Do My Other Hobbies Connect to Writing?

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Thinking about my non-writing hobbies, I always wonder if they connect.  Maybe not directly to writing, but do they say anything about my personality.  There are currently three big activities that I do when I can’t write or need a break.  Not counting work or parenting because those aren’t hobbies.  Anyway, they are:

  • Jigsaw puzzles (limited to 1,000 piece due to table size)
  • Lego sets (running out of display space)
  • Pokemon Go

The first two are fairly easy to connect to writing.  With Lego and puzzles, you’re putting something together.  The former has instructions while the latter has a picture, which fits with me needing to make an outline before I write.  Having a guide reduces my stress and keeps me focused.  Though, I still run into issues where pieces don’t fit and I have to step back to figure things out.  You’d be surprised how many times a Lego instruction isn’t very clear or two pieces look the same in terms of color.  Means I have to take things apart and change stuff out, which is like editing.  Jigsaw puzzles don’t have that issue, but I do have to pay attention to detail to put things in the right place.

Pokemon Go is a tougher one to connect to writing other than I work in fantasy and this game involves fictional creatures.  It took me a while to figure out why this game grabbed me more than the stuff on the Nintendo Switch.  At first, I thought it was solely that it acted as exercise and got me out of the house, which is good.  Then, I thought about all of my goals in the game.  I want to get a shiny of every Pokemon and get at least one of each, which is why the events with debuts get my attention.  This is a more nuanced connection in that I want to at least outline every book idea I have for Windemere.  Just don’t have the time for it these days, which is why I get maybe one character of Phi Beta done a week unless there’s a break.

Another thing with Pokemon Go is that I can go on mental autopilot with the game as I walk around.  This allows my mind to sort through other things and clear my head for writing.  I’m sacrificing writing time to make the hours I do get more useful.  I do find that I don’t stare at the screen nearly as much after coming back from a walk even if there’s a lunch between activities.  The mental wandering while playing also helps me settle plot issues unless I run into other players.  Then, it’s socializing and chatting, but it still acts as a powerful stress reducer.  Unless the weather is terrible, which puts me in the mall and I have to focus on dodging people.  That’s another thing.

Now, what does all of this say about my personality?

  • Need to be organized.
  • Highly stressed and need outlets.
  • Need to create.
  • Need outside stimuli for mental focus.
  • Need short-term goals on top of long-term.
  • Easily frustrated by own hobbies.

Anyway, this is some meandering thoughts on me.  Do other people have hobbies that they connect to their personality?

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World Piano Day

Posted on March 29, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

It’s World Piano Day.  I didn’t know it was a thing.  My parents had an organ I played with terribly and I had a keyboard that I was bad at.  Still, it’s a very popular and integral instrument, so I think it deserves a holiday.  (Images from Google Image Search.)

Okay.  Here’s a serious and amazing one.  The pianist is named Henri Herbert.

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Goal Post: Couldn’t Even Get an A for Influenza

Posted on March 28, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

As you can guess from the title, my week didn’t go as planned.  I was a little congested last Friday and had a sore throat all weekend.  Runny nose, cough, and watery eyes too, which made me think allergies.  It wasn’t until Monday when I heard a coworker had the same symptoms that I realized something was wrong.  No fever or chills, but it ended up being Influenza B.  Story of my life that I can’t even get an A in a disease.  Anyway, I’m still worn down, but I was able to go back to work on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to take full advantage of having two days off from work.  The cough medicine had me dizzy and sleepy, so I couldn’t focus on the notebook to make any Phi Beta progress.  There were blips of time when I was able to hop onto my computer and prepare a June post though.  So, that entire month is done.  Not a glorious victory, but it’s something.  Meant I wasn’t wasting all of my recovery time lying in bed and watching the last season of ‘Brooklyn 99’.

Similar to when I was in the hospital, my brain figured out a few future story ideas when at full exhaustion.  So, I forgot them.  All I remember is that I came close to figuring out ‘Coven of the Gray’ and ‘Lords of Hyperscape’.  Almost had an epiphany on the alien bounty hunter landing on Windemere series.  It would have been nice to figure it out, but at least the ideas on somewhere in my head.  With cold weather and low energy, I might really try to finish up ‘Phi Beta Files’.  That way, I can enter Spring Break tinkering with a brand new story idea.

