53°21'05"N 6°15'38"W


Sunny with some clouds and a southerly wind of a brisk 13 knots.


Captain's Log:  6/03/2024 


Concerning my writing:

Progress sometimes requires me to go out for a pleasant walk to let my mind wander a bit. When sitting in my living room, I often forget I'm surrounded by my distractions in the comfort of home. More often than not I find it challenging to focus when it comes to writing. To make things even more challenging, I'm in the beginning stages of telling the second Last Pirate King story.

Current progress: I'm at the 70th page sitting at about 24K words. While for most this can be considered as progress, but I'm constantly second guessing whether or not I'm taking too long at introducing all the new characters and carefully placing down the foundations that lead up to act 1. At 70 pages I feel confident I've done relatively well at introducing all of the new characters while re-introducing my readers to the crew again for the big set up to the first act. The beginning is always the toughest part in my opinion. Constantly second guessing myself whether I'm moving too fast or too slow with the narrative all while trying to make sure I'm not info dumping too heavily as I did in the first book 🤣

However one advantage I have with the second book is I'm able to take a more creative approach with new things in this book that doesn't exist in the real world. So I get to have much more creative liberties with the second book as compared to the first. New ship class, new weapons, new drones, new tech--lots of new stuff!!!


Concerning my opinion on writing:

It baffles me to know that not all writers utilize an outline prior to beginning their first draft. Not only does it baffle me, it also intrigues me on their writing process as compared to my own. Before I began the journey of The Last Pirate King, I wanted to truly make sure I had not only all of my ducks in a row before beginning the first draft, but to also set myself a sort of "writing goal" or where to take the story to. Listing down each key moment or key event that's meant to take place throughout the story. Giving myself that space in between to just "wing it". So as long as my story ends up at THAT specific key point, then I just need to create a transitional point where one act ends, and then merges into the beginning into the next.

How some just don't do this baffles me. But then again there are some who are much more well versed in what they want to write and have it all well organized mentally that not everyone needs to have an outline prior to writing the first draft.

If an argument could be made, I'd be willing to argue the importance of putting together your outline first and foremost. Character bios, and then the main acts and the little moments in between each act that way you can have a more clear idea in your head on what to brainstorm on when moving from one point at a time. Personally I'd argue, that, to be the most effective method when writing, but then again I'm not yet published at this point in time so what would I know? This just be me opinion.


Concerning the Captain:

Recently I've gone back to going to the gym, as of this past weekend and the weekend prior. After taking nearly 2 months off from going to the gym, I was almost able to go right back to my usual weight sets. I guess the muscle is all still there!

Mentally this year has been showing from one thing after another that it's going to be a challenging one and to keep my head focused on the priorities. This whole year I feel like I haven't been able to take a moment to just sit down and focus on nothing. To not have to worry about the daily tasks or coming tasks, and to just sit down, light a Yankee Candle (Sun and Sand is my personal favorite) put on some nice music, concluded with a deep breath to release a week of stresses.

Such is the life of a ship Captain.


Crew Morale:

Weary but spirits are still high.


Until we next make full sail,

Flynn Forecastle ⚓ 

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