The Writing Moment
Finished the first draft of “A Tribe Called Death” today.
Began it on impulse in December, 2025. Set it aside to finish “Unfocused”. Wrote and revised five drafts of “Unfocused” before setting it aside to cool at the end of May of this year.
Then I returned to “A Tribe Called Death”. It managed to flow out in very satisfying ways. I didn’t want to write or talk about it because I didn’t want to jinx it — knock wood — so I only spoke about it to my wife from time to time. Never talked about what it was about; only told her about generic writing progress.
Today, I wrote The End.
320 pages. 70,000 words.
A vampire, detective, and the Ministry of Death.
Now I’ll set it aside. Let it cool. Pick up “Unfocused” again tomorrow. Revise and edit it again.
Prepare to submit it to somewhere, someone.
And go on.
Randy & the General Dream
I was back in the military. One of my people, Randy, a friend, was chosen for a special honor. He was very nervous.
I told him, “Relax, there’s nothing to worry about. You’ll do great.” I then promised to circle back around but I had dozens of things to attend so I kept moving.
Somebody caught me and asked me if it was true that Randy had been selected for the honor. Yes, I confirmed. Did I have anything to do with it, I was asked. Yes, I answered, I nominated him and wrote up the nomination.
Leaving them, I checked on another task. A young officer was selected for a risky mission. I went by to see him and ask if I needed anything. He thanked me for my part in getting him the assignment because he knew I had something to do with it. Laughing, I joked, “Oh, no, don’t try to pin this on me,” and moved on.
After going by some other places, I returned to Randy. More details were emerging. He’d been sitting in a stadium full of people. A spotlight and camera would be on him.
I again assured him that he’d be fine. He then put on a black sports jacket. He told me, “I hate wearing things like this.”
I answered, “You’ll be fine. It’s just for a short time. Besides, it makes you look skinnier.”
He laughed and swore at me.
Time for me to leave. I headed for the exit, still with many things to do. A one star – brigadier general – tall, white, skinny – stopped me. I didn’t know him.
He explained that he’d heard that I’d supported the officer’s request for the assignment.
“Yes,” I replied. “I talked to him and he wanted it.”
The general said, “But it’s risky.”
“I know,” I said.
The general went on, “It took a lot of courage for you to agree with him going.”
“It did,” I agreed.
Thinking the conversation over, I went to move past him.
The general apparently thought I wanted a hug. When I realized that, I reciprocated the hug but I found it very strange. We ended up in an awkward half embrace that was made worse because he was much taller than him. When I looked up at his face, I was surprised that he was teary eye.
We broke the hug. I began moving on.
Dream end.
