You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
— Marcus Aurelius

The last 1.5 months didn’t see as much writing as I had hoped for book two – a great deal of personal activity altered my focus, which delayed not just getting much more writing done, but also the five-year plan was somewhat delayed.

My son was notified in mid-January that he was being sent for his Air Force basic training. This event was in the works for several months, but we didn’t know exactly when it would occur. Alas, when Caleb wasn’t working at his interim job, I tried spending as much time with him as possible before his departure on Monday, February 28. Then, the dojo I had been using for another passion – martial arts – needed my attention. The location I had been using for a dojo was no longer available, so I was on a frantic search in the same city to ensure the students did not suffer a lapse in their own path. I’ll offer additional updates below on that journey.

Finally, writing is like any other pursuit – life sometimes does have a way of interrupting whatever plans you have developed.

Highlights:

• In the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow continued. I didn’t get as much writing done, but the story was at the forefront of my mind, which helped me prepare for when I could write.
• The five-year plan is my next focus.
• I’ll be attending my first book signing since the beginning of pandemic. The signing will be with 8 other authors, who are part of the Writers of Warrensburg. For more information on the April 2 signing, click here or check out the information below.

Inspirations:
Martial arts are an inspiration for me – whether in person, on film, or in books. I began my personal journey in early 2010, and I’ve never looked back. In the spring of 2018, I was offered a unique opportunity to help lead the classes in the Sedalia/Warrensburg area. Since I took on that role, I have learned to enjoy martial arts more than I ever thought possible. For me, leading two classes twice per week and now a once per week iaido (sword) class has been exciting. I am able to continue my own journey while helping other students learn how to defend themselves and/or their families from a potential assault.

Of course, martial arts is not just about self-defense. It can be meditative insofar that it is a very individualistic artform. Essentially, each student progresses at their own pace with the guidance of the sensei and help from other students. Progress is witnessed by how much effort one spends in class and outside of the dojo. The realistic goal of any self-defense study is to learn how to defend without thinking; for example: you block an attacker without thinking about which technique to use.

Finally, martial arts offers an excellent method of maintaining flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, and strength over the course of your life. It also gives an opportunity to the student to keep their mind focused on the moment without distraction from outside sources, which ties into the quote offered at the beginning of this update.
During my search for a new dojo, I used all the resources available to help reduce the stress of the situation. By the beginning of March, we were in a new location with no lapse in our training. Throughout February and March, I continued my path with iaido. I promoted to shodan (black belt), which offers even more opportunities to continue my martial arts path. To learn more about iaido go here.

The update for next month’s inspiration: 
I enjoy viewing lists offering the best of a various genre and why they can be very important. Here is one recent example to help whet your appetite. These types of lists help me find new items to help my imagination. 

I offer you a challenge for the next month:
Ensure you take a few moments to relax. 

 “Life is very short and anxious for those who forget the past, neglect the present, and fear the future.”
—Seneca

Groundhog Day was a snowed-in event for many folks in the Midwest. Regardless of what a small groundhog may have witnessed in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, we still have nearly 6 weeks of winter remaining. January proved to be effective for book two, and I’ve even thought of the ending of the Rune Cycle. I’ll explain more on that a bit later.

I’ve considered a putting together a five-year plan for my business. Several nations have used such plans, but to their detriment due to the plan’s rigidity for a large society. On the other hand, five-year plans in any career, at least from my experience, offer a clear idea of where you are going. Writing is fun, and it is a business. Writing the words down is obviously very important, but web management, art direction, advertising, in-person meetings, editing, and promotion of the work is arguably just as important.

Highlights for January:

• Progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow continued. I got approximately 8,000 words down, which wasn’t as much as I had hoped, yet I am reaching the end of a story arc in book two.
• I reached the end of the trilogy, at least in my mind. I had been toying with various endings, but I am confident this ending is the final one. Writing, for me, is an exploration, even with an outline prepared. Sometimes the character takes me in directions I didn’t plan on, and that is one of the best parts of the writing process.
  • With that in mind, though, the trilogy’s ending could still change — I may begin keeping a list of the endings I think of before I start Book 3, as I find these types of behind-the-scenes formats cool in other forms of entertainment such as films with deleted scenes.
• I have begun thinking about the aforementioned five-year plan. Look for my plan in the near future.

