C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 124
January 25, 2018
Progress Report: January 14-20, 2018
Last week was fairly busy, as the school holidays entered their third-last week, and we had enough rain-free, cooler days to tidy the garden. I was still getting my head around writing full-time, but it seemed to be coming together towards the end of the week. This is what got done:Progress: January 14-20, 2018New words produced: 14,942Outlines and Notes: 3,501Words compiled: 100,692 ( Story-A-Week Collection )Works completed: 0Works edited: 1 ( Reluctant Liaison )Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works released: 1 ( A Planet’s Ransom )Works submitted: 3Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 917
Goal Progress Publish Fortnightly: Weekly pre-releases have already been uploaded to the end of January, 2018. Stories have been written to cover the release schedule to the first week of February 2018, and the second release for that month has been fully outlined. This goal is currently on track.June 2018:
May 2018:
April 2018:
March 2018:
February 2018:
January 2018:
Short Story/Month Goal: So far, the short story, The Queens’ Game , has been released for January 2017, and stories have been written, but not yet published, for February through to June, 2017: Reluctant Liaison, Memory’s Vampire, Dreams of the Serpent, Destiny’s Queen, and Harper’s Choice . A seventh short story was started this week, tentatively titled River’s Edge . This goal is currently on track.
Chapter Book/Month Goal: So far, one chapter book, In Full Flight , has been uploaded for pre-release on January 20, 2017, and February’s chapter book is almost complete. This goal is currently on track.
Novel/Quarter Goal: So far, I have released 1 young-adult novel for Quarter 1, A Planet’s Ransom , and completed the first 50,000 words of the novel due for the second quarter. This goal is currently on track.
Publishing 12-Months Ahead Goal: I am going to follow the same pattern for next year’s work, as I am for this year. This means publishing 12-months’ worth of short stories and 12-months’ worth of chapter books, and 1 novel each quarter. I have yet to writing towards this goal, but I now have a writing schedule to work to.
Finishing-Series-I-Have-Started Goal: At the start of the year, I named several series that I wanted to advance. For C.M. Simpson, these were the: Freeman, The Priestess, the Prince & Dragon, Aggie & Tams series; and for Carlie Simonsen they were the: Wings and Tag Man One series. So far, I have uploaded In Full Flight for pre-release, for the Wings series, and am in the process of writing the second book for the Dear Tiger series. This goal is on track.
Finishing-Novels-Started-2017 Goal: At the start of the year I said I wanted to finish some novels started last year. I mentioned Mack ‘n’ Me , Arach. I forgot about the second book in the Aggie & Tams series, and the second book in The Priestess, Prince & the Dragon series. I am currently 50,000 words in to writing Mack ‘n’ Me , which is now slated for release in the second quarter.
Anthology Challenge ProgressThe Anthology Challenge is to release one collection of short work each month in 2019. When I began this challenge, I had completed four collections, but had to compile, cover, edit and upload any. The current status for each collection is as follows:
January—Short Work for 2017, Volume 1: Completed and collated at 98,000 words, requires cover, front and end matter, editing, formatting and publication;
February—Short Work for 2017, Volume 2: Completed, requires collation editing, and publication;
March—Tales from Odyssey: 79,824/90,000 words;
April—An Anthology of Bloodlines: 46,510/90,000 words;
May—Pixie-Dust Dreaming: 53,020/90,000 words;
June—The Story-Match Challenge 2015: Completed at 102,655 words, requires collation, editing, and publication;
July—The Story-A-Week Catch-Up Collection: Completed and compiled at 96,700 words, this still requires a cover, formatting, editing and publication;
August—Another Anthology of Dragons: 43,311/90,000 words;September—Tales from When the Trolls Came: 21,815/90,000 words;
October—Stories from the Lizardine: 31,493/90,000 words;
November—Tales from Tallameera: 19,902/90,000 words; and
December—Another 366 Days of Poetry: 0/90,000 words.
Extension—Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction: 0/90,000 words.
Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge ProgressThe Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge is to release one collection of chapter books each month in 2020. When I began this challenge, I had not completed any of the proposed collections. The current status for each collection is as follows:
January—Wings: 3 of 4 proposed volumes completed; existing stories compiled with updated front and back matter;
February—Rocky: previously known as the Otherworld series; 5 of 6 proposed volumes completed;March—Wheelchair Romance: currently included in the Wheelchair Adventures series; 3 of 4 proposed of volumes completed;
April—Granny Finds Adventures: 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed, but overviews are completed for the first three, and writing is almost complete on the first volume.
May—Tag Man One: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
June—Long Hair Collected: 1 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
July—Ribbondrake Riders: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
August—On Patrol Collection: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
September—Running with the Pack: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
October—Traveller’s Tales: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
November—Marcus Drain’s Collected Adventures; 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
December—The Dear Tiger Letters: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed. The second volume of the series is currently being written.
January 19, 2018
Just Released: In Full Flight
This is my third release for January! In Full Flight written as Carlie Simonsen. You can find it on Smashwords (in all formats), Amazon (Kindle and paperback), DriveThruFiction (PDF), and via Smashwords, Draft2Digital and CreateSpace distribution.
Jack’s dad has a secret—a sad secret. He has never told Jack how he lost his wings. One day he does, and Jack’s world changes. At the same time, someone from his parents’ past comes into their present, and they must work out how to stop things from the past happening all over again.
In Full Flight is the third book in the Wings chapter book series, set around a family with wings and bird-like feet. This book is darker than the other two, dealing with themes of difference, discrimination at a state level, and finding a place to belong.
Jack’s dad has a secret—a sad secret. He has never told Jack how he lost his wings. One day he does, and Jack’s world changes. At the same time, someone from his parents’ past comes into their present, and they must work out how to stop things from the past happening all over again.
In Full Flight is the third book in the Wings chapter book series, set around a family with wings and bird-like feet. This book is darker than the other two, dealing with themes of difference, discrimination at a state level, and finding a place to belong.
January 18, 2018
Today's New Pokemon: Whiscash
Walked out the front door, and found this not-so-little guy waiting. Not a bad way to start an all-too-brief walk.
January 14, 2018
Progress Report: January 7-13, 2018
In the week just gone, I wrote 38,000 words on the first novel in the series now known as Mack’n’Me’n’Odyssey (previously it was just called Mack 'n' Me ). I also discovered that I was writing a new novel, rather than finishing off the last 84,000 words of an older one. Beyond that, the week was pretty quiet.
Progress: January 7-13, 2018New words produced: 38,358Outlines and Notes: 1,051Works completed: NilWorks edited: NilCovers created: NilWorks published: NilWorks submitted: NilCompetitions Entered: NilBloggery: NilHours at Desk: 47 hours, 16m.Hours January 1-6: 38 hours, 19mGoal ProgressPublish Fortnightly: Weekly pre-releases have already been uploaded to the end of January, 2018. Stories have been written to cover the release schedule to the first week of February 2018, and the second release for that month has been fully outlined. This goal is currently on track.
Short Story/Month Goal: So far, the short story, The Queens’ Game , has been released for January 2017, and stories have been written, but not yet published, for February through to June, 2017: Reluctant Liaison, Memory’s Vampire, Dreams of the Serpent, Destiny’s Queen, and Harper’s Choice . This goal is on track.
Chapter Book/Month Goal: So far, one chapter book, In Full Flight , has been uploaded for pre-release on January 20, 2017, and the outline for February’s chapter book is now complete. This goal is currently on track.
Novel/Quarter Goal: So far, I have released 1 young-adult novel for Quarter 1, A Planet’s Ransom , and completed the first 38,000 words of the novel due for the second quarter, as well as the outline to complete it. This goal is currently on track.
Publishing 12-Months Ahead Goal: I am going to follow the same pattern for next year’s work, as I am for this year. This means publishing 12-months’ worth of short stories and 12-months’ worth of chapter books, and 1 novel each quarter. I have yet to start on the short stories and chapter books for this goal.
