Alright, now that 2019 is nearing its end, I'd like to thread out an overview of my works and writings this past year. That way, I can look back on what I've created and how I've developed, and you may find something you like among them. So let's go!
The year started with a rework of one of my older short stories, which also happens to be the first part in an ongoing series. I have started work on its sequel, but the draft is far from complete. I will get back this storyline; it is quite dear to me. theinnermoon.com/2019/01/20/cyc…
About two months later, I wrote a fictional history based on the 'The Purge' franchise. The basic premise struck me as an intriguing reflection of US malaise, which might well be overtaken by a revolutionary moment. At least that's how I wrote it here. theinnermoon.com/2019/03/18/the…
The month after that, I committed myself once more to the codification of a new genre, though this one wasn't that new at all: I was looking to categorize the essence of Star Wars fiction. This lead me to elements fantastical, spiritual, and political. theinnermoon.com/2019/04/21/res…
Clearly in a Star Wars mood, I published another essay on this fiction in the month of May. While I like the character of Palpatine quite a bit, something about his function within the Clone War bothered me, and I explained it here. theinnermoon.com/2019/05/23/the…
That same month, I decided to let my misgivings with the characters of Sidious catalyze an alternate Star Wars universe, a story I dubbed 'The Sidious Solution'. It got very political very fast, but that is how I wanted it to go. theinnermoon.com/2019/05/31/the…
A few days after, I wrote something wholly philosophical, a meditation on the concept of 'natural order' and how it might be related to the political ideal of anarchy. This connection may be a little too spiritual for some, but I find it very powerful. theinnermoon.com/2019/06/05/bor…
Two days later, I put out the second part of the Sidious Solution. Where the first part had focused on characters like Anakin and Kenobi, this one turned its attention to Padmé Amidala: an even better excuse to devote myself to fake space politics.
theinnermoon.com/2019/06/07/the…
theinnermoon.com/2019/06/07/the…
I was clearly very active in June, because the next week I wrote an essay on the medium of video games. More specifically, I argued that a less game-like sub-medium of 'video tales' may be revealed through the undercurrent of our collective tastes. theinnermoon.com/2019/06/16/tel…
There was still more Star Wars story to write, so at the start of July I published the third part of the Sidious Solution. This might have been my favorite to write, since it chronicles the breakdown of galactic institutions and the start of a revolution.
theinnermoon.com/2019/07/06/the…
theinnermoon.com/2019/07/06/the…
A fortnight later came the final part of this story, where I discussed the actual Wars of the Stars, as well as their epic conclusion. I'd say the latter half of this part most resembled a saga episode, complete with strategy, tragedy, and an ending crawl! theinnermoon.com/2019/07/24/the…
At the end of July, I had finished a book on basic Buddhist thought, and in a desire to show what I had learned, I settled on the silliest comparison I could think of. Part video game history, part philosophical expose: I just hope it proved interesting. theinnermoon.com/2019/07/29/bud…
Then, at the start of August, I wrote about something more personal, though still somewhat philosophical: my own gender experience in a Daoist context. I haven't stopped thinking about my identity since, but it did help me sort out my thoughts at the time. theinnermoon.com/2019/08/06/saf…
What followed this essay was quite new and exciting: I had purchased a podcasting microphone, and this would allow me to record old stories and new essays. I've made good use of it since, although there is still a backlog of pieces-to-be-recorded.
theinnermoon.com/2019/08/08/dis…
theinnermoon.com/2019/08/08/dis…
One such story I recorded was the first chapter of Goddess of Anarchy, a fantasy saga which has grown quite a bit from its simple beginnings. Though this is the 'main' storyline, I've used its setting as a backdrop to many short stories since.
theinnermoon.com/2019/08/14/a-g…
theinnermoon.com/2019/08/14/a-g…
Next up (still in August) was the first episode to Empty Notes, my new podcast series. I called it that because these recordings have cleaned up both my mind and my note-taking apps. And of course I had to start it by talking about Star Wars! theinnermoon.com/2019/08/23/emp…
A few days after, I finally finished the second part to my essay about Resistance Fantasy, the genre that was meant to codify both Star Wars and similar works. I think I did well, and this part served as a useful historical background. theinnermoon.com/2019/08/27/res…
In September, I moved beyond audio into another medium of creation, this being a YouTube channel complete with an introductory video. I've uploaded a few videos to it by now, though mostly podcast slideshows. With one important exception... theinnermoon.com/2019/09/06/the…
Yes, I also finished my first video essay in September, seeking a connection between the communalist politics of Murray Bookchin and some ephemeral trends in game design. I think our understanding of society can inspire our digital worlds, and vice-versa.
theinnermoon.com/2019/09/16/wor…
theinnermoon.com/2019/09/16/wor…
A few weeks later, I had written some original fiction again, set in the same universe as Goddess of Anarchy. I really like some of the ideas I brought together in these short stories, and I'll be sure to get back to those three moons eventually. theinnermoon.com/2019/10/09/thr…
My second piece in October was another Empty Notes episode, this one dealing with the niche genre of alternate spaceflight history. It gave me a good reason to rant about several of my interests at once, and the stories I referred to continue to excite me.
theinnermoon.com/2019/10/26/emp…
theinnermoon.com/2019/10/26/emp…
To my shame, I didn't publish anything in November, but my most recent work was catalyzed by the then-upcoming release of Star Wars IX. To head off any disappointment, I wrote out my expectations in fictional format. I like to think that helped. theinnermoon.com/2019/12/18/sta…
And that's what I made/wrote this year! If I decide to put out the third Empty Notes episode in the next two days, I'll remind myself to link to it here. But 2020 will be a new year of opportunities to write and create, and I still have plenty of drafts and idea to keep me going!