Inspirations:
I am inspired by games, as they create a place for friends and family to join together for an afternoon or evening. Players can work together to defeat the game itself, such as Pandemic Legacy: Season 1, solve a mystery with Sherlock Holmes, or try to build one of the 7 Wonders.

My family and I play games on a regular basis, and we have many in our collection that we’ve added to over the last twenty years. We are approaching 400 games, which may seem excessive to non-gamers, but we have a game for almost any interest or genre. Solo games, cooperative games, such as Pandemic, 2-player games, legacy-style games, and many other games for 2 or more people are commonly played in my household.

I am inspired by board (as well as card and role-playing) games because of the ingenuity it takes to simply create a game. Wingspan is a newer game developed by Elizabeth Hargrave in the last five years; it has become a huge success in the gaming community and with those who enjoy nature/birding. You can hear a short interview about the game here. I highly recommend Wingspan!

I am also fascinated at where the gaming industry has gone in the last 20 years. Realistically, the gaming industry has exploded beyond the classics, such as Scrabble (which is still an excellent game), to the multitude you may find in your local gaming shop.

Games have inspired me enough that I even created a board game for the Rune Cycle. You’ll see characters enjoying it throughout the story. Games have been with humans for millennia, and my addition adds more to the world-building aspect. Who knows — perhaps I’ll adapt the Rune Cycle game for you to play some time!

Even board game companies have a five-year plan. Stonemeier Games, for example, recently released their five-year plan and it is really interesting to see what they plan on accomplishing. They’ve produced some of the newer games you may not have heard of and my family enjoys many of their selections. If you’re interested in their plan, check it out here. 

How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself? – Epictetus

My last update was in late October, so I am getting back in the routine of monthly updates. I’m glad you are joining me again before the new year.

​I spent the month of November working on NaNaWriMo and all the relevant activities throughout the month, which included working toward the end of the first draft of book 2. Late October and all of November were consumed with writing as often as possible.

Highlights for November and early December:

• Progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow continues. While I did not finish the first draft of Book 2 as I had hoped, I did make great strides. I missed the mark of 50,000 words in November’s NaNoWriMo, but the nearly 20,000 words I wrote helped further flesh out the draft. I continued largely with a new character that I know you’ll enjoy. She is struggling with the path she took as a young adult. She took on a role she believed would lead to further glory and power, yet her choices have caused her to question everything she thought worthwhile.

• Throughout November, I served as a Municipal Liaison (ML) for this region, USA :: Missouri :: Elsewhere.
  • Simply put, the path of a ML is fun. I held numerous virtual write-ins throughout the month to help other writers reach their own goals, whether it was 50,000 words or even half that amount. I am astounded at the amount of writing which occurred over the month. I am already looking forward to November 2022, so that I can further enhance my efforts to assist authors in my area.

Inspirations:
Stoicism has become a fascinating point of study for me throughout this entire year. I had studied it nearly twenty years ago while working on a minor in philosophy. Even in those classes, we spent very little time on it, and what I had learned was relatively vague.

A “stoic” person is generally seen as someone who shows very few emotions. A stoic is almost an aloof automaton in the general understanding. In reality, though, a practitioner of stoicism is someone who strives toward a path of tranquility. The quote at the top from Epictetus also illustrates an important facet of Stoicism: within that tranquility, strive to be the best you can be. That requires constant study of the outside world and oneself: how can I best use my knowledge to become a better person? Emotions can cloud even the most stoic person’s mind, yet it is up to that stoic to continue the path of tranquility no matter how difficult the situation. Through self-mastery, the stoic can better themself, and then, by extension, the world/humanity.

To say the least, Stoicism is fascinating. The study has changed my life in a positive and effective way. If you are at all interested in learning more about it, then check out this cool site for more information.

I offer you a challenge for the next month:
What progress are you going to make on a project - big or small - in 2021? 

I'd love to hear from you. 

This brief update will be my last until early December.
 
My time until then will be devoted to prepping for National Novel Writing Month (NaNaWriMo) and all the activities throughout the month, which includes finishing the first draft of book 2. Late October and all of November will be consumed with writing as often as possible.