Finishing-Series-I-Have-Started Goal: At the start of the year, I named several series that I wanted to advance. For C.M. Simpson, these were the: Freeman, The Priestess, the Prince & Dragon, Aggie & Tams series; and for Carlie Simonsen they were the: Wings and Tag Man One series. So far, I have uploaded
In Full Flight
for pre-release, for the Wings series. This goal is on track.Finishing-Novels-Started-2017 Goal: At the start of the year I said I wanted to finish some novels started last year. I mentioned Mack ‘n’ Me , Arach. I forgot about the second book in the Aggie & Tams series, the second book in The Priestess, Prince & the Dragon series.
Last week, I started work on the Mack ‘n’ Me 'n' Odyssey series. The good news is that the first book is now a third complete. The bad news is that the work already completed on it had to be moved to a second book, and I started work on this one from almost scratch. Of course, the good news is also that there are now three books and one anthology planned for this series, and should all be completed by the end of the year.
Anthology Challenge Progress
The Anthology Challenge is to release one collection of short work each month in 2019. When I began this challenge, I had completed four collections, but had to compile, cover, edit and upload any. The current status for each collection is as follows:
January—Short Work for 2017, Volume 1: Completed and collated at 98,000 words, requires cover, front and end matter, editing, formatting and publication;
February—Short Work for 2017, Volume 2: Completed, requires collation editing, and publication;March—Tales from Odyssey: 79,824/90,000 words;
April—An Anthology of Bloodlines: 46,510/90,000 words;
May—Pixie-Dust Dreaming: 53,020/90,000 words;
June—The Story-Match Challenge 2015:Completed at 102,655 words, requires collation, editing, and publication;
July—The Story-A-Week Catch-Up Collection:Completed at 91,491, requires collation, editing and publication;
August—Another Anthology of Dragons: 43,311/90,000 words;
September—Tales from When the Trolls Came: 21,815/90,000 words;
October—Stories from the Lizardine: 31,493/90,000 words;
November—Tales from Tallameera: 19,902/90,000 words; and
December—Another 366 Days of Poetry: 0/90,000 words.
Extension—Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction: 0/90,000 words.Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge Progress
The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge is to release one collection of chapter books each month in 2020. When I began this challenge, I had not completed any of the proposed collections. The current status for each collection is as follows:
January—Wings: 3 of 4 proposed volumes completed; existing stories compiled with updated front and back matter;
February—Rocky: previously known as the Otherworld series; 5 of 6 proposed volumes completed;March—Wheelchair Romance: currently included in the Wheelchair Adventures series; 3 of 4 proposed of volumes completed;
April—Granny Finds Adventures: 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed, but overviews are completed for the first three, and a full outline is done for the first volume;
May—Tag Man One: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
June—Long Hair Collected: 1 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
July—Ribbondrake Riders: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
August—On Patrol Collection: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
September—Running with the Pack: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
October—Traveller’s Tales: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;
November—Marcus Drain’s Collected Adventures; 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed;
December—The Dear Tiger Letters: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed.
January 12, 2018
Just Released: A Planet's Ransom
Yay!
A Planet's Ransom
written under my young-adult fiction pen-name, Carlie Simonsen is now out in the wild in both ebook and paperbook. You can get it from Smashwords, Amazon, and DriveThruFiction or via Draft2Digital distribution. So excited!!!
Made hostages for a world whose international leaders didn’t know how to behave, we ended up on a new world, one we have to make our own, where every step of civilisation has to be earned, all over again. It’s meant to be a world to hide the secret of our survival—but not all the aliens believe we have a right to survive. Torn between two rival factions of an alien race, we have to save our keepers, defeat our hunters, and get a message to the stars.
And that’s just if we want to live.
Making a place for humanity, is another task altogether.
A Planet’s Ransom is the second book in the Space Adventuresseries, a series of science fiction adventures set in space, or on the colonies of newly discovered worlds. Each book is a stand-alone story that can be read without needing to read other books in the series.
Made hostages for a world whose international leaders didn’t know how to behave, we ended up on a new world, one we have to make our own, where every step of civilisation has to be earned, all over again. It’s meant to be a world to hide the secret of our survival—but not all the aliens believe we have a right to survive. Torn between two rival factions of an alien race, we have to save our keepers, defeat our hunters, and get a message to the stars.
