CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

I got a lot done, and still found myself aiming too high, so some readjustments will be needed. To whit: Achieved: 1.   1.  All 7 poems completed; 2.   2.   All 7 pieces of flash completed; 3.   3.   Novel completed; 4.   4.   Writer Reads videos scheduled 5.   5.   All 7 gameplay videos scheduled 6.   6.   All 14 gameplay videos completed 7.   7.   All 16 gameplay videos scheduled 8.   8.   Mack ‘n’ Me: The Transporter’s Favor – edited Not achieved: 1.    1.   Did not complete the formatting and publishing of 4 titles 2.   2.   Did not complete the editing of the Mack ‘n’ Me: Arach videos 3.   3.   Did not achieve the stretch goals  Clearly, I still have work to do.                                                   ...

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, with last week's hurdles in mind, I set my aim lower this week, writing my goals down on the 22nd, but too busy trying to achieve them to post them, here. There's only a tiny bit of writing included in this week's goals as January's releases became a priority in both my writing and video sectors. Here is what they were: Main Goals: 1.  Write 7 poems for Another 366 Days of Poetry (mixed genre, currently 32,180 words) 2.  Write 7 pieces of flash for Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction (mixed genre, currently 40,209) 3. Record the next 31 videos on the schedule 4. Record the next 22 gameplay videos for the series set for completion 5. Edit the next 28 gameplay videos 6. Schedule the next 28 gameplay videos 7. Schedule the 10 Writer Reads videos required to complete the readings for the first December release 8. Schedule the 2 Writer Reads videos required for the second December release 9. Complete the formatting and publishing cycle for the three Jan...

So - Goals for December Week 2 showed I was still aiming too high...and not accounting for the possibility of losing 28 hours in the week, when I made them. Yes, to unexpected changes, new external requirements, and family health issues...but also to the fallout of mental and emotional exhaustion that followed. Go figure. I have to improve, and get better. Enough excuses. Here are the results: Main Goals:  1. Poems:   5/7 written; 2. Flash Fiction: 0/7 written; 3.  Work Submitted: 1/1 (result: reject); 4. Finish novel: novel finished (3.6k/4-10k written) ; 5. Publish  Mack 'n' Me: Blaedergil's Host:   novel published 6. Publish  Nurse:  short story published; 7. World Shift : 276/1k 8.  Confessions : 0/1k 9. Gameplay videos recorded: 20/16 10.  Gameplay videos-edited: 15/23 (9/0 video readings edited);  13/23 formatted; 15/23 scheduled; Stretch Goals:    1. Arach - not formatted; 2. The Transporter's Favor - edit com...

It's been a long while since I could set a goal and then not be guaranteed that it would be the one thing I would...for whatever number of reasons, fail to achieve. It's been almost as long that setting any kind of deadline would cripple me, instead of energize me like it used to do. It's been an equally long time since I wasn't sure I would fail no matter how much effort I put into something, no matter how 'right' I got it, no matter how well it worked for anyone else...and then tried to do it, anyway. Years. At least two. Twenty-four months. Or 730 days. And probably a couple of years before that. We won't get into hours or minutes, but, whichever way you slice it, it's a very long time to live with the hope that the storm will pass, and to keep trying to move forward in spite of what Life throws, in spite of the doubts others have in you, and in spite of the absolute surety you feel that you *will* fail, that it will not matter how precisely right you...

 Last week in a nutshell: Working Hours:  104 hours 22 minutes Administration: 14 hours 9 minutes Research: 54 hours 12 minutes YouTube: 36 hours 57 minutes Formatting titles: 5 hours 54 minutes Achieved:  Creative Words:  3,064 (Novel: 403; Poetry: 384; Flash Fiction: 1,887; Short Stories: 390) Book Notes: 236 (Front and Back matter) Video Matter: 9,550 (overview, time stamps, tags, etc.)  Titles Formatted: 2 Videos Created:  13 Videos Edited: 25 Videos Formatted: 28 Videos Uploaded: 14 Videos Scheduled: 15 Titles Worked On:  

An overview of what was completed in April 2025 Work Routine: shifting task order established to allow for day-to-day priority shifts, pivot from video production focus to book production focus almost complete, Exercise Routine: Check (established 1 x 20 -minute intensive, working on establishing a second 20-minute session) Total at-desk hours: 992 hours 53 minutes (tasks were worked concurrently where possible to optimize time) Time spent in administrative tasks: 55 hours, 36 minutes Words (novels): 20,193 - 15,366 (YA), 4,827 (Novels) Words (poetry): 846 Words (short stories): 2,270 Words (flash fiction): 2,990 Words (book notes, front and back matter): 6,734 Words (gameplay video blurbs): 23,225 Words (reading video blurbs): 13,624 Time spent in video production: 198 hours 46 minues Gameplay & Readings videos created: 111 Gameplay & Readings videos edited: 135 Gameplay & Readings videos published: 77 Time spent editing books:   1 hour 35 minutes Time spent for...

It's a mixed smorgasbord, today, as I pick up the pieces of the latest bit of Life. I'm working at getting my writing, production, publishing and video schedules back on track.  The Update This week, I made my first submission for the year, and completed a second...although that one's going to need a home. I also dealt with an unexpected work issue that will mean some significant changes on the writing and youtubing front - yes, you will see some more content from both, and finally, I was able to return to working on my novel. This Month's Goals: (Because it's never too late.) 1. Complete Dark God's Rise; and 2. Make 2 more short stor y submissions . It's small potatoes, but I need time to recover, and get an idea of what the new routine looks like . In September, I'll have a better idea of my capabilities. For now, these three things are the limit. The Poem: Like any upheaval, this latest one bleeds out in words. Here's one of the pieces that arriv...