Charleston Lim's Blog
August 28, 2025
I’m thinking of a word
There is this quirk that I have, which I think may be unique to me and a handful of people. When I encounter a new word, I get really hung up on that word, its meaning, its entomology, how it is used, was used, how it can be used in my own work.
A few days ago, I encountered the word “Vestigial”.
adjective: vestigial
forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.
"he felt a vestigial flicker of anger from last night"
Biology
(of an organ or part of the body) degenerate, rudimentary, or atrophied, having become functionless in the course of evolution.
"the vestigial wings of kiwis are entirely hidden"
It’s a very interesting word. The first recorded usage of the word was in 1841. I would assume the word was used in a biological context. The word was based on the latin Vistigium, which meant to walk or walk a path.
Basically the word now describes something remaining as the last small part of something that existed before. Like a remnant. Describing the word like this evokes a lot of curiosity and emotion for me.
Something that was once prominent, but is now insignificant or useless. Like past relationships, loves, feelings, events, and memories. Vestigial memories, vestigial love. It’s such a powerful adjective to describe something that was once integral, but now atrophied and insignificant.
Something that has been made functionless as we move through time, as we symbolically evolve and change through different stages in our lives.
A few days ago, I encountered the word “Vestigial”.
adjective: vestigial
forming a very small remnant of something that was once much larger or more noticeable.
"he felt a vestigial flicker of anger from last night"
Biology
(of an organ or part of the body) degenerate, rudimentary, or atrophied, having become functionless in the course of evolution.
"the vestigial wings of kiwis are entirely hidden"
It’s a very interesting word. The first recorded usage of the word was in 1841. I would assume the word was used in a biological context. The word was based on the latin Vistigium, which meant to walk or walk a path.
Basically the word now describes something remaining as the last small part of something that existed before. Like a remnant. Describing the word like this evokes a lot of curiosity and emotion for me.
Something that was once prominent, but is now insignificant or useless. Like past relationships, loves, feelings, events, and memories. Vestigial memories, vestigial love. It’s such a powerful adjective to describe something that was once integral, but now atrophied and insignificant.
Something that has been made functionless as we move through time, as we symbolically evolve and change through different stages in our lives.
April 17, 2025
The joy of just putting it on paper
I find immense joy in the process of just putting my thoughts on paper. It slows down my otherwise lightspeed thinking process, allowing me to really feel every word and idea. I don't know if it's just me, but I typically think about multiple varied things and at times get totally burned out, even if I am just sitting and doing practically nothing.
It's easy to just sit and do nothing, not so much to just sit and think of nothing.
Whether or not someone reads what I write is secondary. But if I do have something that excites me, I do wish for someone out there to become as excited when they read what I've put down. I guess that's just how writing works, a form of telepathy, not just for words, but for ideas and emotions.
It's easy to just sit and do nothing, not so much to just sit and think of nothing.
Whether or not someone reads what I write is secondary. But if I do have something that excites me, I do wish for someone out there to become as excited when they read what I've put down. I guess that's just how writing works, a form of telepathy, not just for words, but for ideas and emotions.
March 4, 2025
Self-publishing my first book.
Reaching this milestone has been an incredible journey. Each time I faced what seemed like insurmountable challenges—such as wrestling with the intricacies of a functional table of contents—I fought my way back. Motivated myself to keep going. Despite everything, I thoroughly enjoyed the process and am overjoyed to finally share my ideas with anyone intrigued enough to explore my ramblings.
I had this idea for the book in my mind for such a long time. I wanted to just put it on paper or keyboard, but life got in the way. Long story short, I was in between jobs and just decided to go for it. Pull the trigger. Take the plunge. Putting those ideas on paper was the easy and enjoyable part. Editing the thing myself, rereading my writings over and over again, making a cover, applying for an ISBN, creating accounts—those were challenging. But they were part of the process, and I had to learn how to do them. I wasn't good at those things, but I tried my best.
Where I am located was one of my greatest handicaps. I had difficulty in finding beta-readers for one. My circle of friends preferred movies and video games, and it was a pain to get even one person to read a chapter or two. In most countries, science fiction ideas were welcomed by the masses—where I am, not so much. Also, don't get me started on the shipping restrictions just to get an author's copy.
At the end of the day, all of it—the pleasure and the pain—was worth it. For anyone with an idea, a concept, a story, my message for you is to just write it down. Type it on a notepad. Save it. Come back to it from time to time if it's impossible for you to sit down and work on your story for longer periods. Just slowly build it. Pour your thoughts onto that keyboard or sheet of paper. Worry about editing, grammar, and spelling mistakes later. You will realize that it's completely different when you are able to read your ideas compared to when you are just thinking about them. It will either make a lot of sense or it won't and that's ok. You are the master of the world you are creating. You can change anything on a whim. So, just go for it. Create that world. Create those people. We are uniquely the only species on this planet that is capable of creating worlds and then projecting those worlds into other people's heads using just our words. So use that capability. Use those words.
I had this idea for the book in my mind for such a long time. I wanted to just put it on paper or keyboard, but life got in the way. Long story short, I was in between jobs and just decided to go for it. Pull the trigger. Take the plunge. Putting those ideas on paper was the easy and enjoyable part. Editing the thing myself, rereading my writings over and over again, making a cover, applying for an ISBN, creating accounts—those were challenging. But they were part of the process, and I had to learn how to do them. I wasn't good at those things, but I tried my best.
Where I am located was one of my greatest handicaps. I had difficulty in finding beta-readers for one. My circle of friends preferred movies and video games, and it was a pain to get even one person to read a chapter or two. In most countries, science fiction ideas were welcomed by the masses—where I am, not so much. Also, don't get me started on the shipping restrictions just to get an author's copy.
At the end of the day, all of it—the pleasure and the pain—was worth it. For anyone with an idea, a concept, a story, my message for you is to just write it down. Type it on a notepad. Save it. Come back to it from time to time if it's impossible for you to sit down and work on your story for longer periods. Just slowly build it. Pour your thoughts onto that keyboard or sheet of paper. Worry about editing, grammar, and spelling mistakes later. You will realize that it's completely different when you are able to read your ideas compared to when you are just thinking about them. It will either make a lot of sense or it won't and that's ok. You are the master of the world you are creating. You can change anything on a whim. So, just go for it. Create that world. Create those people. We are uniquely the only species on this planet that is capable of creating worlds and then projecting those worlds into other people's heads using just our words. So use that capability. Use those words.