And that’s just if we want to live.
Making a place for humanity, is another task altogether.
A Planet’s Ransom is the second book in the Space Adventuresseries, a series of science fiction adventures set in space, or on the colonies of newly discovered worlds. Each book is a stand-alone story that can be read without needing to read other books in the series.
Progress Report: January 1-6, 2018
I spent most of this week trying to get a handle on how to approach the year of publishing ahead. It wasn’t until I set some goals, and added in a couple of challenges that I even got a clue. Now, as the last day of that week closes, I think I’ve got a fair grip on how to approach the year ahead. My guess is that it will last as long as the first curve ball, and then I’ll have to reassess and rejig, but that’s life in general. Here’s hoping I’ve got things somewhere near about right.
Progress: January 1-6, 2018
New words produced: 3,356Outlines and Notes: 1,558Words compiled: 112,273Works completed: 0Works edited: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 4,090
Goal ProgressPublish Fortnightly: Fortnightly pre-releases have already been uploaded to the end of January, 2017. Stories have been written to cover the release schedule to the first week of February 2017. This goal is currently on track.
Short Story/Month Goal: So far, the short story, The Queens’ Game , has been released for January 2017, and stories have been written, but not yet published, for February through to June, 2017: Reluctant Liaison, Memory’s Vampire, Dreams of the Serpent, Destiny’s Queen, and Harper’s Choice . This goal is on track.
Chapter Book/Month Goal: So far, one chapter book, In Full Flight , has been uploaded for pre-release on January 20, 2017. This goal is currently on track.
Novel/Quarter Goal: So far, I have released 1 young-adult novel for Quarter 1, A Planet’s Ransom . This goal is currently on track.
Publishing 12-Months Ahead Goal: I am going to follow the same pattern for next year’s work, as I am for this year. This means publishing 12-months’ worth of short stories and 12-months’ worth of chapter books, and 1 novel each quarter. I have started by collating the first collection.
Finishing-Series-I-Have-Started Goal: At the start of the year, I named several series that I wanted to advance. For C.M. Simpson, these were the: Freeman, The Priestess, the Prince & Dragon, Aggie & Tams series; and for Carlie Simonsen they were the: Wings and Tag Man One series. So far, I have uploaded In Full Flight for pre-release, for the Wings series. This goal is on track.
Finishing-Novels-Started-2017 Goal: At the start of the year I said I wanted to finish some novels started last year. I mentioned Mack ‘n’ Me , Arach. I forgot about the second book in the Aggie & Tams series, the second book in The Priestess, Prince & the Dragon series. I have yet to start working towards this goal.Anthology Challenge ProgressThe Anthology Challenge is to release one collection of short work each month in 2019. When I began this challenge, I had completed four collections, but had to compile, cover, edit and upload any. The current status for each collection is as follows:
January—Short Work for 2017, Volume 1: Completed and collated at 98,000 words, requires cover, front and end matter, editing, formatting and publication;February—Short Work for 2017, Volume 2: Completed, requires collation editing, and publication;March—Tales from Odyssey: 79,824/90,000 words;April—An Anthology of Bloodlines: 46,510/90,000 words;May—Pixie-Dust Dreaming: 53,020/90,000 words;June—The Story-Match Challenge 2015: Completed at 102,655 words, requires collation, editing, and publication;July—The Story-A-Week Catch-Up Challenge 2016: Completed at 91,491, requires collation, editing and publication;August—Another Anthology of Dragons: 43,311/90,000 words;September—Tales from When the Trolls Came: 21,815/90,000 words;October—Stories from the Lizardine: 31,493/90,000 words;November—Tales from Tallameera: 19,902/90,000 words; andDecember—Another 366 Days of Poetry: 0/90,000 words.
