CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

I know, I know, you’re going to say, I should, that competitions need to pay their administrative costs and their judges—and I agree, but I no longer enter them, and here are six reasons why: Poor return on investment: I write with the aim of making a living. Even if I stick to a minimum potential return rule of 5-1, the time the entry spends not earning money outweighs the gain. This time is usually due to the wait for place getters to be announced, the exclusive first-rights release of the competition anthology and the wait time before I can release the entry myself after the competition anthology is released. No guaranteed return on investment: Usually only the top three placings earn prize money. Runners-up and Honourable Mentions don’t usually earn a dime, but often come under the same restrictions for publication as place-getters. Market limitations resulting from publication in competitions: Many magazine markets count publication as a result of placing in a compe...

While I was busy chasing wattlebirds and silver-eyed wrens, I noticed that the bees also liked the cherry blossoms - and who could blame them. Here are a few shots taken with the close-up lens (as I don't own a macro). It was a beautiful day in the last fortnight of winter, and the bees were enjoying the blossoms and the sunshine. I didn't know they liked cherry blossoms, quite this much, but they hummed busily around, stopping to investigate each bloom thoroughly, completely ignoring the camera as they did so, although, I;m sure they were aware of me.

An englyn is a form of Welsh or Cornish verse, with a reputation of being hard to master. It has several different variants, all of which are governed by strict rules. This week, we’ll look at the englyn toddaid, which is a cross between the toddaid form and the englyn. The englyn toddaid consists of a verse at least four-lines long. The first line has 10 syllables, the second has 7, and the remaining two or more lines have ten syllables each. The rhyme is introduced in the seventh, eighth or ninth syllable of the first line, and repeated at the end of the remaining lines. The fourth syllable of the second lines uses rhyme or consonance to echo the last syllable of the first line. Dragon’s Wrath Furious, the dragon marred the blue skies. I saw him fly, far too soon. I saw him setting fire, felt fear anew. I saw his shadow and knew what to do. Who had stirred his angry heart to war raided his stores, golden art, and fled, the dragon’s vengeance, war to start? ...

Well, the week started well, but ended without reaching the 7,000-word mark. Between getting sick and then trying to catch up, I didn’t get any writing done – not even on Saturday. So, we’re a good 3k behind schedule. Next week is university break, but I have a 2,500-word research essay to do, and a presentation, so probably not going to get a lot of writing done before the next round of madness starts… and THEN I get a break. Wish me luck and self discipline. Overview New words produced: 2,530 Old words revised: 426 Works completed: 8 (for inclusion in longer works) Works revised: 0 Covers created: 0 Works published: 0 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 1,267 Tier 1 Tasks Annual 13: Added 1,000 words Annual 14: Added 2,448 words Annual 23: Added 1,388 words Publishing Tasks Created 6 blog posts for this blog; New Arrivals The following ideas arrived this week: ShortStory361—Black Dogs and Pixie Luck: another piece of flash...