November went well. I continue to benefit from the use of the daily recommendation schedule. It’s nice to know that if I have time to work and I’m not inspired by any particular project, I can look at this schedule and work on what it suggests. And if I am inspired to focus on one thing or the other, I will do so.

Projects

I got at least something done for each of my projects. Either I completed one of the world building tasks, or I write a scene to start fleshing out the story. Very nice to start knocking those goals off.

With the Colonel Lieutenant I got at least rough drafts up to Chapter 20. Every time it’s on my list I’m picking at it, getting it closer to being done. I am a little worried it might get too big; maybe I need to cut it into two? I hope not, but we’ll see.

Most of my Orcfyre work was world building. In particular, I focused on fleshing out the pantheon of deities, especially as the main characters would know and interact with them. I started the first scene and I’ve outlined much of the rest.

As for the 1st Minnesota project, I did come to a decision to write this story in the First Person. I think, ultimately, this is the better way to get the experience of the soldier across to the reader. And there are mechanisms I could use for a third person perspective if I needed. But, we’ll see.

December Goals

• The Colonel Lieutenant: Finish 5 Acts
• Orcfyre: Finish First Act
• 1st Minnesota: Finish First Act
• Other projects: Write at Least One Scene Each
• Other projects: Cross off at least one World Building goal Each
• Blog Post: Still a Pantser
• Blog Post: Writing Process – Research

Books

• Seven Plots (Research)
• Bearer of the Black Staff (Fiction)
• Cardinal of the Kremlin (Fiction; Re-Read)

Didn’t get too much reading done last month. It’s something I want to change in December. Dedicated reading time every day.

December Goals

• Finish one of the Fiction Novels
• Finish Seven Plots
• Start New Research Book
• Start New Non-Fiction Book

Movies / Shows

• John Wick
• John Wick, Chapter 2
• John Wick 3 – Parabellum
• John Wick, Chapter 4
• Ballerina
• Foundation
• Stranger Things Season 5

I watched through the John Wick movies last month. I thoroughly enjoyed them. The entire series was a master class in world building. We learn so much about the world by watching the story play out. When they can’t show us, they only tell us enough to keep the story going, without revealing more information than they needed to. The fight
scenes were fantastic and well choreographed (though I think they started to draw a little long by the fourth movie).

I then watched the spinoff Ballerina, which is set between Wick 3 and 4. This movie was just as exciting and fun as the original series of movies. And I appreciate that the main character (Ana de armas) fights differently than John Wick (Keanu Reeves), as she’s a small woman and not a moderately sized man. I can see why everyone likes this series.

I also got too start the fifth season of Stranger Things. This show has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and the first four episodes have shown the magic continues to grow. I’m excited to see what they have in store for the last episodes.

December Goals

• Finish Foundation Season 2
• Finish Bad Batch Season 2
• Finish Stranger Things Season 5
• Watch two new movies

Games

• Madden 2026
• Last of Us 2 Replay
• Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts
• Surviving Mars Relaunch

I didn’t spend much time on the couch in November, so my console games remain unfinished. Nothing wrong with that, except for the normal crossing things off my list part.

I did start a PC game called Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts, which is a sniper first person shooter set in Siberia. It was okay, but it didn’t really draw me in. I kind of stopped playing it. I may come back in the future and finish it off, but if I don’t, I’m okay with it.

Then I started to play the Surviving Mars Relaunch. It’s a remaster of the game Surviving Mars, which I spent a lot of time playing. I haven’t noticed too many differences yet, but I just got into it Thanksgiving weekend. I’m eager to start playing the new stuff soon.

December Goals

• Finish Last of Us 2 Replay
• Start new PC Story Game
• Get back into Horizon: Forbidden West
• Get back into Red Dead Redemption 2

What’s Next

I’ve got a event lined up for December 20th, 2 to 5 PM, at Utepil’s Brewery. Only a few hours to sell some books, but it’s something.

Still on some waiting lists for other events. We’ll see what come sup.