Extension—Another 366 Days of Flash Fiction: 0/90,000 words.Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge ProgressThe Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge is to release one collection of chapter books each month in 2020. When I began this challenge, I had not completed any of the proposed collections. The current status for each collection is as follows:
January—Wings: 3 of 4 proposed volumes completed; existing stories compiled with updated front and back matter;February—Rocky: previously known as the Otherworld series; 5 of 6 proposed volumes completed;March—Wheelchair Romance: currently included in the Wheelchair Adventures series; 3 of 4 proposed of volumes completed;April—Granny Finds Adventures: 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed;May—Tag Man One: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;June—Long Hair Collected: 1 of 6 proposed volumes completed;July—Ribbondrake Riders: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;August—On Patrol Collection: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;September—Running with the Pack: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;October—Traveller’s Tales: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed;November—Marcus Drain’s Collected Adventures; 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed;December—The Dear Tiger Letters: 1 of 4 proposed volumes completed.
January 11, 2018
Publishing Business: Repricing Completed
Over the last, few days, I’ve been reviewing my pricing, and I decided to make a few changes:
In preparation for bundling my existing chapter books into collections, I have repriced all individual chapter book titles from $3.99 to $2.99 U.S. This will allow existing readers to choose whether or not they want to buy individual titles, or wait the two years for the first bundle of any series to come out. It will also give new readers a way to catch up, more easily, on an existing series. Collections will be priced at $4.99, and will contain a minimum of 4 individual chapter book titles.I also repriced all my novels to $5.99 U.S., and all collections and anthologies to $4.99.And, finally, all pre-orders will be priced at $2.99 until the day of their release, when they will be repriced to their usual sales price, whatever it may be. This means that A Planet’s Ransom is currently priced at $2.99, but will go back up to $4.99 on, or shortly after January 13th (U.S. EST).And that's it for repricing... at least, for the moment.
January 10, 2018
Introducing the Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge
This year, I have introduced two challenges to give myself some direction in my writing and publishing: The Anthology Challenge, and The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge.
The aim of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge is to complete, to pre-release readiness, one collection of chapter books, by the end of 2019, for release each month in 2020. All of these collections will contain previously published work, but, as of the beginning of this challenge, I have not completed any of the proposed collections, and will need to write new material for each.
This new work will be released as individual volumes prior to the release of the collection in which it is contained, and some of these volumes will be releasing in 2020. This gives readers the option of buying books singly, as they become available, or as a group.
Rules:
Each collection must contain at least 4 volumes from each series.New volumes must be released prior to the release of the collection.A collection must be uploaded for pre-release 3 months prior to the release date.A minimum of 6 collections must be compiled, with front and back matter, prior to the end of 2018.The remaining collections must be compiled, with front and back matter, prior to the end of 2019.A minimum of 6 collections, including each of their individual volumes, must have covers prior to the end of 2018.The remaining collections, and each of their individual volumes, must have covers prior to the end of 2019.More than one chapter book can be released in the months preceding the release date of the collection that incorporates that volume.
Schedule and Current Status of Collections:
January—The Wings CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 3 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, and the existing stories compiled with updated front and back matter. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
February—The Rocky CollectionThis collection compiles all the stories from the series known as the Otherworld series. At the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 5 of the 6 proposed stories had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
March—The Wheelchair Romance CollectionThis collection compiles four stories currently included in the Wheelchair Adventures series, all of which have a strong romantic element. At the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 3 of 4 proposed of volumes completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
April—The Granny Finds Adventures CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed.
May—The Tag Man One CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
June—Long Hair CollectedAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of 6 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
July—The Ribbondrake Riders CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
August—Stories from being On PatrolAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
September—Adventures from Running with the PackAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
October—Tales from the TravellerAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
November—Marcus Drain’s Collected AdventuresAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 0 of the 6 proposed volumes had been completed.
December—The Dear Tiger Letters:At the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
The aim of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge is to complete, to pre-release readiness, one collection of chapter books, by the end of 2019, for release each month in 2020. All of these collections will contain previously published work, but, as of the beginning of this challenge, I have not completed any of the proposed collections, and will need to write new material for each.
This new work will be released as individual volumes prior to the release of the collection in which it is contained, and some of these volumes will be releasing in 2020. This gives readers the option of buying books singly, as they become available, or as a group.