Highlights for September and early October:

• Progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow is going well. I will have the first draft completed by the end of November.
• My application to serve as a Municipal Liaison (ML) for this year’s NaNaWriMo was approved in late September.
• As you can imagine, my life was upended somewhat in trying to plan out my duties for the month of November. If you are at all interested in learning more about the process, please reach out via email or check out this link. I’ll be glad to share the necessary information.
  • I am serving as a ML for this region: USA :: Missouri :: Elsewhere

Inspirations:
“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.” 
​---Epictetus
A longer section will be on hold until December — look for a longer entry then.

I offer you a challenge for the next month:
What progress are you going to make on a project - big or small - over the next 6 weeks?

 My apologies for a late August update, but I decided to wait to share two noteworthy topics.

Highlights for August:

• I had great progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow. I will admit the section I’ve been writing is a bit dark, and it took some time to work through it. I’ve debated for months about the level of darkness within book 2, but given the title of the book, some darkness is necessary. Nevertheless, writing sections like that take somewhat of a toll on my mental health, to be honest, as I put myself into all characters while writing them and their scenes. (This may be an entire discussion in a future update.)
• Unfortunately, my application to serve as a Municipal Liaison (ML) for this year’s NaNaWriMo is still pending. I received a rather vague email around mid-August, but as of this update, I have not received anything more firm. Delays do make things a bit more difficult to plan, but I am keeping other authors in the area apprised of updates. The Writers of Warrensburg will be participating, and I hope to draw on the group’s expertise.
  • For more information out the org, click here. 

Inspirations:
For the last two months, I’ve focused on preservation and disregard. My inspiration this month will focus solely on what we choose to preserve.

Last month, I wrote, “The forgotten gems can and usually do stop me in my tracks.”

Until I witnessed this month’s inspiration, I wasn’t sure how soon I would be stopped again and by something that travels literally on tracks (or rails).

Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 is a magnificent machine. If you click here, you’ll learn significant details about the engine and its path across the United States. I had the opportunity to see it late in August as it stopped in Warrensburg, MO. Before planning my own visit to see the locomotive in person, I wasn’t sure how many people would be in attendance. The Big Boy’s stop was in the early afternoon on a weekday, which lead to me think that it would have few in attendance due to everyone’s many workday obligations.

Fortunately, my assumption was shattered!

Many people waited in anticipation for the Big Boy’s arrival. People crowded the streets on either side of the tracks. The city’s staff had also thoughtfully blocked the roadway to keep vehicles from traveling through while we waited. I was inspired to witness so many people waiting patiently, as well as their smiles as the engine rolled into town. The train engineer blew the whistle to excitement of the crowd. The whistle was not the traditional high-pitched warning of modern engines, but a deep, spine-tingling version that could be heard from blocks away. The Big Boy’s whistle could be equated to the deep, resonating, and thunderous Fourth of July fireworks display whereas the modern whistle is that of a small firecracker.

If you ever have the opportunity to witness the Big Boy, you’ll not be disappointed.

Besides the Big Boy in late August, the first trailer for the upcoming Wheel of Time show was released. The past two decades have been an exciting time for fantasy and science fiction films and shows. The Wheel of Time is considered one of fantasy’s greatest series of books, so many readers are eagerly awaiting this new series.

Robert Jordan nearly finished the series, but after his death in 2007, Brandon Sanderson took up the mantle and was able to complete the last 3 novels of the 15-book series. Sanderson took the task to heart, and while his renditions of the final three WOT books had a few very minor missteps, I was and remain amazed at Sanderson’s ability to finish such a monumental series. (Note: even with the missteps, the final 3 books are excellent.) 

As a side note: I encourage you to read Sanderson’s letter about Jordan’s influence shortly after Jordan’s passing. Jordan had struggled with a rare illness for many months prior to his death, and I was somewhat comforted in my own sadness by Sanderson’s compassionate letter. Jordan’s The Eye of the World is still one of my favorite fantasy novels.

Considering the breadth of the WOT, I can’t imagine trying to adapt the novels into shorter films; however, streaming services, such as Amazon and HBO, have been able to offer the flexibility needed for such books. Nevertheless, the trailer illustrates the necessary liberties taken to adapt the series. Click here for the trailer.

Interestingly, the WOT is also listed on PBS’s The Great American Read. Click here for the full list of 100 books.

Another BIG film adaptation coming out in the next month is Dune. The trailer offers a clear picture of the science-fiction epic’s vastness and scope. Click here for the trailer. 
 
