Our brains tell us to look at things that move with intention. Consider a magic trick. The magician gives the impression of great intention with one hand, while lulling the audience into believing the other hand is unimportant, with no hidden motive. When the trick is complete, the hidden motive of the unnoticed hand gives the act a magical quality.

Stories work the same way. While it is important to have characters with dramatic need whom give the story focus and interest, do not shy from creating characters whose inclinations which aren’t as strong. These are the characters who can provide unexpected turns in a story which otherwise might be too obvious.

So there’s this organized, technologically superior culture, and they land on your planet and want your resources. They have a highly trained military and are heavily funded. But you have one thing they don’t: Heart.

“THEY’LL NEVER TAKE… OUR FREEDOM!!!”

What follows is a brutal battle that destroys your homeland, results in countless casualties but you manage to eek out a victory that causes the enemy to retreat. Horray! Victory is ours! Roll credits.

Oh my god, shut the fuck up. It’s modern conventional warfare.  There is no way you can win against a superior force in this way. Let’s assume that the battle that unfolded in Avatar is realistic (it’s not. If it was they’d have the capability of dropping a bomb from higher than 50 feet off the ground, and it would be a real bomb not a bunch of UPS packages but whatever), what’s the logical next step that would occur here? You caused this army to retreat, using a surprise attack and a lot of luck. And where have they retreated to? Their homes, which you have absolutely no ability to threaten. So what happens next? Read more

New song, old moniker.

Download Mp3

I’m half awake. My whole face feels like it’s sagging. I’ve gotten plenty of sleep, more than enough really. So I’m tired because I’m unfocused. Because trying to keep everything inside my head is tiring. Lazy people should stay focused all the time, otherwise they risk over working themselves with worry and doubt. And these things have no real desire to be worked, they are fine without us.

I find myself at the mall. On my laptop plugged into a public outlet. Which is really a wonderful thing when you think about it. Free electricity. It’s like a drinking fountain for my electronic devices. What happened to drinking fountains?

The mall is just waking up. People walk in a daze, the heaters strain themselves to bring the temperature up. Signs of awakeness are here. The man next to me is involved with a short tempered work conversation. “Tell him it the latest technology. Call him. RIGHT now, before anyone else gets a chance.” I can’t tell if this is genuine intensity or if he’s faking it.  A security guard looks down from the balcony. The pace of his gaze just a little too controlled, his body language a little too alert. You can tell there is purpose here.

This is what being awake is all about. A specific focused goal. Without that we’re just a big amorphous blob of ingredients. Like an explosion without a spark. Just chemicals floating around in the air. They go where ever the wind takes them. They separate. The big chance leaves the room.

I’ve been thinking about these themes lately, how great it is to be inspired, focused, passionate. But anyone can excel when they’re passionate. Everyone does. The question is, when inspiration passes, how do you act?

There is no such thing as fishing.

A fisherman does not catch fish. He has no control of fish – he has nothing to do with them.
He merely casts his line and waits. The fish do the rest.

Living is the same. You have no control of life – it has nothing to do with you.
As such, you can not get better at living.

You can only master the art of casting your line and waiting.