Rules:
Each collection must contain at least 4 volumes from each series.New volumes must be released prior to the release of the collection.A collection must be uploaded for pre-release 3 months prior to the release date.A minimum of 6 collections must be compiled, with front and back matter, prior to the end of 2018.The remaining collections must be compiled, with front and back matter, prior to the end of 2019.A minimum of 6 collections, including each of their individual volumes, must have covers prior to the end of 2018.The remaining collections, and each of their individual volumes, must have covers prior to the end of 2019.More than one chapter book can be released in the months preceding the release date of the collection that incorporates that volume.
Schedule and Current Status of Collections:
January—The Wings CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 3 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, and the existing stories compiled with updated front and back matter. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
February—The Rocky CollectionThis collection compiles all the stories from the series known as the Otherworld series. At the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 5 of the 6 proposed stories had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
March—The Wheelchair Romance CollectionThis collection compiles four stories currently included in the Wheelchair Adventures series, all of which have a strong romantic element. At the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 3 of 4 proposed of volumes completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
April—The Granny Finds Adventures CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 0 of 6 proposed volumes completed.
May—The Tag Man One CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
June—Long Hair CollectedAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of 6 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
July—The Ribbondrake Riders CollectionAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
August—Stories from being On PatrolAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
September—Adventures from Running with the PackAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
October—Tales from the TravellerAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
November—Marcus Drain’s Collected AdventuresAt the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, 0 of the 6 proposed volumes had been completed.
December—The Dear Tiger Letters:At the start of The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge, only 1 of the 4 proposed volumes had been completed, but no further work had been done. Stories included in this collection are, so far, as follows:
January 9, 2018
Introducing the Anthology Challenge
This year, I have introduced two challenges to give myself some direction in my writing and publishing: The Anthology Challenge, and The Chapter-Book-Collection Challenge.
The aim of The Anthology Challenge is to complete, to pre-release readiness, 12 collections of short fiction in 2018, for release in 2019. All of these collections will contain previously published work, but most will also contain stories published exclusively, for the first time, in that collection. All of these new stories will be included in one of the annual collections of short work published in 2019, but the older stories will not—and the 2019 collections won’t be published until early 2021.Rules:
The new stories for The Anthology Challenge are to be written in addition to the stories to be written and published in 2019.The collections are to be compiled, with front and back matter, prior to the end of 2018.The collections are to have covers prior to the end of 2018.Collections are to be uploaded 3 months prior to their release date.Collections are to contain a minimum of 80,000 words of story.I can add work from any of my pen-names to any collection.
Schedule and Current Status of Collections:January—C.M. Simpson: Short Stories from 2017—Fantasy & Urban FantasyThis collection contains all the fantasy and urban fantasy stories published in 2017—including flash fiction first published in 366 Days of Flash Fiction . At the start of the challenge this collection had not entered the compilation stage and had no cover. At this point, it has been compiled, but requires a cover, formatting, a quick edit, and a cover. It is 91,000 words long and contains the following short stories:
February—C.M. Simpson: Short Stories from 2017—Science Fiction and HorrorThis collection contains all the science fiction and horror stories published in 2017—including flash fiction first published in 366 Days of Flash Fiction . At the start of the challenge it had yet to be compiled or have any other work done. It contains the following short stories:
March—Tales from OdysseyThis collection contains short stories, flash fiction and poetry written about Odyssey, a secretive company specialising in intelligence and luxury space cruises. At the start of this challenge it was 79,824 words long, and contained the following short stories:
April—An Anthology of BloodlinesThis collection contains short stories, flash fiction and poetry dealing with inherited talents and traits. At the start of this challenge it was estimated 46,510 words long, and had the following short stories assigned:
May—Pixie-Dust DreamingThis collection contains short stories, flash fiction and poetry set in the world of Pixie Dust and the Paranormal Operations Squad (P.O.S. for short). At the start of this challenge, it was estimated at 58,157 words long, and had the following short stories assigned:
June—The Story-Match Challenge 2015This collection contains all the short stories written in July 2015 as part of a challenge I set myself to match Dean Wesley Smith’s personal challenge to write one short story a day for the month of July. Unlike Dean, I did not succeed in the challenge, but the stories that came out of this challenge were well worth the effort - even if some were completed long after the challenge was over. At the start of this challenge, this collection was estimated at 102,655 words long, and no work had been done to create the final collection, save to list the following short stories:
July—The Story-A-Week Catch-Up Challenge 2016This collection contains all the short stories written between July and December 2016, as part of a challenge to finish off The Story-Match Challenge started the previous year. Again, I miscalculated my university workload and didn’t complete the challenge, and, again, the stories that came out of this challenge were more than worth it. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 91,491 words long, and no work had been done to create the final collection, save to list the following short stories:
August—Another Anthology of DragonsThis collection contains all the short stories, flash fiction, and poetry published since An Anthology of Dragon s, and then adds a few more. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 43, 311 words long, and no work had been done to create the final collection, save to list the following short stories:
September—Tales from When the Trolls CameThis collection contains all the short stories to do with the Troll Hunter, and her dealings with the local elves and trolls, as well as any other stories set in her world. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 21,815words, and had the following short stories assigned:
October—Stories from the Lizardine
This collection contains all the short stories and flash fiction to do with the part of the Odyssey universe dedicated to the lizardine of Aquapearl and their human hybrids. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 31,493 words, and had the following stories assigned:
November—Tales from TallameeraThis collection contains all the short stories, flash fiction and poetry to do with the world of Tallameera, on which the Shadow series is set. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 19,902 words, and had the following stories assigned:
December—Another 366 Days of PoetryThis collection is another collection of poetry that consists of a poem for each day of the year. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, it had not been started.
The aim of The Anthology Challenge is to complete, to pre-release readiness, 12 collections of short fiction in 2018, for release in 2019. All of these collections will contain previously published work, but most will also contain stories published exclusively, for the first time, in that collection. All of these new stories will be included in one of the annual collections of short work published in 2019, but the older stories will not—and the 2019 collections won’t be published until early 2021.Rules:
The new stories for The Anthology Challenge are to be written in addition to the stories to be written and published in 2019.The collections are to be compiled, with front and back matter, prior to the end of 2018.The collections are to have covers prior to the end of 2018.Collections are to be uploaded 3 months prior to their release date.Collections are to contain a minimum of 80,000 words of story.I can add work from any of my pen-names to any collection.
Schedule and Current Status of Collections:January—C.M. Simpson: Short Stories from 2017—Fantasy & Urban FantasyThis collection contains all the fantasy and urban fantasy stories published in 2017—including flash fiction first published in 366 Days of Flash Fiction . At the start of the challenge this collection had not entered the compilation stage and had no cover. At this point, it has been compiled, but requires a cover, formatting, a quick edit, and a cover. It is 91,000 words long and contains the following short stories:
February—C.M. Simpson: Short Stories from 2017—Science Fiction and HorrorThis collection contains all the science fiction and horror stories published in 2017—including flash fiction first published in 366 Days of Flash Fiction . At the start of the challenge it had yet to be compiled or have any other work done. It contains the following short stories:
March—Tales from OdysseyThis collection contains short stories, flash fiction and poetry written about Odyssey, a secretive company specialising in intelligence and luxury space cruises. At the start of this challenge it was 79,824 words long, and contained the following short stories:
April—An Anthology of BloodlinesThis collection contains short stories, flash fiction and poetry dealing with inherited talents and traits. At the start of this challenge it was estimated 46,510 words long, and had the following short stories assigned:
May—Pixie-Dust DreamingThis collection contains short stories, flash fiction and poetry set in the world of Pixie Dust and the Paranormal Operations Squad (P.O.S. for short). At the start of this challenge, it was estimated at 58,157 words long, and had the following short stories assigned:
June—The Story-Match Challenge 2015This collection contains all the short stories written in July 2015 as part of a challenge I set myself to match Dean Wesley Smith’s personal challenge to write one short story a day for the month of July. Unlike Dean, I did not succeed in the challenge, but the stories that came out of this challenge were well worth the effort - even if some were completed long after the challenge was over. At the start of this challenge, this collection was estimated at 102,655 words long, and no work had been done to create the final collection, save to list the following short stories:
July—The Story-A-Week Catch-Up Challenge 2016This collection contains all the short stories written between July and December 2016, as part of a challenge to finish off The Story-Match Challenge started the previous year. Again, I miscalculated my university workload and didn’t complete the challenge, and, again, the stories that came out of this challenge were more than worth it. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 91,491 words long, and no work had been done to create the final collection, save to list the following short stories:
August—Another Anthology of DragonsThis collection contains all the short stories, flash fiction, and poetry published since An Anthology of Dragon s, and then adds a few more. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 43, 311 words long, and no work had been done to create the final collection, save to list the following short stories:
September—Tales from When the Trolls CameThis collection contains all the short stories to do with the Troll Hunter, and her dealings with the local elves and trolls, as well as any other stories set in her world. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 21,815words, and had the following short stories assigned:
October—Stories from the Lizardine
This collection contains all the short stories and flash fiction to do with the part of the Odyssey universe dedicated to the lizardine of Aquapearl and their human hybrids. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 31,493 words, and had the following stories assigned:
November—Tales from TallameeraThis collection contains all the short stories, flash fiction and poetry to do with the world of Tallameera, on which the Shadow series is set. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, this collection was estimated at 19,902 words, and had the following stories assigned:
December—Another 366 Days of PoetryThis collection is another collection of poetry that consists of a poem for each day of the year. At the start of The Anthology Challenge, it had not been started.
January 8, 2018
Looking Forward: Hopes for 2018
I think I’ll call 2018 ‘The Year of Getting My Shit Together’… or something like that. I don’t know, yet. My only real writing goal is to establish a sustainable writing and publishing schedule, and the start of a better work-life balance.
Why only the start? Because this year is the first year of being full-time in the writing business, and the first year of any business is a year of hard work, as the business is established. The schedule is likely to be a little crazy for at least the first six months, and probably right up until this time next year. After that, I’m hoping to be able to drop back to something more lifestyle friendly.Other goals? To continue to build and maintain my fitness and health. To spend a bit more time with my family.Apart from that, I have some more specific writing goals. They are, as follows:To publish at least fortnightly, with one short story and one chapter book coming out each month.To try and publish a novel every quarter.To begin writing work to be released twelve months ahead.To begin finishing what I have started in terms of series (Freeman, Aggie & Tams, The Priestess, the Prince and the Dragon, Wings, and Tag Man One for starters).
To begin finishing some of the novels started last year, Mack ‘n’ Me and Arach being the main two that come to mind.
Those are the bare-bones goals. What I hope for – and what I am working towards – is a lot more. To help with these goal I have set myself two challenges – and these are to do with the next two year’s publishing schedules: The Anthology Challenge, and The Chapter-Book Collection Challenge, which I will talk about in other posts. So far, the year is off to a very strong start, with January’s four titles up for pre-order, and a short story completed for February through to June. The trick will be to keep the momentum as the year shifts around me.
Why only the start? Because this year is the first year of being full-time in the writing business, and the first year of any business is a year of hard work, as the business is established. The schedule is likely to be a little crazy for at least the first six months, and probably right up until this time next year. After that, I’m hoping to be able to drop back to something more lifestyle friendly.Other goals? To continue to build and maintain my fitness and health. To spend a bit more time with my family.Apart from that, I have some more specific writing goals. They are, as follows:To publish at least fortnightly, with one short story and one chapter book coming out each month.To try and publish a novel every quarter.To begin writing work to be released twelve months ahead.To begin finishing what I have started in terms of series (Freeman, Aggie & Tams, The Priestess, the Prince and the Dragon, Wings, and Tag Man One for starters).
To begin finishing some of the novels started last year, Mack ‘n’ Me and Arach being the main two that come to mind.
Those are the bare-bones goals. What I hope for – and what I am working towards – is a lot more. To help with these goal I have set myself two challenges – and these are to do with the next two year’s publishing schedules: The Anthology Challenge, and The Chapter-Book Collection Challenge, which I will talk about in other posts. So far, the year is off to a very strong start, with January’s four titles up for pre-order, and a short story completed for February through to June. The trick will be to keep the momentum as the year shifts around me.