Speaking of Spring Break, that’s going to start on Thursday.  Although, I have a thing going on Wednesday, so my break kind of starts early.  It’s kind of related to my son getting pulled from the Disney Trip among other situations.  Really wish I could go into details, but that could cause trouble.  My hope is that actions that hurt my son can be stopped and prevented in the future.  It’s not going to be over this coming week, but it’s a first step.  Funny going into the first night of Passover with this, especially since I’m going to get pizza after I’m done.  I’ll need my comfort food even it goes well because I’m really stressed out.

Another thing I have to decide on is if I’m going to make new posts for M/W/F in July and August.  Last summer, I chose old posts that newer followers might not have seen.  It seemed popular and gave me a big window to get others ready.  That and I liked seeing how far I’ve come.  Only issue is that I don’t really know, which posts I should revive besides them having to be writing related.  No ye olde shoppe, animal, or goofy posts will be used because I want them to be informative.  Come to think of it, I think I’m going to start writing Darwin & the Deadland Queen over the summer.  I should probably take time over Spring Break to go over the outline and get that ready.  Hard to focus with that Wednesday thing coming.

Oh yeah, I need to do some preliminary packing for a father/son trip.  I can’t do anything in regards to clothes and most toiletries, but I want to start.  That way, I don’t have to scramble at the last minute and risk missing something.  There are a handful of toiletries and CPAP supplies that I can pack away, which is something.  Need to rework the CD collection in the car too because I have a set of old Rock N Roll songs that I’ve been saving for this trip.  3 CDS of classics, which weren’t labeled as that when I was a kid.  Should be fun though.

Only other thing going on is watching TV since I was recovering.  Managed a few Pokemon outings at a slow pace, but I’m taking it easy.  Working my way through a fun anime about a guy who is playing a VR game and unlocks as a special quest.  It isn’t an Isekai like I thought it would be, so it’s a nice change.  Not sure what I’m going to watch after this though.  Only live action show I have on my list right now is ‘Black Sails’, which I watched long ago.  I think I need more fantastical whimsy and less dark drama though with everything going on.  Maybe I give one of the weirder comedy anime a try.

Goals of the week:

  1. Rest up for Wednesday encounter.
  2. Preliminary packing for trip.
  3. Work on ‘Phi Beta Files’.
  4. Time with son when he’s here.
  5. Lego time when need a screen break.
  6. Passover on Wednesday.
  7. Have pizza before Passover starts.
  8. Set up trip activities.
  9. Rest.
  10. Prepare July posts if anything comes to mind.  (Should I re-post some of the old animal ones on Sundays?)
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Where Did You Come From?

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Wreck It Ralph

Villain 1– “I have come to your world to-”

Villain 2– “It’s not my world.”

V1– “Oh . . . I didn’t mean you own it. Just a figure of speech from where I’m from. I’m not from around here.”

V2– “Seems obvious after you stepped out of a portal. Am I supposed to be your minion now?”

V1– “I think that’s how this goes. I’m fairly new to this. Back home, I worked a job that filled with me unbridled rage.”

V2– “We have customer service jobs here too. Look, I’ve been trying to conquer this place for a long time. I’d rather not being a minion.”

V1– “What about a partnership?”

V2– “Villain alliances always fall apart due to betrayal. Didn’t you pay attention when we did that topic?”

V1– “I was too busy dying and being reincarnated. So, I guess we’ll be rivals. Our enemies can handle two big bads.”

V2– “This isn’t really fair since you’re going to have enormous power to make up for your pathetic life back in your world.”

V1– “Harsh, but true. I can feel magic coursing through my veins already. What is to stop me from killing you and taking over your army?”

V2– “Got no army.”

V1– “Your kingdom.”

V2– “Got no kingdom.”

V1– “Powerful weapons.”

V2– “They’ve been backordered.”

V1– “That . . . Wait . . . How would you know that world?”

V2– “No reason . . . Fine, I was brought over several years ago too.  There’s another guy who showed up before me, but he’s too busy playing mad scientist.  The woman before him is creating a harem on some island.  Not sure what the twenty before her are up to.”

