Ashley R. Pollard's Blog, page 9

Writing Log 210501

Nothing to see here. Just me recording my first week where I've tried to write everyday.

Target 400 words per day

Weekly target 2800

Monday    0

Tuesday    443

Wednesday    268

Thursday    214

Friday    771

Saturday    695

Sunday    0  

Total    2391

Harlan Ellison's Watching 11

Got to love old Uncle Harlan (RIP). He was/is a divisive figure, but that is all part and parcel of the human condition. Not everyone will like you no matter how good you are/were, or hate you no matter how bad you were/are.

As a writer of little means Harlan stands as a giant. Someone I can learn from both good and bad.

Anyway, those of you who are eagle-eyed will have spotted some minor changes on the blog. Mostly down to labels and how I tag my posts.

I'm making an attempt to get back into the saddle. Regular weekly posts, but these posts may just be a record of the number of words written. Namely a writing log. Not much to see for the casual reader, just my diary, which was the original purpose of starting the blog.

Some of the pieces I post will include stuff I've found interesting. Just like I've done in the past, but I'm taking the pressure off having to do this every week. It's too distracting from my core concern to write more.

That is all. I will tag the diary posts with Writing Log, so readers can skip them. And I will only share blog posts that have something more to offer than my writing log.

Carpe diem. That's all for now.

A review of Bad Dog

I caught this on Zepp Jamieson's 's blog. Found through David Brin's blog that hosts very lively discussions on everything SF. Both are worth checking out if you're into science fiction. Anyways, here's a snip of the review. Click on the link for the full review.

I’ve mentioned Groundhog Day, Russian Doll and Haldeman in this review, but in the end, Bad Dog wound up reminding me of something far grander and more ambitious: The Expanse. The blurb on the cover promises that Bad Dog is only the first novel in a Gate Walkers series, and if Pollard’s first novel is the metric to go by, she’ll give The Expanse a run for its money.

I look forward to the next installment.

Focused on Writing Rules

A blast from the Mummerset campaign: 3rd Battle of South Boring from Operation Sand Box.

Over the last week my mind has been focused on writing a set of wargame rules.

For far too long I've been trapped, procrastinating over the mechanics of play, and the game setting. I'm still undecided about the setting details, but yesterday I was managed to spend the day working on them.

I really got into my writing groove, and produced just over 1800 words.

Colour me amazed. I haven't written that many words in a day for far too long.

While yesterday's writing was amazing, I didn't sleep much last night, because my mind was racing with ideas. So, I got up and wrote notes instead of tossing turning in bed. All things considered, this has left me feeling a little bit fragile today.

Still, I've managed to do some more writing today.

Mostly down in the weeds. Working through the rule mechanics , and checking my assumptions arising thereof. It is a thing.

That's it for now. Catch you all on the bounce!

Fusion Plants

Six years ago, General Fusion announced that they're working on  a fusion reactor.

The general consensus from Susan's colleagues at Imperial College was that this General Fusion doing some hand-waving to stimulate their stock prices. Colour us cynical.

Then there was Los Alamos National Lab 2016 announcement.

 

With a promise of a first working model in five years or so (2021ish), and not only that but it would fit in a shipping container too! Again, we discussed how they might have found a trick that would allow them to deliver on their announcement.

Either way, the reaction in the Parker-Pollard household was wouldn't that be nice, if it comes true. Wishing for a better future for all mankind.

The Secret to Making Plotting Easier

  I came across John Brown's Novel Writing Tips, aka the John Brown Story Framework, after listening to him and Larry Correia on the Blades and Blasters Podcast, which is well worth listening too.
I even left a comment on YouTube to John. Anyway, that's all I have for now. Catch y'all later.

Fell Off the Map, Again

I'm good, as in still alive and kicking. Not a certainty in these troubled time given I've just heard that a close friend's father died two weeks ago. 

I've got my first Covid jab, and no real side-effects from the vaccine apart from finding my rheumatoid arthritis flared up, which has affected the quality of my sleep. For me this isn't painful as such, it's more that I get really hot at night and that wakes me up and I throw the cover off to cool down. 

If I fall to sleep, while the cover is off, then I wake up cold and stiff as a board. It's a fine balance.

Anyway, end result is that I'm so far behind on all my projects that I've come full circle and it all feels like doing things afresh. That's a joke JIC.

Catch you all later.

Sharing Because

  

I'm sharing a link to another blog, Wing and a Whim by Dorothy Grant because she reviews two books that she and her husband found helpful dealing with living with PTSD. One book is for the spouse, the other is for the soldier.

So a special not to my friends David and Candace, I think if you have the money and time these books might be of help. The books are:

Arsenal of Hope: Tactics for Taking on PTSD, Together

All Secure: A Special Operations Soldier's Fight to Survive on the Battlefield and the Homefront

Please feel free to share this around to anyone who might be in need in these troubled times.

TIGER X1: Unmanned Mobility Vehicle

My friend Alex Stewart sent me this link. Thanks for thinking of me, Alex.
The video shows the development of a hybrid walking/wheeled vehicle, which is fascinating.
Too good not to share as soon as I could here on the blog.

Myths About Race

 Link

 So, we're all different, yet somehow we're all the same. When you use race in an argument it automatically become political. Not rational, scientific or objective, just your opinion based on a political ideology. I would argue, that if you want to talk political ideology then go talk to someone who also wants said discussion. It's fine by me. None of my business what's done between consenting adults. If you want to come to me or someone else and proselytize you particular political ideology, don't be surprised if I or they are not interested. If you then call me or them a 'racist' for not wanting to engage in your political ideology, then the real racist is you, because not all of us share the idea that political ideologies have to start from race. While an argument about power can often include skin colour, or religion etc. these things are just labels obscuring the use of power to control others, and even that position has nuance, because societies have to have structures that are enforced by the power of law. This is in and of itself neither a good thing or a bad thing, it's just a necessity for example, to stop idiots from shouting 'fire' in a crowded theatre. I have spoken! This is the way.