Projects

These projects span storytelling, fitness, games, parenting, and weather forecasting. That's deliberate — the approach is the same regardless of domain: find a space where people navigate by intuition, map the underlying structure, and build a system that makes it clear. Each one was designed, built, and shipped independently.

Featured Projects

Loreteller

Storytelling Toolkit for 25,000+ Creators

A library of 75+ free storytelling frameworks and a $79 premium toolkit of 29 research-backed systems for character psychology, story structure, and worldbuilding. Used by novelists, screenwriters, and game masters who want structured methods, not vague craft advice. Many creators struggle with the chaos of unstructured creativity. I know I do.

75+ Free Resources
Character archetypes, worldbuilding guides, plot structures, psychology references
29 Premium Frameworks
Hurricane Story Model, Core Wound Blueprint, Scene Purpose Framework, and more
Research-Backed
Built on HEXACO, Schwartz values, Schema Therapy, and narrative psychology
25,000+ Creators
Active community with 500+ Discord members and 100+ educational articles

How It Works

Loreteller provides three tiers: free reference resources for mid-session lookup, educational articles that teach craft concepts, and a premium toolkit of guided frameworks for deep creative work. The premium frameworks turn psychological research into step-by-step character, plot, and worldbuilding systems that produce concrete output — not just concepts to understand.

Why I Built It

Many creators struggle with the chaos of unstructured creativity. I know I do. I spent over a decade curating these tools, and building my own. Traditional writing advice tends to be vague and inspirational rather than practical. Loreteller addresses this by providing concrete, research-backed frameworks that transform creative challenges into systematic processes, making storytelling more reliable and efficient.

Technical Highlights

Static Site Generator: Eleventy (11ty) for fast performance
Backend: Supabase (auth, database, storage) + Stripe Checkout
Content Management: Nunjucks templates with JSON data, premium content in Supabase Storage
Performance Focused: Static site architecture with 100+ pages

Character Forge

Psychology-Driven Character Builder

An interactive character creation tool that guides writers through 10 psychology-backed layers — from values and wounds to defenses, personality, and arc. A tension engine cross-references every choice, surfacing 5,000+ pre-authored resonances and contradictions. Character tools either generate random traits in silos or ask vague questions with no framework for answering.

10-Layer Build
Values, Wounds, Defenses, Personality, Strengths, Roles, Flaws, Lens, Catalysts, Arc
200+ Cards
Research-backed options from Schwartz, Schema Therapy, HEXACO, and more
Tension Engine
5,000+ pre-authored cross-references surface resonances and contradictions
Ensemble Dynamics
Compare characters across psychologies — rivals, foils, dark mirrors

How It Works

Writers select cards across 10 sequential psychological layers. At every step, the tension engine analyzes how each new selection interacts with all previous choices — surfacing resonances (layers reinforcing each other, creating blind spots) and tensions (layers contradicting each other, creating dramatic potential). The result is a character with built-in internal conflict and a clear arc trajectory.

Why I Built It

Character creation tools either generate random traits in silos or ask vague questions like 'What is your character's greatest fear?' with no framework for answering. The Forge turns Loreteller's research-backed psychology frameworks into an interactive builder where the system does the cross-referencing. Writers make choices; the Forge shows how everything connects.

Technical Highlights

Framework: Astro + React with Supabase backend
Research Base: Schwartz Values, Schema Therapy, HEXACO, Attachment Theory, Narrative Psychology
Tension Engine: 16 cross-reference types, 5,000+ authored insights
Sharing: Public URLs for character profiles and relationship analyses

The Neurotype Assessment

Cognitive System Analysis

A comprehensive assessment that maps your biological hardware across 6 dimensions of processing to identify your unique neuro-cognitive profile. I wanted to build a tool that didn't just tell people who they are, but how their machine works.

6-Dimensional Model
Maps Sensory, Focus, Drive, Threat, Social, and Plasticity spectrums
Hardware Analysis
Measures biological processing costs rather than personality traits
Ecological Fit
Identifies environmental mismatches that lead to burnout
Scientific Synthesis
Based on Predictive Coding, Sensory Processing, and Dimensional Psychiatry

How It Works

The assessment uses the Neuro-Adaptive Precision-Allocation (NAPA) Model to analyze an individual's 'current baseline state.' Instead of assigning fixed personality types, it measures where a user falls on 6 biological spectrums (like Sensory Gating or Dopaminergic Drive). It then generates a detailed profile that explains the 'metabolic cost' of their processing style and offers strategies for environmental adaptation.

Why I Built It

Current personality models often ignore the 'cost of operation.' I wanted to build a tool that didn't just tell people *who* they are, but *how* their machine works. By understanding our biological hardware—our input filters, our energy systems, our threat detection—we can stop trying to fix ourselves and start engineering environments where we naturally thrive. This is about moving from 'Pathology' to 'Ecological Fit.'

