52°15'33"N 7°06'24"W
Pleasant northerly breeze of 4 knots
Captain's Log: 10/03/2025
Concerning my writing:
While having only finally hit page 80 and began my next chapter, things have been as slow on writing as it's been intense with everything else. Luckily A plan has been laid out for the next chapter and will finalize the full introduction of the main narrative and direction for the second TLPK book.
However in the past 30 days I've invested alot more time on thinking about the aspect of writing villains. Not only do I want Elric to be a well written character, but to also make him a memorable one. Among the many things for re-writing draft 3of TLPK, but that one particularly being the most important.
Overall there is progress, all while slower than I prefer, there is still progress. While I wanted to be at page 100 by now, the beginning of the second story has been consistently reminding me of how much trouble I tend to have with the beginning of things. The constant battle with having something happen just to maintain the energy as well as pacing, while also trying to keep the pacing of the narrative but nothing action related needs to happen. That impasse of nothing happening but dialogue and foundational placement for the plot, or making something happen for the sake of keeping the energy going. It’s a tough battle but it’s only the first draft so I shouldn’t be as serious about it as I should be. But then again I constantly have my mother in my head saying “Do it once, do it right.” So I have that constant pressure of wanting the first draft to already be perfect, even though I also have Ernest Hemingway in my head reminding me with a louder voice that “The first draft of anything is going to be shit.” Either way even a single page is progress and he’d be proud, as well as myself so thats all that matters.
However recently the Creative Monkey has fixated on a super hero idea that I haven’t virtually touched since 2014, and suddenly not only do I have a better plot, but an entirely better story. So now I have that o my list of writing projects that the Monkey insists on tormenting me with. So for the past week or so I’ve been writing down whatever the Monkey gives to me.
Concerning my opinion on writing:
Recently I did a speedrun of the entire show, Demon Slayer, and went to go watch the Infinity Castle movie in theaters. While I truly love the show for it’s action and gorgeous animation, there’s an ongoing trope it constantly does that has become a broken record for me and it’s become not only repetitive, but VERY predictable. So unless you haven’t seen the show yet I’d suggest not reading further because this will probably come off as a spoiler for most, considering it makes the show SUPER predictable in its writing. Which is also where I’m going with this little rant. Jump to Concerning the Captain, to avoid any spoilers that I may unintentionally disclose.
Now onward to my little writing rant. While Demon Slayer possessed many attributes to a good anime that I like, such as good pacing, fun dynamic characters, beautiful animation, and edge of your seat action when it occurs, there is one thing that becomes repetitive with the show that has grown into a consistent predictability that I've grown to dislike. Each and every single character, including both good and bad characters, all have some form of tragedy in their past that have become key elements in them all being involved with eachother. Giving your character, particularly your villains, a tragic backstory is all fun and dandy every so often, but not each and every single time!!!! Within this mix of antagonists, I would've much preferred there to be a mix of villains that aren't driven by a tragedy in their past, but are solely evil just out of being driven by pure malevolence. While currently there are literally only a few villains left to be taken down in the next two movies to be released, I'm already expecting them all to have some tragic backstory that the audience has to know about. Sometimes I just like the thrill of the hero taking down a villain without being reminded that they just killed a very broken person that was made into what they are against their will, or in some way similar to that trope. Now sometimes it's done well, other times, such as in the case of Demon Slayer, it's become a broken record. While I still enjoy the show, I'm just hoping for the ending to offer me less predictable writing with it's villains. End of rant.
Concerning the Captain:
As I'm disclosed in the beginning of this report, writing has been slower than I've preferred it to be, however still there is progress. Slowly but surely, I've made out a plan for these last two chapters before establishing the first main act of the story.
Outside of my writing, I've been in good health, and am looking forward to the cooler weather coming around. I truly dislike the summer heat, and being an individual that runs on hot; the heat and I seldom get along. More often than not I'm inside with my AC running the entire time, until I need to leave to go to work which thankfully is a temperature controlled facility. With the cooler weather finally rolling in, I can be out and about a lot more often.
Concerning the Crew:
Spirits are well and everyone is ready to be rid of this cursed heat of the summer. While I happen to sail with many freeze babies, all as a whole are ready for the changing of the seasons.
Until we next make full sail,
Flynn Forecastle ⚓