I offer you a challenge for the next month:
Think about novels or stories you've read that have been adapted into movies or shows. What did you think about the adaptation? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow’s is steady.
My application to serve as a Municipal Liaison (ML) for this year’s NaNaWriMo is still under review. Apparently, the organization received many applications this year; I hope to have final confirmation soon.

• For more information out the org, click here. To serve as the ML, I’ll help my local area (Warrensburg and its surrounding communities) with their writing during National Novel Writing Month. I have participated since November 2017. The first time helped me complete my first book and the following sessions help pushed progress on other works. 

Inspirations:
My inspiration this month continues to be what human beings choose to preserve and disregard. Realistically, I could write an entire monograph on this subject. (Perhaps, I will take the time one day.) I strive to keep an eye out for forgotten things that humans have constructed, no matter how seemingly insignificant. The forgotten gems can and usually do stop me in my tracks.
​
One example is from a recent trip I took with my family to New Orleans. Something as mundane as a decorative metal fence installed to once protect a growing tree’s trunk is now being encapsulated by the tree itself. The grate meant to protect the base of the trunk is also being slowly overgrown. Nature does take advantage of our forgetfulness more than we care to realize. On the other hand, should a city worker decide to forcibly remove the fence and grate, then the tree will likely suffer severe damage and potentially die. So, one can hope, in this instance, that the tree will keep growing around the fence and grate to live a fuller life, forgotten and disregarded.

• Progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow’s continues to pace well.
  • I estimate it’ll take 3 months to get the edits completed later this year. Book 3, The Originators of Sa’un – the end of the trilogy – is scheduled for completion in late 2022.
• The audiobook for The Alterator’s Light has been placed on permanent hold. The project was much more complex than I had originally envisioned, and I had to make a hard choice. If you have any questions about the project, please send me an email.

Inspirations:
The many varied methods of communication that human beings have developed serve as an inspiration for me.
For millennia, our primary source of communication was through face-to-face interactions, which worked well in tribal communities. We shared our knowledge, updated each other through gossip, and gained insight using little more than our voices. 

Writing, of course, became a monumental development in which ideas, records, etc. could be preserved for posterity, which further bolstered humanity. Much writing from thousands of years ago has been lost, unfortunately, but we still have a wealth of knowledge recorded, saved, and studied today. (I’ll offer one such example in a future update.) Pre-history itself can be loosely defined as any time in which we don’t have direct written records. History, therefore, becomes loosely defined as the time of written records. A time in which humans attempt to permanently preserve their thoughts.

Communication methods today would astonish people from thirty years ago, let alone 1000 years ago, yet we quickly take for granted the ease of modern communication.

For example, in 1991, email was exceedingly rare. Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and all the other social media formats were nothing more than a faint dream. Cell phones were still clunky. Home computers were still relatively rare and expensive. For most people, sending a text message consisted of writing a letter, putting the letter in an envelope, and then placing the stamped/addressed enveloped in the mail. Days would pass before a response was received either via mail or a phone call. Phone calls are now considered a burden by many people. 😊

Communication is an exceedingly powerful and inspiring tool. Regrettably, the last decade (with the implementation of numerous social media platforms) has shown us that communication tools can be significantly abused. Yet the platforms can also offer clarifying insights that would have caused the ancients to marvel.

Of course, that begs the question: if we can offer clarifying insights through those platforms, which leads to bettering humanity in general, then why would anyone want to abuse their ability to communicate? The answer to that question has no simple answer other than we are not always rational and don’t act in the best interest of humanity. Effective and clear communication is a struggle for nearly everyone; in the age of instant communication, thoughts are posted online as quick as they flash through our minds.

Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing the various enhancements to our ability to communicate, as they will help us create wonders we’re still dreaming about. 

I offer challenge for the next month: before you post something at an online forum, in a text message, etc. take a moment to consider the implications of your words. Perhaps, your well thought out interaction will inspire someone such as myself.

Please be sure to check out my website for continuous updates on my progress. Some of the updates are below:

• I continue adding a few short book and/or movie reviews. I finished some books last month that I want to share with you. You can find my thoughts here.

If you have questions for future newsletters/updates, please be sure to send them to dan@danbrigman.com. There are numerous media links for your convenience: on Twitter at @brigmanauthor, on Facebook at Dan Brigman, Author, or on my website, www.danbrigman.com.