Technical Highlights

Framework: Astro for high-performance static rendering
Methodology: NAPA (Neuro-Adaptive Precision-Allocation) Framework
Research Base: Synthesis of Predictive Coding, Monotropism, and HiTOP frameworks
Design: Accessible, spectrum-based visualization of complex data

One Great Big Family

Interactive Ancestry Journey

An interactive scroll-driven experience that traces the unbroken chain of mothers from you back to LECA, the last eukaryotic common ancestor — grandmother of every animal, plant, and fungus. Each stop is a grandmother — a real individual who lived, survived, and had a daughter. A tree is your cousin.

25 Stops
From you to LECA, 2 billion years of ancestry
Scientifically Grounded
Key stops verified against current research (Ikaria, A. anamensis, Morganucodon)
DNA Helix Visualization
Three.js WebGL animation that evolves with your journey
Scroll-Driven Narrative
GSAP ScrollTrigger with color temperature shift from warm to cold

How It Works

The experience uses scroll position to navigate through 25 stops on the tree of life. Each stop represents a common ancestor — the grandmother you share with chimps, with mushrooms, with trees. A DNA helix animates alongside the scroll, and the background shifts from warm (present) to cold (deep time). Circular portraits show what each grandmother looked like, based on fossil evidence or scientific reconstruction.

Why I Built It

Evolution is usually taught as abstract lineages and branching trees. I wanted to make it viscerally personal — not 'humans evolved from apes' but 'you have a grandmother who was also the grandmother of every chimpanzee alive today.' The thesis lands at the end: if the chain of mothers connects you to chimps, it also connects you to mushrooms, trees, and bacteria. We are one great big family.

Technical Highlights

Framework: Astro 4.x with MDX content collections
3D Visualization: Three.js WebGL for DNA helix animation
Animation: GSAP ScrollTrigger for scroll-driven transitions
Styling: Tailwind CSS with CSS custom properties for color interpolation
Typography: Literata (Google Fonts) for literary feel
Accessibility: Keyboard navigation, reduced motion support

GameType Indicator

Experiential Game Analysis Framework

A framework for understanding what it feels like to play a game. Moves beyond genre labels to map experiential qualities across 6 dimensions, revealing why games that share genres can feel completely different. What does it mean to 'like RPGs' when that could mean anything from Pokémon Yellow to Cyberpunk 2077?

6-Dimensional Model
Maps Focus, Stance, Progression, Complexity, Pacing, and Encounters
64 GameType Archetypes
Comprehensive framework covering all experiential combinations
Experiential Focus
Ignores genre, theme, and aesthetics to focus on how games feel
Pattern Discovery
Reveals hidden connections between games across genres

How It Works

The GameType Indicator (GTI) uses a six-dimensional model to classify games based on experiential qualities rather than genre labels. Each game receives a code (like MAE-LRP) that describes its Focus (Mechanics-First vs Narrative-First), Stance (Actor vs Director), Progression (Emergent vs Structured), Complexity (High vs Low), Pacing (Relaxed vs Tense), and Encounters (Open vs Private). The framework generates 64 distinct GameType archetypes, allowing players to discover patterns in their preferences and find games that share the same experiential DNA, regardless of genre.

Why I Built It

Genre tags like 'Action-Adventure' or 'RPG' have become so broad they're almost useless. What does it mean to 'like RPGs' when that could mean anything from Pokémon Yellow to Cyberpunk 2077? I built the GameType Indicator to provide a standardized framework for describing what it actually *feels like* to play a game. It helps players understand their true preferences, discover hidden connections between games, and find new experiences that match their experiential preferences rather than generic genre labels.

Technical Highlights

Framework: Six-dimensional experiential analysis model
Archetype System: 64 distinct GameType combinations
Interactive Quiz: Discover your preferred GameType through gameplay
Exploration Tools: Browse archetypes and compare games across genres

The Arcade

Griddle

Daily Logic Puzzle

A web game that provides daily logic deduction puzzles, based on the classic Zebra Puzzle (Einstein's Riddle). I grew up obsessed with logic puzzles.

Daily Puzzles
Multiple Difficulty Levels
Play Now

How It Works

Griddle presents players with a grid of categories (like Jobs, Pets, Foods, etc.) and provides logical clues to help determine the relationships between items. Players click cells to mark matches (✓) or non-matches (✗), using deductive reasoning to solve the puzzle. The game features three difficulty levels with varying grid sizes and complexity.

Why I Built It

I grew up obsessed with logic puzzles. I had books of them, and the pages were filled with my scribbling in the tables as I tried to solve them. I've recreated the puzzles I was obsessed with as a kid as a daily game anyone can play. Griddle provides a consistent, engaging experience with modern UI/UX that makes these classic puzzles accessible to everyone. The seeded randomization ensures everyone gets the same puzzle each day, creating a shared experience.

Letterworth

Daily Word Game

A web game that provides daily word-building puzzles with strategic resource management, featuring "fancy letters" that grant bonus points. It tests vocabulary, imagination, and strategy. I wanted a word game with strategic depth beyond simple vocabulary.

