Month: April 2024

04/21/2024 Relearning My Writing Style and Classic Reading

Process of Swift’s writing:
Step 1: Wake up at desk to see the work done the night prior.
Step 2: Growl at the screen and caffeinate.
Step 3: Try to cudgel brain into remembering where I was going with the chapter.
Step 4: Ignore thoughts of self-doubt, turn on headphones, and start writing.
Step 5: Get twenty words down, be interrupted by family wanting to ask questions.
Step 6: Attempt to write throughout day, slowly feeling guilty for not handling chores until the domestic side kicks in.
Step 7: Try to write after everyone goes to bed.
Step 8: Pass out at desk.
Step 9: Repeat Step 1.

And that’s on an actual day off with no responsibilities that take me out of the house! Han approached me this morning to ask what I was working on and she was astounded when I said I had been working on this one story for almost two years.
Han: “Dad, why don’t you just write it down?”
Me, smiling: “Because you wanted to talk to me, and y’all are more important.”

But she did say she was going to leave me alone so I could get some progress. Considering that she’s 7, I’m betting that’ll last for about an hour…

After whittling away at the SWRPG novel a little more (that’s getting easier, as the outline for that one was discussed among the players and it’s a lot smoother to write), I keep working on Peregrine, especially since I’ve had to do some major restructuring in order to get the level of high science fiction I was wanting. A lot of that requires ‘homework’.

The best kind of homework: reading ‘classic’ sci-fi books to see how others had done it.

…I need more novels.

This is also just fueling my desire to read some of the older books, though I do keep going back to one of my favorite writers who writes in a way that I still can’t: John Scalzi.

Found this new printing recently, but #5 is nowhere to be found and that bothers me to no end.

Scalzi’s dialogue writing feels extremely natural to me, and I keep trying to learn it. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, I strongly recommend doing so.

But now, I have a 14-page outline for one chapter (the prologue) that I’m going to try and turn into a narrative! I want that done today!

Morgan Freeman narrator voice: “And Swift had just jinxed himself.”

Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift

04/20/2024 Trying Again

I’m attempting another magazine submission, folks.

It’s… it’s been a minute since I’ve tried to get one of my short stories out there. Long enough for me to forget how to write cover letters in a convincing manner.

Don’t let that persuade you that I ever actually knew how to write a convincing cover letter. I still don’t, but I need to keep my confidence up.

There’s always the chance that “William the Pecostian” might get picked up, or there’s a chance I’ll get feedback on why it didn’t make the cut. But it’s still one of my favorite short stories, and damn if it’d be nice to have a home for that one.

Who knows? If the concept was liked enough, I could even write out the short series of other Interstellar Tall Tales I’ve had tucked away in my notes all these years.

Along with that, I’ve stepped back into writing with determination. After weeks of little to no progress, I’ve managed some 2500 words in the last 24 hours for the SWRPG story. Not just that, but after using that time to study and actually learn about “The Hero’s Journey”, I’m tackling the Peregrine novel again.

Granted, because of what I’ve learned, I went through the last document and realized where it went wrong… so it’s back to the outline and basic construction.

This time, though, I have confidence in two things:
1: Making up the ‘hard science’ in such a way that nerds might, just might, give me the benefit of the doubt and suspend their disbelief so as to enjoy the story, and
2: I have an actual map of the territory, so now I actually know where things are!

Sort of, anyway. Any port in a storm.

I’m going to have to tell myself to relax a little and let certain characters breath, while also being stricter about other characters who went way too far from their original concepts and derailed the plotline.

It’s always a learning experience.

Let’s see how far I can get with today. Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift

04/19/2024 Together Again and Starting to Heal

The vet called yesterday and said that Jojo had arrived.

I couldn’t go get him, then. The chest cold had done a number on me over the last few days, and I did the dumb thing by thinking I could still work on the mail route. Doctor put me on bedrest until Monday, but I was determined that Joe would be coming home today.

They’re both home, now. Sitting together as they always did.

Having them together again will help mend my soul back, even if my body is going to need more time to recover. My voice is all but gone, but I’m on strong medication for bronchitis, so that’ll get fixed soon enough. I’ve also recently learned that a severe cough can pull muscles in your chest… the hard way.

Sigh…I’ve been through the ringer lately.

But hey, I’ve been ordered off of work for a few days, and now that my home feels a bit more whole, maybe I can write again. Han (7yr old) has said that she did not like it that I was sick and not myself. She’s said she hopes I will feel better and write like she always sees me doing.

I’ll get there, kid. Promise.

Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift

04/15/2024 Depression Leads to Illness

I’ve been pretty quiet on here for several days. I admit, I’ve been down some dark roads in my head, just waiting for the road to recovery to show. That’ll be a long while, however.

Unfortunately, the old adage that depression can affect your physical health has proven quite true. I’ve been hit with a wickedly strong chest cold recently, and I’m no longer at the age where I can shrug that off quickly or ignore it.

If the cough doesn’t subside, I’ll be without my voice for a while, I think.

