Today is another lazy day in Seattle. I had hoped to continue Lucille, but I’m going to put it off again. I did write a few pages in my Moleskine about where I see the story heading; I’ll transcribe those later. For now, I’m relaxing in front of my fire and watching the making of portion of “The Return of the King,” Peter Jackson’s vision of J. R. R. Tolkien’s (overrated) Lord of the Rings.

I’m not sure if this entry even should count as an entry. I spent much of today working on the new sewcrates.com. I’m happy with the progress, and I’m hopeful I’ll finish it soon. Most of the user functionality is there. I have to finish the administrative stuff, and then make the switcheroonie. I’m still looking for the perfect masthead and having little luck. I have a simple design now with no masthead, but I think it’s too simple.

Okay, I’ll stop reaching to say something. I’ll leave you with my notes and thoughts on my story. It’s becoming clearer, but until I write it, it will never be clear.

Notes on Lucille: Search of pathetic-ness? Life has given Jake a way to get out gloriously—is that it? No, Cini is making the choice; it’s her, the young woman, who think she’s going to change the world that wants to run or fight. “We’re fighting against a nothing. What chance have we?” Jake will say. Young, ambitious vs. old and cynical. Who wins?

Pirates are a nothing—there’s nobody in the pirate ship—it’s like a ‘ghost ship’ but in the literal sense. How do they win? Useless details. The dilemma? The decline of the gov’t, the loss of control. “We’re witnessing the decline of our civilization,” Jake will tell Cini. Do people inside a civilization, can they see the downfall? The wise ones—the Jakes of the world who witnessed the might of the Navy—he didn’t witness, he heard about it and grew up believing in its glory.

That’s a lot of exposition to get across through talking. Flashback time. Might of the armada; Jake was there, a junior officer—need a story.

Cini wants to fight the ghost pirate ship because she doesn’t believe the navy and their civilization is declining. Flashback: the last great battle or the beginnings of the end? The last flex of muscle trying to keep the solar system together. “It’s the only way to protect our interest and people.”

Why are the ghost ships piloted by computers but not Jake’s ship? Cheap answer: robot war. Igh. Robot ships are sent out on short journeys—w/in radio distance—autonomous robots can’t handle further distances? Flow of computers—just don’t trust computers for these flights. Where are they going? Delivery, transport, cruise (which could explain why not just robots—transporting people); there has to be people on board, which will make Cini’s choice much harder. Why would she risk them? Missing something!

Story idea: raising chickens in a city to teach children morals about food

Writing is not about superficial cleverness.