Daily Puzzles
Strategic Letter System
Play Now

How It Works

Letterworth presents players with a set of "fancy letters" that grant bonus points when used in words. Players must strategically build words using these letters to maximize scoring, then visit a shop between rounds to spend points on better letter upgrades. The game features seeded randomization ensuring everyone gets the same daily experience, with support for both single letters and letter pairs.

Why I Built It

I wanted to create a word game that went beyond simple vocabulary challenges by adding strategic depth through resource management. Letterworth combines the satisfaction of word building with the excitement of strategic decision-making, creating a unique "word economy" where players must balance immediate scoring with long-term investments. The daily format creates community engagement through shared puzzles and competitive leaderboards, while the seeded system ensures fair competition.

Lingolink

Daily Idiom Chain

A web game that provides daily word connection puzzles, challenging players to complete chains of 7 idioms by finding the connecting words between them. I've always been fascinated by how words bridge different expressions.

Daily Puzzles
Progressive Chain Mechanics
Play Now

How It Works

Lingolink presents players with a chain of 7 idioms where each consecutive pair shares exactly one word. Players see blanked-out examples of idioms in context and must drag words from a word bank to complete them. Each completed idiom unlocks the next one in the chain, creating a satisfying progression of discovery. The game features sophisticated drag-and-drop mechanics, progress tracking, and a responsive design that works across all devices.

Why I Built It

I've always been fascinated by the interconnected nature of language and how words can bridge different expressions. Lingolink transforms this linguistic curiosity into an engaging daily puzzle that challenges players to think about word relationships and discover new idioms. The chain structure creates a unique solving experience where each step builds on the previous one, making it both educational and entertaining. I wanted to create a game that celebrates the richness of English idioms while providing a fresh puzzle experience every day.

Real-Life Tools

Runquesting

Fitness Adventure Platform

A web application that gamifies fitness by transforming exercise activities into virtual adventure quests with milestone tracking and progress visualization. My wife asked me for a way to motivate her daily running.

Epic Quest Creation
Multi-Activity Support
Milestone System
Real-time Dashboard

Why: Traditional fitness tracking apps often feel monotonous. My wife asked me for a way to motivate her to do her daily running, and suggested a gamified approach. Runquesting solves this by turning exercise into an adventure—whether you're running the Boston Marathon or following the Fellowship's journey to Rivendell. With the pressure of a countdown and a goal to reach, every mile feels like it means something.

Trezzer Chest

Financial Literacy for Kids

Modern allowance management that teaches children financial literacy through compound interest, opportunity cost, and charitable giving in a safe virtual environment. I built this so I can teach my children about financial stewardship.

Virtual Banking System
Compound Interest Education
Philanthropy Integration
Dual User Interface

Why: Traditional allowance systems don't teach the fundamental principles of financial literacy. This tool transforms allowance into an educational experience that builds lasting financial wisdom through hands-on practice. I built this for use with my children, so I can teach them about the power of financial stewardship and the importance of saving for the future.

Hobby Tools

Board Game Gaps

Collection Analysis Tool

A web application that helps board game enthusiasts discover missing games in their collections using data from BoardGameGeek. I have a massive board game collection with a very particular mindset.

Smart Collection Analysis
Intelligent Filtering
Gap Detection
Real-time Processing

Why: I have a massive board game collection, with a very particular mindset. I want to curate a hoard of games that caters to every possible intersection of player count, play time, and game complexity. And, I wanted a way to see what was missing from my collection, and fill it. This tool automates the process by leveraging BoardGameGeek's extensive database and applying intelligent filtering algorithms.

Kite-Flying Weather

Specialized Weather Forecasting Platform

A comprehensive weather application designed specifically for kite-flying enthusiasts, providing detailed wind analysis, safety assessments, and kite-specific weather ratings. I was tired of checking three weather apps and doing mental math.

Smart Rating System
Wind Analysis
Safety First
15-Day Planning

Why: Traditional weather apps don't understand what kite flyers need. Wind speed alone isn't enough - you need to know about gusts, wind-to-gust ratios, visibility, and safety factors. I built this because I was tired of checking multiple weather sources and doing mental calculations to determine if conditions were actually good for kite-flying. The app eliminates guesswork by providing specialized analysis that considers all the factors that matter for safe, enjoyable kite-flying.

Poké Binder Builder

Pokémon Card Collection Manager

Comprehensive Pokémon TCG collection management with advanced search, price tracking, and personal binder organization. I wanted to see what it would cost to put together a themed binder.

Advanced Card Search
Collection Management
Real-time Data
Price Tracking

Why: Pokémon card collectors often struggle with organizing their collections and finding specific cards. This tool automates the discovery process and provides a comprehensive collection management system.

Building in Public

Documenting the build process, exploring the philosophy of systems, and sharing what I learn about creativity and fatherhood.

Watch on YouTube