CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Don’t ask me where the week went. It was another stretch of disruptions and family illness, although it ended well, and we are all feeling a lot better for having remembered to rest, and for taking care of each other. Goals for March 2026, Week 4, ending March 29, 2026 1. complete, edit, and submit one short story submission (let's call it SHSTSub#2 for March) 2. write at least 4k on the draft for March ShSTSub#3 (while researching, because alternate history is a new genre for me); 3. Finalize the pre-nuke mark-up/edit, read-over edit (voiceless if I must), format, and pre-release for Book 5; 4. Remember to do the social media marketing for the books in promotions this month; and 5. Read at least half a book written by someone else. Goals Completed March 2026, Week 4, ending March 28, 2026 1. Did not complete, edit, and submit one short story submission (let's call it SHSTSub#2 for March) 2. Did not write at least 4k on the draft for March ShSTSub#3 (while res...

A new project, and one which I'm using to renew the well between older projects. 2,328 words, today, plus 804 words of glossary, DA01, is a predominantly fantasy LitRPG game setting, which I am currently writing 'into the dark.' However, the nature of this genre will demand some outlining as it progresses, and I have already begun making notes beyond the glossary. Last words for today are as follows: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Once the price was decided, the old man signaled to the younger, who withdrew a bag of coin from beneath his cloak, and gestured to where the ship ‘s clerk sat. “Shall we?” The overseer had long released his grip on my neck, and I had very wisely stood still and waited until the whole process was over. I didn’t manage to stifle a flinch when the crewman releasing my hands brushed against my back, but I did manage to keep the protest silent. To my annoyance, my han...

Last week's bout of flu continued to plague the household, and led to more disruptions to the work schedule, but family had to come first, and I had to undertake some self-care...apparently sleep is important to producing words, among other things. We had more medical appointments, some scheduled, others due to a need for medical certificates for missed days of schooling, and one because I'd been sick for a week, and decided I should get it checked. Writing still got done, but video production dropped due to a sore throat and difficulties in focus. Altered taskings to suit. Goals for March 2026, Week 3, ending March 21, 2026 Write 1 short story submission for a second new magazine market;   Publish Book 4 a week ahead of schedule;   Maintain content creation schedule;   And start to learn marketing. Goals Completed March 2026, Week 3, ending March 21, 2026 Struggled with concept for story submission, still working on it;   Book 4 published to pre-release, and...

I was a little startled by the impact last week’s unscheduled interruptions had on the schedule, and had to triage. Determined to keep the book focus, I had to let things slide on the content creation front…at least a little. Unfortunately, I managed to catch the same flu my child had brought home, and this meant a lot more had to be let go in favor of trying to get better. Goals for March 2026, Week 2, ending March 14, 2026 Write 1 short story submission for a new magazine market; Publish the next novel a week ahead of schedule;   Maintain content creation schedule. Goals Completed March 2026, Week 2, ending March 14, 2026 Completed short story submission and submitted on due date;   Novel formatted to Nuke stage; and   Minor slippage on content creation schedule; still retrievable. Other Factors As above, this flu hit harder than expected, but we got through the week. Also adapting to the news that I have autism and adhd to a level that adversely affects 'norm...

March brought change. I started setting goals, again. I started setting writing goals…and not just publishing goals. I’m still ‘failing’ a lot, but I’m finding where my limits are, and learning to allow time for the unexpected. February allowed me get ahead on the content creation schedule that I could begin the pivot to a writing focus…but not far enough, as I discovered. Goals for March 2026, Week 1, ending March 7, 2026   Write 1 short story submission for a new magazine market; Publish the next novel prior to its release date; and Maintain content creation schedule Goals Completed March 2026, Week 1, ending March 7, 2026 Not begun;   Book 3 published with one week to spare;   Book 4 edited and formatted to prenuke stage;   Content creation schedule maintained. Other Factors: Care and medical appointments for sick family members, job-seeker commitments, and ADOS testing took around 20 hours out of the week, either due to the face-time needed, or becaus...

  It’s been awhile. I’ll make no excuses, but will acknowledge that the ongoing Life changes are making it hard to focus and establish any sort of routine. Progress was as follows: 1. Re-establish writing habit: Partially achieved, although publishing progresses 2. Establish exercise habit: Not achieved, life, illness and multiple medical appointments 3. Alter dietary habits: achieved 4. Sleep habits: not achieved: Life, and the need to get things done overrode commonsense and planning; 5. Back-list publication: progressing: Static: 3/20 short stories published, 1/8 novels in formatting; 6. Progress on outstanding series: – publishing takes precedence; 7. Establishment of new projects: publishing takes precedence; 8. Maintain 2 gameplay videos/day release: Some catch-up and forward planning achieved, to whit: 122 videos recorded, 52 videos edited, 123 videos formatted, 120 videos uploaded, 114 videos published 9. Finalize recording for gameplay series: 1 se...