V1– “24 summoned villains?”

V2– “I don’t think they meant for us to be villains, but that’s what they got.”

V1– “So, who are our enemies?”

V2– “We don’t have any unless we mess with each other, but that gets boring since we all have the same incredible powers.”

V1– “This sounds really boring. What do you guys do?”

V2– “Wait for real heroes to show up.  There’s a monthly meeting to see if anybody has seen anything.  Sorry.”

V1– “This sucks.”

V2– “At least you aren’t working customer service anymore.”

V1– “Good point.”

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Poetry Day: The Great Hoarder

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Smaug

(Nope.  It’s not really about a fictional monster.  I really had some social commentary when writing some of these.  Not that it matters.)

Surrounded by wealth
And extravagance
He sits in his castle
Never needing
But always wanting
While his brethren
Starve and scramble for life

 

He has more wealth
Than one man needs
Earned through work
And thought
Yet more he gathers
To fill his stash
That could solve a hundred problems

 

On nights he leaves
To hit the town
Indulging his own vanity
Buying shiny baubles
And the newest toys
Followed by the obsessed
And reveling in the lights

 

Yet he is not truly loved
By those that starve
And wish to take his place
He becomes a symbol
Of the enemy
As the world rots
And starves to death

 

Times are getting troubled
He refuses to aid
And risk a drop in wealth
He continues to rise
While his brethren fall
Pleading for help
And being denied

 

He earned his way
The system is his friend
It is not his fault
That he succeeded
Where others failed
A bevy of excuses
Of why he should not be a villain

 

What will the Great Hoarder do
When the system crumbles
When the wealth he has
Is no longer coveted
Becoming a worthless stash
Symbols of a dead regime
That placed a price on living

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7 Tips to Villains From Other Worlds

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Tanya the Evil

While this is a niche character type, there are probably some tips to making it work.  I mean, advice on any subject is helpful, right?  We’ll see how this goes because 7 might be hefty challenge on this one.  Wish me luck.

  1. If you want the villain’s origin to be a surprise then you have to make sure they come off as a local.  The clothing has to be from that world.  The way they talk and their knowledge needs to be near perfect.  I say near because there should be some subtle hint that there is something off.  This way, the reveal has impact.
  2. In regards to the hint, I don’t mean to make it clear they are from another world.  I mean to have there be a sign that they are hiding something.  This is done for all kinds of secret origins, powers, and plans.  Maybe they get flustered in a certain situation or there is an aspect of the world they hate more than one would expect.  For example, the character could really despise a certain food that’s popular, which wouldn’t raise many eyebrows.  Yet, you learn it reminds them of the only food their mother gave them back in their world and they have issues.  Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be that silly.
  3. Having them act superior to the locals isn’t necessary, but it would make sense given they are a villain.  This works primarily with a character who is out to destroy or conquer.  If they come from a world of technology then they could easily see magic as inferior, which is different than a hero who sees it is as equal or better.  It doesn’t have to be blatant either.  Perhaps it could be a simple coldness towards the fate of the locals as if they are tools or not even real.
  4. The moment the reveal is made does NOT mean you suddenly introduce a bunch of other world tech.  One will wonder why the villain was keeping all of the weapons and advancements a secret.  You could solve this by saying they were designing everything prior to the reveal, but that can bring up another question.  Why would they be a clear villain if they didn’t have their superior armory ready?  Each item needs an explanation for its existence too because you can’t just have computers appearing in a magical world.
  5. A question can come up on if other characters know this secret before the reveal.  It depends on the situation though.  Having secondary villains makes sense if they see the main one as a deity or superior.  They might want access to the tech too.  On the other end of the spectrum is them learning the truth and seeing their ally/leader as an outsider.  I would say the level of xenophobia in the villain ranks will be a big deciding factor here.
  6. Not every villain from another world knows how to build a nuclear bomb . . . or even a firearm.
  7. The way they came to the new world should be considered and can be a key factor in them going evil.  If they were died and then reincarnated then they may be traumatized by remembering their own demise.  This could lead them to believe the new world is fake and they’re dreaming while in a coma.  Those that are simply plucked and transported may decide they are chosen to be gods or kings, which could tie into them having no power in their previous life.
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Guest Post – Luanne Castle’s New Release – Scrap Salvaging a Family