Thanks again for your support! Besides taking the time to read my updates, please visit the following links to create a review of The Alterator’s Light, The Point of Woes, or The Tower of Dread if you’ve read those stories.

Reviews are quick to create! They offer potential readers insight into what you thought about the book. They also help get the word out about the stories and the author. You can simply search for the title of each of my books on Goodreads and/or Amazon or follow the links below.

For Amazon, please click here.
For Goodreads, please click here.

You can also check my work out at BookBub by clicking here.

Until next time, I hope the month of May brings you solace. 

​

• Progress on the first draft of The Blighter’s Shadow’s slowed down a bit this month. I took a much-needed vacation/spring break in the middle of March. It allowed me to refresh my mind and body so as to dive back into the work.
• Despite that short break, 2021’s workload is pacing well. Finishing Book 2 remains as my primary goal, and then I’ll focus on a shorter science fiction novel later this year as I work on the editing process for The Blighter’s Shadow. I estimate it’ll take 3 months to get the edits completed. Book 3, The Originators of Sa’un – the end of the trilogy – is scheduled for completion in late 2022.

Inspirations:

Critiques and reviews are inspirations for me, and I know I am not alone in this mindset.

Getting a critique of a book during the editing stage, for example, can help bolster your writing in a way that is impossible to measure in worth. Many sets of eyes can find rough spots in the initial drafts, which can be smoothed out throughout later drafts. Without critiques, a book is simply not going to be in its best form.

As I mentioned last month, the idea of what is “good” is up to the reader. The old cliché — beauty is in the eye of the beholder — carries truth. Online reviews can be a tool to enhance what works well and to gauge what can be improved upon in future writings.

Reviews are exceedingly important, nonetheless, for an author. Reviews are a gift to the author — a gift which takes only a few moments to complete. From an author’s standpoint, I’ve gained a much greater understanding of why reviews are important, so I offer my feedback for each book I finish reading. I even offer those reviews on my own website to offer my readers insight into what I’ve been doing besides writing. 😊

In essence, the more reviews a book has, the better chance it has of being seen by a wider audience. Online booksellers, such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. use algorithms that allow a book to be seen more based on the number reviews. This helps authors in two ways: allowing the work to potentially be read by more people and to support the author whose work you enjoy. So, my request to you: offer reviews when you can, as they help authors immensely. 

Please be sure to check out the website for continuous updates on my progress. Some of the updates are below: 

• I continue adding a few short book and/or movie reviews. I finished a few books in the last month. You can find my thoughts here.
• I finished a short volume of philosophical mini-essays by David Whyte - Consolations: Solace, Nourishment and Underlying Meaning of Everyday Words. Whyte's essays are exactly what I needed.
  • The study of philosophy is a major part of my life’s focus. I began formally studying philosophy in college through several general education courses, such as Intro to Philosophy and Deductive Logic. Later, I broadened that study to Ethics, Medical Ethics, and Ancient Philosophy.
  • I added another course on Formal Logic, which further cemented my love of logic. (If you’ve never worked with formal logic I highly recommend it!) I even wrote my MA thesis based partially on the works of a famous historian/philosopher: David Hume. Philosophy, or the love of wisdom, is an endeavor which requires constant and vigilant study.
  • Why study philosophy? you may be thinking.
    • From my experience, it helps you with at least one thing: thinking more clearly.
    • In addition, humans have been thinking about the nature of reality for many millennia – how to become better people, how to live more harmoniously in the world/universe, how to live a more tranquil life, and how to treat other human beings. Some good reasons to study a bit of philosophy if you ask me. 

If you have questions for future updates, please be sure to send them to dan@danbrigman.com. There are numerous media links for your convenience: on Twitter at @brigmanauthor, on Facebook at Dan Brigman, Author, or on my website, www.danbrigman.com.

Thanks again for your support!

Besides taking the time to read my updates, please visit the following links to create a review of The Alterator’s Light, The Point of Woes, or The Tower of Dread if you’ve read those stories. Reviews are quick to create! They offer potential readers insight into what you thought about the book.

Reviews are quick to create! They offer potential readers insight into what you thought about the book. They also help get the word out about the stories and the author. You can simply search for the title of each of my books on Goodreads and/or Amazon or follow the links below.

For Amazon, please click here.
For Goodreads, please click here.
​You can also check my work out at BookBub by clicking here.

Until next time, I wish you a wonderful April!