Bradley Writes
Writing
We all make mistakes
May 05, 2023
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“We all make mistakes,” Marr said after further reflection. “We get distracted. Do stupid things when we lose sight of what is important. The point is that it didn’t go to completion.”
   “What stopped you?”
   “I remembered what was at stake. Having sex with Craig last night would potentially destroy what I had already built with Dukk. I would be going backwards.”
   “What if it turned out better than what you have with Dukk?”
   “Unlikely,” Marr laughed. “But throwing away what you have, for the hope that what you get is better, doesn’t work in the long term.”
   “Why?”
   “Because you aren’t building on what you have. You are starting over each time.”
   “Doesn’t it get boring?”
   “What is boring, really? What causes it?”
   “The same old, day in, day out.”
   “Is everything you do new every time? Do you do the same things ever?”
   “Of course, all the time.”
   “Why?”
   “Sense of comfort in some level of stability.”
   “Are those activities boring?”
   “No, not at all.”
   “And is the intimate time with Craig boring.”
   “Well, no, we have lots of mind-blowing sex.”
   “So, what is the problem?”
   “It is hard at times being with Craig. He gets grumpy. I get grumpy too. You know how it goes. It gets difficult.”
   “Is what you are saying is that it is much easier just to avoid that? And instead to flirt and play?”
   “Yes”
   “So, you have gone through some tough moments together.”
   “Yep.”
   “What happened when you did?”
   “It was great. Things got easier for a time. The sex that followed was great too.”
   “So perhaps boredom is just avoidance of what is hard, but worthwhile?”
   “Interesting. You are starting to sound like Tieanna. Except I’ve never spoken about sex with her. It just felt weird to talk about Craig around her.”
 
Marr gave that a moment then continued.
   “What is needed here?”
   “Stop having sex with others and see if that works?”
   “Is that something you want?”
   “Yes.”
   “What is in the way of you trying that?”
   “I fear getting hurt even more. And Craig wouldn’t do it.”
   “Are you sure of that?”
   “No.”
   “What could you do?”
   “I could suggest it to him.”


Excerpt from Rule of Twelve, Book 2 - Convergence, Chapter 15

 

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Rule of Twelve books to be narrated with the help of A.I.

I am investing in A.I. driven narration to bring the Rule of Twelve books to life.

It will be more than just narration in the traditional audio book sense. The A.I. will enable me to bring dialogue to life with character specific voices. This will create a rich and engaging narration.

Over the coming months I will be in catch-up mode, building the narration for already published material. Eventually, the aim will be to concurrently release chapters in both written and rich narrative form.

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I look forward to sharing the journey with you.

Bradley.

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Rule of Twelve, Book 2, Convergence

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Rule of Twelve, Book 1, Double Take

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Psychological Safety is a trojan horse

Marr nodded with a wink as she put her hands on the back of Luna’s chair and started to speak.

   “Emeelie, what if I have a room with a single door and I put you in it. The door isn’t locked, and you can leave at any time. The room represents a life experience. Now what if I dropped a lion into the room. What would happen?”

   “All things being equal, eventually the lion would get hungry and want to eat me.”

   “What are your options?”

   “Obviously I would leave via the door, immediately,” Emeelie answered.

   The others laughed.

   “Sure, and every other time a lion is dropped into the room you are in, you’d leave too?”

   “Yes,” Emeelie said with a hint of hesitation.

    “What if there was a possibility that a lion might be dropped into every room, from that moment on. How would your experience of life pan out?”

   “Dreadful. Limited. I wouldn’t be able to stay or even enter any room.”

   “Right. You’d spend your time running out of every room and miss every potential experience.”

   “Ok.”

   “What if I put a chain on the lion and anchor it to the wall?”

   “That would work. I would be able to enter the room again.”

   “Right. So, the lion would need to be chained down for every room you may enter.”

   “Great.”

   “This is the trojan horse.”

   “How?”

   “If I am controlling the lion with chains, I am controlling you.”

   “What! How?”

   “I can choose to use chains or not. I can determine which room you can enter and which you cannot. Your potential for life experiences is controlled by me. You allow yourself to be the victim.”

   “Of the lion’s hunger?”

   “No, my will. You are allowing me to depower you.”

   “Oh.”

   “Yes, oh. Your safety becomes dependent on me or somebody else putting chains on every lion.”

   “Not good.”

   “No. What else could you do that leaves you empowered, but not eaten.”

   “I could learn to defend myself against the lion.”

   “Yes, or even tame it. Put chains on it yourself, so to speak. That way you could go into any room you like, regardless of whether there is a lion in there or not. You’d be safe without anyone else’s intervention. You’d stay empowered. You would experience life to its fullest.”

   “So psychological safety is a trojan horse. It puts my safety in the hands of a third party. It depowers. It turns people into victims.”

    Marr nodded and smiled.

 

-------

Excerpt from Rule of Twelve, Book 3 - Regeneration, Chapter 17

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Rule of Twelve, Book 3, Chapter 13
Regeneration - Power

 

1

 

Dukk opened his eyes. It was dark.

   “A dream. It must have been a dream,” he muttered as he tried to fathom where he was. He tried to digest the pre-dawn excursion with Craig.

   He swung himself out of bed. Marr was gone.

   He checked the time. Mid-afternoon.

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Rule of Twelve, Book 3, Chapter 12
Regeneration - New ground

 

1

 

“What in the world is going on?” Craig demanded as the doors to the south banqueting hall, closed behind them.

   Dukk, Marr and Emeelie stood before him. Beyond was the atrium bathed in orange light from the setting sun.

   On the opposite side of the atrium the doors to the north banqueting hall were open. Music and chatter could be heard from within.

   The noise from the others disguised the deathly silence that engulfed the four.

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