CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

  Still on May 16, but here we are, taking stock of the second seven days of the May I Write a Novel Challenge. May 8 No challenge words; background research and notes for videos was the order of the day. Day Words: 0; Month Words: 7,348 May 9 Tried to be more social… This had consequences, and while I did more background research for my game videos, I could not break the on spectrum repercussions enough to make good words. I still got some words, however. I will have to rethink this social thing. Day Words: 376; Month Words: 7,724 May 10 Focused on updating both YouTube channels, but got some words done. Decisions had to be rethunk and followed through on. Day Words: 340; Month Words: 8,064 May 11 No words. RL stressors made a solid impact—ie dealing with medical paperwork, and attempting to be social is a tricksy business and there was internal (on-spectrum) fallout that needed to be dealt with. This cannot be allowed to continue; I have to be better t...

  It’s May…and I’ve been working on trying to prioritise making words over all the other things I need to be doing, both as a publisher and a content creator. I had to find a balance after a bad co-op experience with another writer, a doubly bad experience in the last day job, and several biggish Life hits that came a little close together for easy recovery. So, May…a writing challenge, and a confession: I have been making words, but not as many as I should be, and I’ve been having trouble producing them with the consistency needed. Sure, I could make excuses to go with circumstances: I had a lot to do in the production side of things (which I still do), and RL admin took a lot of time and precedence (and it still does), and blah, blah, blah…and maybe those things are valid and I should be cutting myself some slack, but the end result is the same—not enough words. So, with the work schedule finally sorted eight-and-a-half months post-day-job, it’s time to focus on words—at ...

This is a quick note to say, I've passed the first stage - which, admittedly, was the one I was best set up for, as the book was complete and ready to go. From here on, it gets a little trickier. Great Publishing Challenge : Milestone 1 Book 1: Pixie Dust Dreaming Due: June 20, 2022 On Pre-Order for Release: June 04, 2022 Type: mixed genre short fiction and poetry collection, with short author forward, compiled from pieces previously published pieces themed around the urban fantasy crime Pixie Dust crime setting. Content Breakdown: 85 total pieces: Poems: 9; Flash Fiction:68; Short Stories: 8 Length: 84k Links:  - Pixie Dust Dreaming (Books2Read): https://books2read.com/u/ mY6xvP   - Pixie Dust Dreaming (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/dp/ B0B1WTKV67/  - Collections Reading List : https://books2read.com/rl/ Gw8Oaz        

I've been holding off talking about this challenge, for a few reasons. Firstly, because it's something I've wanted to try for a while...and now I have there's part of me that wants to keep it to myself. Secondly, because, for the first time in quite a while, I actually care if I fail at something I'm doing for myself. And, thirdly, because I'm just a little pushed for time, but not because of this project. The last three years, I've learned I can produce, but I've forgotten I need to do that for myself as well as for everyone else, so I got started doing exactly that, and then decided it was the perfect time to challenge myself...and to do something I've been wanting to try for a while, a kind of combined carrot and stick, if you like. Will I succeed? To be honest, I don't know, but I think the chances are smaller than I'd like and better than I think, so who knows. I could write this and fail out, tomorrow, or still be going strong. There...