Gonna make some challenging sessions in the near future. Pray for my players, folks.

Stay safe out there.

-JB Swift

04/12/2024 Last of the Old Pack

Indiana knows there’s a lot missing in the house nowadays. With his vision mostly gone, and his mental faculties fading, he’s gotten more confused ever since Jojo died.

But he knows where to go when that confusion gets to him. He’s been staying nearby me more often, and barks if I leave the room.

I know, Indy. I know. I miss them too.

Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift

04/10/2024 You Can Rest Now, Joe

It’s one of those times that I admit that my heart is broken and my soul lost a part of itself. I’ve heard it said that humans will pack-bond with all manner of creatures, but I will steadfastly stand by the old phrase: “Dog is Man’s Best Friend.”

How do I know this? By spending over ten years of my life with Jojo being a constant part of it.

Sleepy puppy

Joseph “JoJo” was born on March 22, 2012. Joe was special all on his own, of course, but for me, he held a truly unique post in my life: he was the first dog that I, and I alone, actively sought out and chose to take into my world. I worried that Casey would want a companion around to play with, as at that time I was still a hopeless bachelor. I decided to go out looking for a second dog to have around. JoJo came up in my searches. I met the folks who were selling his litter, talked it over with them, and asked for who would become Joe.

In May, he was brought down to Louisiana, and I got to meet him for the first time. He immediately clambered into my lap and curled up for a nap.

His first night, and already too big for that bed.

It’s selfish of me to say it, as he meant so much to so many, but he was my dog.

There were worries given to me that I brought home a second male puppy when I already had a male dog under my roof, but those folks forgot that these were Goldens. They bonded with each other and we were our own little pack for years.

He was accepted almost immediately.

I had planned to take Joe camping and hunting with me, but life always disagreed with this wish, leading me to never have that experience. In an ironic twist, it was probably for the best; Joe hated water. I never figured out why, though he loved sinks in his younger years (preferably dry).

But why, though?

As the years passed, and family grew, Joe was always at my side, ready to play, to walk, even to defend us from the perceived threats of squirrels or birds in the yard.

Worn out from play-time.

Jojo had one of the purest souls I’ve had the privilege of witnessing and was welcoming and patient with our children as they grew. But as they grew, he grew old.

Jojo had a tumor on his leg that had ruptured before his twelfth birthday. Surgery was not possible, as the tumor was right at an elbow joint and wrapped around major blood vessels. Amputation wasn’t an option, as it would have ruined his quality of life, at his age. I decided to go with palliative care, treating him at home helping him manage his pain until the end.

When that end came, I knew I wasn’t ready. Not again. But I shoved that selfishness away. It was his time, and he couldn’t go quickly like Casey had. He needed… help along the way.

Last meal was steak and potatoes, and he was full for the first time I had ever known.

On April 9, 2024, we took Jojo to the vet after having made arrangements. I took the day off to uphold my promise to not leave him until he had left us. We all took the day to say our goodbyes.

One last ride in the 4Runner

From the moment we entered the vet, Jojo did not leave physical contact with me, and I was happy to reciprocate.

His last photo

When the time came, Sarah and I were sitting with him, telling him all the while how good a boy he had been, how grateful we had been that he was in our lives, and that we’d miss him.

“You did great, old man,” I said. “You can rest now.”

He gave one last sigh. He was gone. I broke again.

It’ll be a long time before I recover from these months.

Thank you, Jojo, for the last twelve years.

I’ll miss you, buddy.

04/08/24 Day Off

The mail doesn’t need me today!

Management would probably say otherwise, but I have a Union that argued for us to get regular days off, so there.

While I will be tackling what chores I can, the weather is rolling in with rain, so further yard work will be put on hold. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a list of indoor chores for me to handle, but…

If I don’t take just a little time during the day to write, banking on my evenings for that time, I’m going to wake up at 2AM at my desk again and be mad at myself for the habit.

We’re aiming for at least 1200 words today. That’ll get me into the writing rhythm again, maybe for the week!

Stay safe out there, folks!

-JB Swift

04/07/24 Not-So-Quiet Sundays

Folks, I love the fact that I live out in a rural area. I really do. It’s usually pretty quiet, and I’ve preferred the open spaces as compared to a subdivision.

A consequence to having that space, however, is the maintenance. With Springtime officially (by way of the weather) hitting the Southern US, it’s time for the First Mow.

4 acres of land… this’ll be an all-day, all-family-involved event.

Stay safe out there, folks. I gotta go get the riding mower checked out.

-JB Swift

04/06/24 Solo Arcs and Quiet Creativity

A Saturday night that hasn’t surrendered to the chaos of adult living!

I can be irresponsibly responsible!

Trust me, it makes sense. Ask your neurodivergent friends.

I’ll be able to step back into Zino’s Solo Arc and move that story a little bit forward, tonight. After that, I’ll be answering a question I’ve had about the sci-fi novel that’s been bugging me: ‘how do you map out an interstellar empire’?

Answer: notepad!

It’ll be a wild evening for me!

Stay safe out there, folks.

-JB Swift