Back when I was working on a longform writing project, when I wasn't feeling particularly creative or imaginitive and felt like I couldn't make any progress, I convinced myself to try to get a little work done every day. One of the ways I tricked myself into doing this was to just open the software (in this case Twine). "Even if you don't write anything, Kaz, just open it."

With one step of the process automated, in a sense, I got around the mental barrier I had with respect to the number of decisions I can make in a day, which is a thing I learned about myself only later in life is a real fact. So instead of deciding to work on my project, the decision to open up the software was already made for me in advance. Goofy, I know.

Still, I find it helps me to just open the software, even if I don't end up doing anything. It annoys me how little effort I have leftover during any given week for work I actually want to do, but this is the nature of having a regular nine-to-five. And some of the upshots include being able to keep myself sheltered and keep the cat fed and subscribe to cohost plus and so on.

I got reminded the other night that I got decent enough at writing that other people like what I do. That I developed and possess what I think of as voice. Pity that so much of what I did is tied up with Magic: The Gathering, a thing that I now hate and am taking steps to actively cut out of my life.

I do have things to work on, down any road. And today, once again, I opened the software.