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...

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...

After last week’s hiccup, and the health-scare that followed, I’m trying a few new things that I’m not ready to talk about in full. They involve a little catch-up, a lot of forward planning, and a lifestyle shake-up that will impact my work capacity. This shake-up will lead into a habit change that will take around six weeks to establish, so definitive goals will be scarce, and global aims will take their place. To whit: 1. Re-establish a writing habit (approx. 6 weeks, around Feb 22) 2. Establish an exercise habit that slowly escalates to deal with the current health threat (approx.6-8 weeks – March 3) 3. Alter dietary habits to match also to deal with the current health threat threat (approx.6-8 weeks, around March 3) 4. Continue altering and establishing sleep habits…yes, to deal with the current health threat (approx.6-8 weeks, around March 3) 5. Work toward completing the back-list publishing cycle on all titles (approx. 4-5 months, around June 14) 6. Complete the re...