The Conflict Communications Manual is out to the first readers. Waiting on their feedback, and then the usual boring stuff and the book will be available. ConCom's big. I don't think I can overstate how big it is-- a functional taxonomy of all conflict-- but I feel a little animal screaming in the back of my head to not make it available. The deep parts of your brain, and mine, fears change. Especially profound and unpredictable change.
So... I need another writing project. It would be entirely too easy to vegetate right now.
The stuff on the table:
Principles-- A manual of the things that make other things work. Those principles of physics or geometry or mindset that apply to all techniques. This has been written for a long time, but it would need a lot more work, and pictures. Working with pictures and photographers is always a pain in the ass. Can someone genetically engineer a photographer who isn't flakey?
Concepts-- Experienced fighters don't think the way that other people do. There is an entirely different way of looking at the world. This might not be long enough for a real book.
Principles and Concepts-- Combine the above two.
Teaching Cops-- A manual on how to teach pros: cops, soldiers and operators. Will set some people off because, frankly, most people shouldn't. It's a waste of everybody's time. But if you have the right stuff or intend to do it anyway there are a bunch of things you need to know: rules and tools, paperwork, vernacular and how not to be a dick to a relatively tough audience.
Awareness-- Want to write it, but, frankly, Terry Trahan would do a better job, so I'm giving him a year to finish. So I can't write this one. Yet.
FICTION-
My lovely wife got me writing fiction some time ago and I quit about the time I became a sergeant... but there's some stuff floating around.
Godbox-- your typical science-fiction cowboy medical mystery.
Scars-- working title. Hard to describe.
Short Stories.
So, what would you like to see out next? I'm blatantly using you for motivation. Which will it be? Or something completely different?
All of the non=-fiction stuff sounds good. I'd be interested in seeing what you can do in the short story arena.
ReplyDeleteMy girlfriend says that she would love to make pictures for you and claims to be non-flakey ;)
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note: principles looked really interesting, so if you can get a good photographer/nice scenary/good actors that would be my first choice by far. Probably most useful for a broader target group as well (maybe except awareness). It sounds like annoying work in parts, so you should probably kill that first anyway, just for the habit.
If you can't get a setup to do that in the way you want it:
Teaching Cops. Probably another book like Scaling Force that is mostly not read by the "right" audience but I'm sure some people could make much use of it. And it sounds like you could finish it relativly fast.
And however you decide, if you are considering fiction because it is fun - why not go for it as a side project?
Best wishes
Thomas M.
PS: I had to deal with too much other stuff in the last couple weeks but you can ecxpect an email from me soon.
I vote for Principles.
ReplyDeleteMike
http://kristensphoto.com/
ReplyDeleteThis gal is in the Seattle area, and does a lot of action shots for BJJ tournaments, etc. She might be an option for you.
Principles+Concepts
ReplyDeleteand\or
Typical sci-fi cowboy medical drama.
https://www.facebook.com/AlegnaFoto
ReplyDeleteAnd here's another Seattle-area photog. She is a karate black belt and BJJ brown belt, so I'm guess "flaky" probably doesn't apply.
Message received. You got it boss.
ReplyDeleteT
Writing some fiction will allow you to explore negative capability--to obliterate your self and instead inhabit the minds of your characters for a while.
ReplyDeleteI think a book on principles would be great. Its a subject with very little documentation dedicated to it.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of Teaching Cops. I also like the idea of seeing you go in an unusual direction, and write fiction. Push into something a bit out of the comfort zone...
ReplyDeletePersonally Principles and Concepts.
ReplyDeleteObviously do what helps keep you fresh! ;)
Vote here for Principles & Concepts.
ReplyDeletePrinciples and Concepts - that would be extremely useful, I think. This is the kind of book thats missing from the market. Everyone is trying to sell their own system, as you wrote many times, most teach what worked for THEM. But to be successful, you need to create what works for you. This would be a great asset for that, methinks.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved your short stories, even when you were a kid. At least a couple of shorts as mental gymnastics would be fun.
ReplyDeleteI just watched "Gymkata" a really horrible '80's martial arts meets gymnastics movie - you should write a screen play.
