Alphaville is my personal “town” of first drafts—a nod to the ‘80s synth-pop band (and the mid-’60s French film directed by Jean-Luc Godard) that inspired me in my formative years. In software terms, alpha versions are rough, early builds; likewise, these posts represent the earliest form of my thinking before polishing, editing, or reimagining. They’re also a form of journaling—the first draft of my own story. Think of them as snapshots in time that show how ideas begin and where they might go next.
Many writers believe there’s real value in honoring early scribblings. They highlight how far a piece (and its writer) has come. Much like the saying that journalism is the first rough draft of history, these entries are my initial attempts—journaling, if you will. I’m keeping them visible because they mark the starting line of the race toward more refined work.
Like software alphas, these posts may be incomplete, full of typos, tangents, or half-formed arguments. But the rough edges cause a sort of friction, which can spark new ideas. This messy stage is often where creativity thrives—where sparks fly before a more coherent shape emerges.
As newer versions come out—sometimes with help from an editor or AI—Alphaville remains a testament to the unfiltered, unvarnished stage. It’s a space to see the raw material and trace the arc of development.
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See What: SUP for more on my transparency efforts
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The polished pieces you’ll find elsewhere in my digital garden, Syndex , or other published work are the natural outcome of these alpha drafts. However, I keep Alphaville around to remind myself—and to show others—that even final forms once had shaky beginnings.