Posted on March 25, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

I am pleased to introduce you to Luanne Castle’s latest book – Scrap Salvaging a Family. Luanne writes beautiful, award-winning poetry and has now …

Guest Post – Luanne Castle’s New Release – Scrap Salvaging a Family
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Teaser Tuesday: Mad Scientist of Shayd

Posted on March 24, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Surprisingly, I found a once used teaser from Legends of Windemere: Warlord of the Forgotten Age.  It involved Nyder, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt to skip the origins for a week and post this related one.

Nyder Fortune by Kayla Matt

Continue reading →

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Villain From Another World

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Terenezza Hopkins from ‘May I Ask For One Final Thing?’

I’ve talked quite a few times about heroes who come from another world.  This is the whole ‘Isekai’ genre where a normal person from our world is either transported or reincarnated into a magical one.  Something I stumbled onto a few months ago was the same thing happening with a villain.  Not always with them being the main character either, but that can happen.

So, the concept is that the protagonist is up against a villain who has been brought over from another world.  Like an Isekai hero, this enemy possesses enhanced powers and special traits, which makes them a challenging threat.  This requires the hero born in the world needs to grow stronger in a way that matches this person who has basically been given cheat codes.  It ends up being done without them either knowing or understanding the full situation until later.  After all, the villain doesn’t typically walk around shouting they are from another world.

The odd thing is that the reader can swiftly notice something is off even if the villain isn’t revealed as being from elsewhere.  It really depends on the author being subtle or not since it can be covered fairly easily.  Yet, I notice it’s more common to have this Isekai’d villain act superior and dismissive to nearly everyone in the world.  While a hero in their position is stronger and tries to be inclusive, the villain seems to use their strength as a reason to be openly egotistical.  This ends up being done even when they are losing and have yet to demonstrate their power.  I guess this shows part of their villain mentality is to think they are automatically better while heroes know they have to learn about their new world.

A villain from another world has a big challenge with the reveal.  You need to make them appear to be from the new world while still having a few hints that there’s something a little weird.  Otherwise, the reveal either feels like a last minute decision or it falls flat due to being obvious.  There’s always the decision to make uncovering where this person came from as part of the story.  I think that would clear things up because you start off knowing they appeared out of nowhere, but not necessarily Earth.  Means you’re preparing people for a reveal without exposing too much.

One thing I like about this concept is that it can allow the villain to be ignorant of the world they are in.  It makes one wonder why they want to conquer or destroy, which can boil down to them simply hating where they are.  This also means their ignorance is entirely by choice.  With heroes, they are lacking in knowledge and go out of their way to learn everything.  A villain is more likely to not care about anything that doesn’t pertain to their goals, which results in an information gap.  Given them being extremely powerful, this is where a weak point can be created.

I don’t know if I’ll ever use this type of villain even though it’s intriguing.  There is a plan to show there is a connection between Earth and Windemere, but I’m still not 100% certain I want to do it.  At least not overtly because I think two future characters still need to have this origin.  Anyway, I don’t really want to try a villain like this because it doesn’t feel right for my world.  This type of antagonist really needs to be handled a certain way and with a world that focuses on them.  Otherwise, they’re going to lose some of their specialness because there are other villains from that world.  Maybe I’m looking at it wrong though.

What do other people think of villains coming from another world?

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International Goof Off Day

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Google Image Search

I found this a surprising holiday since I know most adults refuse to openly goof off.  We really are a weird species if we have a holiday specifically to remind people to have fun and be silly.  Doesn’t sound like we normally live a healthy life to me.  For today, I’ll be enjoying time with my son.  That means Pokemon Go, cartoons, and watching him get into trouble in a video game.  It’s a one-player and my entertainment is him blindly walking into areas with 95% confidence and 5% prep.  Sometimes I work on a puzzle when he’s playing.  If my son wasn’t here, it would be Pokemon Go, writing, and other things depending on the weather.

I’ll admit that I don’t know if all or any of that counts as goofing off.  Silliness does ensue as long as stress isn’t high.

What do other people do to goof off?

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