This is the Hello World1 for my blog. If only were it as quick to write (and read) as the traditional Hello World example.
While I have blogged in the past, I’m looking at Inferior Musings from a different perspective. My previous writing has almost entirely been technical. That’s a function of my background. I write computer programs.
I feel like I should wait for a reply like I’m in an AA meeting.
For over 40 years, I have been working in the computer programming field. For 30 of those years, I have been a consultant. I worked for over a hundred different clients in many fields. I have spoken at conferences and meetings hundreds of times.
I also got started writing professionally in the computer field. Keep in mind, I’m defining ‘professional writer’ as someone who receives money for what they write. In that strict definition, I’m a professional. My definition says nothing about how much I actually received for my output. Spoiler: not much.
I have written dozens of columns and articles related to computer application development. And I have authored around ten books that made it to publication. I hate to think about how many hours of effort that entailed, but I suspect it’s probably getting close to the magic ten thousand threshold. It’s a shame that the threshold doesn’t mean exactly what people think, or hope, it means.
But let’s put all that aside. This blog is not about that career. That career is winding down. Right now, I’m standing at the start of a road (or edge of a precipice) leading to a new chapter. I recently finished the first draft of a novel. First time I’ve ever written fiction, so that was a learning process. I have started on the editing phases, and I hope to get it published in 2022. Beyond that, I have ideas in different stages of development for three additional novels. With luck, I will publish them over the next two years.
Writing is not the only new journey on which I’m embarking. The second journey is physical. Starting at the end of January, I plan on spending the next few years Airbnb-ing around the world. Find an interesting place, get a reasonably priced Airbnb, and spend four to six weeks there. Time enough to get familiar with the city and culture. Then I’ll pick the next destination, rinse, and repeat.
I expect my Twitter feed (and my Instagram feed once I set that up) will contain several images from where I’m living. If only so that I can remember where I’ve been.
Along with the visual content, I’ll write posts about not just where I am, but also what it’s like to travel this regularly. Being a digital nomad, that is. In the time of COVID, it should be an interesting way to go. By the way, I’m doubly vaccinated and boostered. In my head, that should smooth some of the rough edges of border crossings. Reality might not meet my expectations.
Anyway, that’s what I’m going for with this blog and website. It may find an audience at some point. Or it may not. But it also fills my need to write. At least write in a manner that gets to ‘published’ sooner than a novel.
1‘Hello World’ is a geeky reference from my career. It refers to a simple example of a computer program that demonstrates some very basic functionality. Just so you know I didn’t make it up: “Hello, World!” program – Wikipedia