Progress is Progress
Being consistently inconsistent and managing resources
Hey! It’s Candye. This is your newsletter where I talk about cozy-dark themes in paranormal mystery, sci-fi, tabletop games, and recommendations.
Happy June, I hope you’ve been well!
I didn’t expect to write about consistency today, but that’s been showing up a lot lately (or consistently ;)). People always say, “Consistency is Key” when it comes to habits, projects, brand building, etc., and they may be right. But I’m finding that it doesn’t have to be hard.
Being Gently Consistent
Progress is Progress
I had stopped all progress on a book because of some life changes, but I was recently reminded that writing even 100 words a day is progress. I knew that, but forgot. One of my favorite sayings is, “Progress is Progress.” Now, just doing those 100 words each morning has added a little more pep to my step!
Easy Does It
This is not a new saying, but Julia Cameron, the author of The Artist’s Way, gave me a whole new way of looking at it. She says in her book Write for Life, “easy does it” represents how going easy, not forcing, can actually allow you to move forward. In a way, easy gets it done. I love that.
Picture Frames
One of my favorite books on writing, Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, shows how to take things step by step. Again, easy does it. She talks about the mindset of a picture frame, giving yourself a task that may metaphorically fit in a picture frame. I’m not going to outline and write a whole chapter and paralyze myself at the idea, I’m just going to write a description of the character. This keeps things light and laser-focused.
The Tabletop Game
I created this sci-fi hopepunk world without these things in mind, but I keep seeing these themes pop up throughout. It’s nowhere near complete, but I’m really excited to see it all come together. I’m starting with a demo that will be available for free when it’s done.
(For more frequent updates on it, follow here for our tabletop roleplaying letter.)
The game is structured similarly to “routine games” like Citizen Sleeper, Mutazione, or even Stardew Valley. But there’s no predetermined story, it’s just a cozy-dark hopepunk setting, mechanics for play, dice, and your imagination.
The dice system is about tuning into your character’s energy and prioritizing their tasks based on their own flow each day. I think that’s a really beautiful way to live.
I have a day job like most people, so I know what it’s like to have to do things we don’t want, or don’t have energy to do. It’s draining and stressful, and these are resources to manage.
It’s not always possible to flow with your own energy or set your own schedule. But I believe there are exceptions when we can just say, I’m not feeling it, I’m going to do something light instead—like reading.
Recommendations
I don’t have cozy-dark recommendations this time, but how about a cozy one and a dark one?
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong is the perfect amount of cozy fantasy adventure for me. I’ve tried a handful of cozy fantasy stories, and many of them were just talk. I gotta have a bit of adventure, and this is actually a huge adventure for a cozy book.
She’s a travelling seer and teller of small fortunes only because the grand fortunes have given her an ugly past. (And it’s got everybody’s favorite mini trope, Found Family.)
The Ghosts of Gastown by Jessica Renwick is so creepy good. There’s a girl haunted by ghosts who need her help, and some are more dangerous than others. I love her ghost books so much and highly recommend all of them. She has a way of making you feel like you’re actually there. I couldn’t read this one before bed.
P.S. I hesitate to talk about projects that may never get completed. They take a long time, and sometimes I lose the fire. Sometimes I also get it back. But it’s all part of the journey. Whether I finish something or not, I had fun and I learned something.
Be sure to let me know if you’re interested in hearing more about projects that may never get completed. I’m willing to be more open about them as long as I know it won’t ruin anything for you. Thanks for your input and support!
THANK YOU
Thanks as always for being here! I hope you have a great month!
From the Archives:
Lots of Lore & Liminal Games
Hey! It’s Candye. This is your newsletter where I talk about cozy-dark themes in paranormal mystery, sci-fi, tabletop games, and recommendations.
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Hi! I’m Candye. I write Paranormal Mystery and Sci-Fi with dark, cozy vibes and light-hearted adventures. I aim to invite awe into daily life and provide a place where you feel seen and heard.
When I'm not writing, I'm either reading my Kindle in the sunlight, playing cozy games, watching movies and cartoons, or drinking herbal tea with extra honey.