CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Of the goals set for the week just gone, this is the outcome.   Achieved: 1. Recorded the next 29/28 gameplay videos for the schedule; 2. Edited the next 30/28 gameplay videos for the schedule; 3. Scheduled the 10/10 videos to accompany the novel release. Partly Achieved 1. Recorded the next 11/22 gameplay videos for the completion series; 2. Scheduled the next 25/28 gameplay videos for the schedule; 3. Edited and formatted, but did not schedule the 2 videos for the short story release; 4. Wrote 2/7 poems for Another 366 Days of Poetry. Not Achieved Did not complete the 7 pieces of flash from the main goals, and did not complete the novel from the stretch goals. Did not complete the publishing cycle for January 2026. Swapped In 1. Edited and formatted the 3 reading videos for a second upcoming short story release; 2. Began industry-accredited courses in computer coding and Spanish as part of external obligations. No doubt these will inform my writing in...

It looks crazy, but it’s called ‘taking the pressure down.’ The current goals take into account the need to publish at an accelerated schedule on both the writing and video fronts, in order to clear more writing time and prepare the way for a transition to a more sustainable and flexible work schedule in the, hopefully, not-too-distant future. In other words, I will not forever be trying to publish a month’s worth of work in a week. Having said that, I have a few more weeks to go before I can ease back. I might not, yet, be hitting all my goals, but I  am  getting closer. Without further ado, here are this week’s goals…and hopefully I’ve hit a little closer to the capability mark: Main Goals: 1.  Write 7 poems for Another 366 Days of Poetry (mixed genre, currently 33,172 words); 2.  Write 7 pieces of flash for Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction (mixed genre, currently 40,209); 3. Complete the novel, Dark God's Demise (2nd Ed.) (dark action fantasy, curre...

So, I did a thing. I would say it was a thing I just woke up and decided to do one day, but I've been thinking about doing this thing for YEARS (at least three)...and, today, I screwed up my courage, looked my fear of failure in the eye, and did. the. thing. This might not seem to astounding to some of you, but for those of you who know me, you know I have all the hallmarks of a neurodivergency that runs for the hills if you break its routine or show it something new. Some of you might even know that I'm more comfortable with failure than I am with success, given I'm used to the first and still getting used to the second. (There's a reason I've circled this thing for several years - beyond budget - and that is I wanted to be sure I had a good chance of completing the challenge.) If I'm honest, I'm not absolutely sure I really can do it, but it fits into what I want to do this year, and gives me some extra incentive to actually 'get with the doing', i...

It's been another disrupted week, but things have still gotten done. Road-tripping aside, it's still school holidays, here, although they end soon, and things will settle back into a more normal routine. This week I've had three days where I've managed less than 5 hours of work; the rest have consisted of long hours at the desk, and I'm now feeling the warning signs of another RSI flare-up. I may be getting too old for this kind of thing... and, I just need to find the the limits of the new limits - which I don't think I've done, yet. Working on it - hence the outrageous goals set for this month. When it comes to testing how far I can push it, they were it - and according to past experience, they should have been achievable. Without more ado - here's what was achieved.... followed by what was not: Progress: October 7-13, 2018 New words produced: 23,989 Outlines and Notes: 6,000 Words compiled: 0 Works completed: 0 Wor...

Goals are important - and I need to work on setting ones I can achieve. This is what I'm thinking for this month...   On my plate: As you know, I have several goals on the run at the moment, including 9 novels as part of a team, and 3 short stories for anthologies. In addition, I have a series of my own, and 1 more short story for December that I want to complete. On top of that, I am currently working on a second edition of my fantasy trilogy, compiling my science fiction series into a three-book compilation, and putting together a gift library for my newsletter subscribers. Given that my life has been kicked on its head, right now, the work I’m doing for, and with, other folk, has to have work priority, and I have to do my best to make sure I fulfil those commitments, so, this month—and most of November, I’ll be kicking that along. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on the rest, just that it needs to come next. This means that my co-written series, which I’m calling ...