Ben Wilson, Author

10 March 2024

Setting the Clock Back, and TravellerCon

It was just a week ago I said I was going to use Ubuntu on Dell XPS as a daily driver for 30 days. Seven days in, I’m already pivoting. There were petty annoyances, such as the scroll direction never complying with my wishes or being inconsistently applied. What’s the pivot? I’m going to use Windows 11 with WSL Linux. This will have me using the Windows UI, but dipping into Linux for the parts that matter. I can also...
Setting the Clock Back, and TravellerCon
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3 March 2024

Rotting Apple, Rising Penguin?

Most of my aware life involved computers. My dad had Pong when I was six. I had an Atari at 8, and by 12 I was enmeshed in the Commodore family. I grudgingly used Windows until I got out of the Army in 1999. As soon as I could, I switched to Linux. Even in law school, I sported a Linux-powered laptop (Gentoo). That changed when in 2009 I adopted Apple. I wanted to use Scrivener to write novels, and...
Rotting Apple, Rising Penguin?
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31 December 2023

Three Words for 2024: Focus. Faith. Fitness...and Hey!

I do most of my goal-setting in October. What follows is my reflection on those goals and a revision to my plan to complete said goals. In 2013 and 2016, I used the “three word” concept to define what I hoped to accomplish over that year. In 2013, it was “write. right. lead.” The three were intwined and focused on being a better father and writer. In 2016, it was “write. restore. realign.” This spoke to my need to stop...
Three Words for 2024: Focus. Faith. Fitness...and Hey!
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25 December 2023

The Great Fruitcake

There are few who are still living who were there for the revelation of the Great Fruitcake. Whilst debating with an evolutionist who said the Universe came into existence on its own from a dense hydrogen mass, the revelation came to me. Now I pass this to you. A hunk of the Great Fruitcake. Photo by Ben Wilson
The Great Fruitcake
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23 December 2023

2023: Year in Review

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! One thing I’ve done over the past couple of years is a scheduled update. Today is the day! Of all the Christmases, this one feels quite a bit un-Christmas-y. With all that has gone on—or not gone on—I thought an out-of-cycle year-in-review is in order. “Out of cycle?! It’s December!” Yes, my friend, out-of-cycle. I do my annual planning in October, which is coincidentally both the beginning of the US Government Fiscal Year...
2023: Year in Review
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11 November 2023

20Books Vegas 2023: the Day After

was in Las Vegas this past week attending the last-ever 20 Books Vegas. Started in 2017, this conference inspired thousands of writers around the world. This was my third such conference, and the last. The primary show runner, Craig Martelle, went out on a high note and passed the mantel. To be honest, this year lacked the energy of the prior two years.
20Books Vegas 2023: the Day After
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8 October 2023

Why I use Basecamp as an Author

As a writer, juggling multiple tasks is part of the game. From brainstorming ideas to engaging with my community, there’s a lot on my plate. That’s where Basecamp comes in. This all-in-one tool has become my go-to for managing my writer’s business. Here’s why.
Why I use Basecamp as an Author
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2 October 2023

Back in the Saddle: My Return to Writing

Hello, everyone! If you’ve been following my journey, you know that I hit the pause button on my writing for about six months. It wasn’t an easy decision, but sometimes life throws curveballs that you just can’t ignore. Between work, family, and programming Verkilo, my plate was full. But guess what? I’m back, and I couldn’t be more excited to pick up where I left off.
Back in the Saddle: My Return to Writing
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30 September 2023

Back in the Saddle: My Return to Writing

Hello, everyone! If you’ve been following my journey, you know that I hit the pause button on my writing for about six months. It wasn’t an easy decision, but sometimes life throws curveballs that you just can’t ignore. Between work, family, and programming Verkilo, my plate was full. But guess what? I’m back, and I couldn’t be more excited to pick up where I left off.
Back in the Saddle: My Return to Writing
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28 September 2023

Returning to Writing Ameliorate

Last month, I mentioned a pivot toward writing software. The problem with someone like me is that I have many interests and want to pursue them all at once. I managed to timebox my software venture to six months, April to October. I hit a good stopping point a couple weeks ago on the software project. This week, I returned to my current work-in-progress Ameliorate. This is the first of the Naval Quartet, following the adventures of Ambrose Litovio after...
Returning to Writing Ameliorate
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21 August 2023

A Classic Western Heartbeat for August

I’m back with another update, released about every six weeks.  I read something this Summer that coaxed me to start watching classic westerns. Stepping back into the 1930s with classic westerns, I’ve discovered a treasure trove of inspiration. These films, raw and unrefined like home movies, carry a charm that echoes the spirit of self-publishing. In an era shaped by the Hay’s Code, storytellers had to craft wholesome entertainment. This challenge resonates with me as I write my science fiction...
A Classic Western Heartbeat for August
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