do. ArmadilloCon is this weekend. I’d like to go, but I have my daughter and doubt she’ll be into the whole con scene. I imagine it might be fun for her for about two hours. Instead we’re going to spend some time with my parents and their new little German Shepherd Dog puppy named Sheba. It’s a cute one.

I’ve managed to walk my GSD every night now. We’ve been covering about 2-3 miles a night. I’d like us to get up to 5 and then start running. I miss running. She’s been excellent on the leash. It took about a week of walking to get her leash trained, but now my daughter can walk her. She’s a fantastic dog. It’s amazing how quickly they become a member of the family.

Well, it’s time for me to go and break some things at work to make them better.

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