Principles.
ReplyDeletePrinciples, Concepts, or the combo of the two.
ReplyDeleteAwareness would be neat as well. Not enough written on that subject.
Personally, I don't teach cops, so not much interest in that subject. I'd probably read it anyway, but just as an academic exercise.
Principles would be my choice, I find things much easier to get a grip of if I can grasp the underlying patterns and rules. I have recently been reading Martina Sprague's Fighting Science, which is interesting but I think you would bring some quite different insights to the topic, Particularly from a self defence angle as much of FS seems aimed at sport fighting. Kind of want to see what your short fiction and Sci-fi stories are like though.
ReplyDeleteI want the Principles & Concepts book as companion piece to the Drills book.
ReplyDeleteBut, the teaching cops book might be more relevant and needed. Though! How to teach cops might not be as important as what to teach them.
The catch 22 of power & authority; those that seek it, depending on the reason, might not be the ones worthy of having it. How do you build team cohesion without building in some othering dynamics of 'us' vs 'them'?
Concept/Mindset of the professional and what should it be? Reality vs the ideal? Also, the goals & mindset that is need for the different roles & jobs changes: Patrol vs Detective vs Jailer?
Is there anything that can't be taught to the general public in defense of their own safty? I'm for the oldtime definition of Militia; i.e., an armed populous responsible for it's own defense & protection. I don't think we should be abdicating our responsibility for our own protection.
So, what should the role of the Police be? Protection? Prevention? Investigation? Referee?
Rory, we are always talking about the myth building within MA but what about all the Myth building within Police/Federal Departments/Agencies or even the Military.
You talk about the Warior label isn't that just an other way of justifing ourselves and what we do to the world... well for those that claim the label.
Hmmm...
Josh
All of it. Write all of it. :)
ReplyDeleteTeaching Cops.
ReplyDeleteRory,
ReplyDeleteJust so we are clear, my reply here wasn't just in response to this post but to something you said in 'Martial Mistakes' too.
"Some of it is on the teaching end, and some of that is on the learning end, and some is in the culture." – Rory
I feel that a lot of what you point out can be applied across the board not just to MA training.
As always my 2 cents,
Josh
My vote:
ReplyDeletePrinciples and concepts and scars. Principles and concepts sounds like an extremely useful setup for us non-pro's(yeah, I know, I'm selfish)and scars sounds cool and mysterious. Just my two cents.
I vote principles and concepts.
ReplyDeleteI want a DVD on your drills and running scenarios. I want a comic book based on masked hero that uses violence dynamics.
ReplyDeleteRory, what about domestic violence and abuse ?
ReplyDeletePrinciples and Concepts then Awareness.
ReplyDeleteActually, you could do a book on all those topics.
ReplyDeleteMiriam- No way am I qualified, and that subject is far too important to have people guessing on.
ReplyDeletePrinciples & Concepts gets my vote. I really Like Josh K.'s idea of both differences in mindset as well as the creation of myth within the Police/Military community.
ReplyDeleteAlso, that "Gymkata" line from Molly was an epiphany.
http://mst3k.wikia.com/wiki/Hercules_Against_the_Moon_Men
I had always wondered what the heck they were making fun of when they screamed "GYMKATA!" at some of their movies but always forgot to look into it. Makes so much more sense now.
Principles + Concepts
ReplyDeleteNon-fiction intrigues me, I wonder what of your life experiences would get wound up into that one!
ReplyDeleteThis isn't on your list, but a general book on the prison system and your experiences as a guard would be fascinating--you've sometimes used them as examples in your books, but I suspect you have more to say. What goes on day to day, the prison culture, gangs in prison, how to stay out of trouble as an inmate, memorable characters, all that kind of thing. Like many people who have so far managed to stay out of trouble, I find the subject of considerable interest.
ReplyDeletePrinciples and Concepts sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteWhy don't do a fictional novel about what Mr. Paul Kirchner commented. Maybe a Story about a jailer and/or an inmate? We learn quite a lot by reading/listening stories. Could give great insights.
ReplyDeleteregards, Alex