100 words – The Epic Adventure

This was the morning Al waited for. Two years of struggle. Now he was free. The old station wagon sat there ready for adventure. Al threw his backpack and sleeping bag into the back seat. He climbed behind the wheel and closed his eyes. He reflected on what it took to get to this point. The endless hours scrubbing pots and pans at the hospital. Saving every penny. Not having any kind of life. Sacrificing everything for his dream. He opened his eyes and pictured the road ahead. He started the engine, put it in gear and the car exploded. Photo by dok1

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100 Words – The Storyteller

Kevin, or was it Todd? Anyway, it was one of them. He told me this story about a storyteller. I don't remember the actual story because I was too busy thinking about the irony of a story about a storyteller. It had something to do with the stories that the storyteller told. People didn't like his stories, for some reason. I can't remember. Then I tried to think about similar ironies, like songs about singers. I googled that one and found a bunch of songs about singers. I never heard of any of them before. I listened to a few. Photo by The British Library

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I got a scholarship

I seriously didn’t think I’d get this scholarship. I start online class on Monday. Thank you Google and Udacity.

Most of you have heard of Google. Udacity is an online learning site that offers free courses and low-cost nano-degress in a wide variety of technology topics. I’ve already taken several very useful classes. If you’re a geek looking to learn a new language or technology you should check it out.

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Angry Stupid Characters

Why some characters go stupid

When I write with anger in my heart my characters usually wind up being very stupid. I mean they exhibit characteristics of low intelligence. Almost presidential you might say. I don't know if this is a statement about the people that are making me angry. My ego tells me that they are not like me and must therefor be stupid. Humility tells me that attitude is sick and wrong. My inner helpers, formerly known as my inner critics, are always disagreeing on such points. I may also be mistaking irrational behavior for stupidity. Perhaps in my subconscious I equate the two. The perceived lack of a rational thought being evidence of an undeveloped mind. Then I wonder if this irrationality is merely a thought process alien to my own. Maybe I'm the one with the underdeveloped mind. Then I project my inadequacy onto my characters. The problem with this is, I don't write stupid characters well. Not just at the point of creation. Even when I attempt rewrites. I try to make them not stupid. I work for hours going over their character traits in my mind. Looking for the spark below the surface that raises them above their lot. A giant waste of time. Some characters are as dumb as a bag of hammers and that's all there is to it. The ultimate irony of this is that this failure to raise the intellectual level of my stupid characters makes me angry. I'm so good at self-interfering tendencies. Keeps me from having to do real writing.

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Tom Week – Goals and Stuff

Cycling Goals

750 miles for the year. Did it, almost. 4 miles short. My original goal was 1000 miles but family issues, bad air and rain forced me to cut back on the riding. Hoping to make it to 1000 again 2018.

Weight Goals

So very close. 196 pounds. One pound over my 195 goal. Close enough. I should be proud of anything under 200.

Writing Goals

The goal of writing a 100 word story every week got sidetracked for pretty much the same reasons as my cycling goals. Though here in the last few days of the year I have gotten a boost of writing energy.

Random Thoughts

The Brainwash is gone. Where will comedians go for disinterested hipster audiences now? The next person who calls me Ned Flanders is going to get a long lecture on Jesus. If I had a hammer, this bench wouldn't be so wobbly. I aspire to write super novas. What I actually write are truffles. Maybe that's enough. The barriers are my own. I can destroy them. I can be free. If only I had the guts.

New Year's Eve

Sitting at home, writing this. Can't muster the energy to even go out and bring home a couple of beers. Overwhelmed by social anxiety. I was doing so well but the holidays have taken their toll. Something to work on in the new year. Photo by DaPuglet

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