There is something to be said for martial arts movies. There is also something to be said for old adages about idle hands being the devil’s workshop, which supposed (if you believe a quick count of the tubes comprising the internet) dates back to Chaucer’s time.

And there is also something to be said for The Last Samurai. Yes, I realize it’s Tom Cruise. Yes, I know it’s about the white man rushing in to rescuing a native culture on their own land. (*coughs* Avatar *coughs*) I like this movie because I’m a sucker for historicals and there are nuggets of awesome here. I mean, it’s Ken Watanabe. COME ON! And, despite what I think about his personal life, Tom Cruise can act. Phooey.

But I digress. There’s a moment in the film where Captain Algren isn’t *getting* the moves he’s being taught. Nobutada turns to him and explains he has too many mind.

That, my dear readers, is what gets in the way of what we want to do. For me, there’s been many things pressing on my mind as of late. I have the tendency, when I’m in the midst of projects or work, to fall deeply and head over heels into the zone and forget everything else. Then LOOK, SQUIRREL! something happens and I’m like: Do I need to worry about that?

In no uncertain order, the things that I fretted over in the past couple of weeks were: writer’s “platform,” online popularity, publisher perceptions, etc. And, to be blunt, it’s all bullsh*t. It is. All of that rah-rah-rah is secondary to the work. There are different forms of marketing, some of which are about creating an illusion, and I sometimes get sucked up into this. Mind you, I have friends who graciously provided a reality check in this regard, because I need that sometimes. I am far from perfect.

I think (Hah, hah… See what I did there?) it’s too easy to look to online popularity as a validation of self. As a way to say, hey… AWESOME! I have X number of fans pushing me forward. Every writer I’ve ever met needs a cheerleading squad that is NOT comprised of our cats. Every. Single. One. This is why there’s competition and snarky comments and bullsh*t. This is why some authors scout out bad reviews and comment on them. This is why we’re neurotic. And yes, I include myself in that category. I don’t write to hear myself speak. I write for my readers. And, for many authors, other authors are *also* readers, too.

Strip away the minds, and if you’re not telling the damn story, then you aren’t. There are those who can juggle all things and not be neurotic, and I admire them. I’m still growing and writing and reading and growing. Let’s hope I never stop learning, sharing, and being positive, too.

Mood: No mind! Empty head!
Caffeinated Beverages Consumed: Two.
Work-Out Minutes Logged Yesterday: None, and I’m feeling it.
Yesterday’s Projects: RPG, Novel, short story
In My Ears: Tron. (<3 this soundtrack) Game Last Played: PicCross 3D
Movie Last Viewed: Return of the King
Book Last Read: The Encyclopedia of 500 Spells
Latest Artistic Project: Crystal Medallion pendant in silver and red
Latest Release: Strange, Dead Love for Vampire: the Requiem