C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 161

Progress Report: Week 3, September 20-26, 2015

Another big week of university preparation. I managed to finish the preparation for this week, just prior to when I would have had to be in class—but I didn’t attend class; I did the final touch-ups you need to do for a house inspection, and supervised overdue repairs that were scheduled at the last minute… and then I got straight into preparing for next week’s classes, because I have a convention I want to attend this weekend and there won’t be time afterwards.
So, plans for next year? Reduce the study load by one subject and keep up with the release schedule. Also, re-introduce the roleplaying entries on a Friday, get back to poetry on Mondays, and remember the bird and critter report… maybe Wednesdays. You’ll see me moving towards that over the next few weeks as I clear the study decks.Only five weeks left of semester and the university year—and then I get to write full-time for a few months!
Overview
New words produced: 0Old words revised: 0Works completed: 0Works revised: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 1,433University Prep and Assignments: 3,839
Back-on-Track Challenge:
NilPublishing TasksCreated 5 blog posts for this blog

Progress Report: Week 3, September 13-19, 2015

Lots of study, this week… lots and lots of study. Finalised the third essay of four, caught up on the four classes worth of reading I missed when I was sick, and started on the class preparation for the first week of term. Also started the fourth essay, after finalising the topic with the lecturer. So go me-the-student, not-so-go-me-the-writer. Two-point-two-five years to go. Reduced study load next year. Six weeks left in the university year, not including exams. On the up-side, I *did* take a study break and revise a young adult novel I’ve been wanting to get started on for the last eight months, so that will be amongst next year’s releases as soon as it’s finished. Also had a few submissions to magazine markets that I put out. So *some* stuff got done on the writing front, just not a lot.
 
Overview
New words produced: 1,444Old words revised: 33,745Works completed: 0Works revised: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 2Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 0University Prep and Assignments: 7,771
Back-on-Track Challenge:
Nil

Progress Report: Week 2, September 6-12, 2015

University break started this week, and I only have one and a half essays to write, instead of the four predicted – yay. Of course, I’ve spent a bit more time on my writing, getting ready for next year’s release schedule, since I know it’s going to be busy for 28 weeks out of the 52, I’d better work on that. I’m finding it hard to develop and maintain a writing habit with university, but it’s only for another year and a bit. After that, I get to decide what happens next, and I’m thinking writing full-time might just be it. Ask me again in six months. In the meantime, the essays took precedence, but reading and research time taken doesn’t come up as a word count. Lots of that, this week. Not much of anything else.
 
Overview
New words produced: 5,934Old words revised: 0Works completed: 0Works revised: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 0University Prep and Assignments: 1,496
Back-on-Track Challenge:
Nil

Publishing Tasks
Created 1 blog posts for this blog

Progress Report: Week 1, September 2015 (30 August – 5 September)

New process added for short stories. I have found 15 potential markets that make the wait before the stories can be independently published worthwhile. Each short story will now be given a chance to find a home in a recognised magazine, before being published. I’ve removed the titles from the project code for each to avoid compromise to any blind submission process they might be participating in, and I’ve revamped my publishing schedule to reflect this. I don’t think I’ll be implementing a similar process for my longer works, not unless publishers do something crazy like agreeing to purchase only the right to print and distribute within their established brick-and-mortar networks inside a set time frame, taking the ‘for the life of the copyright’ clause out of their contracts AND agreeing to ensure any print novels contracted to them are available in reasonable numbers for ordering within each and every 12-month period, for the life of the contract, while allowing me to retain all other rights (including print-on-demand and electronic distribution rights)—and since that’s really not likely to happen, I think I’ll be indie-publishing for the foreseeable future. I like being able to release more than one title a year for each of my different pen-names. I like being able to write and release collections of poetry and short stories. And I like being able to write and release things that don’t really fit anyone else’s publishing schedule. It makes writing fun.
 
Overview
New words produced: 3,231Old words revised: 0Works completed: 0Works revised: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 9Competitions Entered: 1Bloggery: 0University Prep and Assignments: 0
Back-on-Track Challenge:
Design covers for, edit, format, and upload the following:

SciFanNovel1A—Freeman’s Choice – changed publication date to November 2015; it was September 2015ShortStory479—edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and submitted once; will not be released in SeptemberAnnual25A—C.M. Simpson: Short Stories and Poems from 2014, Vol. 1: changed publication date to December 2015; it was October 2015.ShortStory480—edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and submitted once; will not be released in OctoberAnnual25B—C.M. Simpson: Short Stories and Poems from 2014, Vol. 2: changed publication date to December 2015; it was November 2015.ShortStory481—edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and formatted once; will not be released in NovemberAnnual25C—C.M. Simpson: Short Stories and Poems from 2014, Vol. 3: (December 2015)ShortStory487—edited, formatted and submitted to a competition; will not be released in DecemberChapbook5E—Rocky and the Spacefarer’s Christmas now scheduled for December 2015)ShortStory488edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and formatted once; may not be released in January 2016.ShortStory489—edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and formatted once; may not be released in February 2016.ShortStory492—edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and formatted twice; may not be released in March 2016.ShortStory493—edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and formatted once; may not be released in April 2016.ShortStory501—edited, formatted to standard manuscript format and formatted once; may not be released in May 2016.

New Writing
Chapbook5E—Rocky and the Spacefarer’s Christmas (December 2015) – Completed first draft on 20 August 2015, and moved to: Design covers for, edit, format, and upload section.

Progress Report: Week 5, August 23-29, 2015

I was sick for most of the week, and caring for a sick child, so not a lot of writing got done, but progress was made in other areas.

Overview
New words produced: 1,157Old words revised: 4,014Works completed: 5 (for inclusion in other works)Works revised: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 0University Prep and Assignments: 5,397
Back-on-Track Challenge:
Design covers for, edit, format, and upload the following:
YANovel26—Pyrie: initially slated for an August 2015 release, is now complete. It has a cover, a blurb, and a full edit, but I’m not sure I can upload it as it deals with a particularly sensitive topic and I’m not sure if it will be seen to cross too many lines.
Other Tasks
DarkFantasy8A—Winter’s Ache: caught up with the notes and started revision in preparation to writing.
New Arrivals
The following pieces arrived last week and were completed:
Poem636—The Dragon Storm: a poem about dragons;Poem637—The Mating Dance of Grollups: another poem about the creatures that live within the Medilo;Poem638—Vengeance on the Mother Ship: a science fiction poem about an attack on an invading ship;Poem639—I met an Elf on a Summer’s Day: an urban fantasy poem about an encounter with an elf;Poem640—Stories in the Storm: a speculative poem about the meaning of storms; Poem641—Trading out of Trouble: a science fiction poem about the dangers of life on a starship

Covers Created: August 2015

I created the following covers in August 2015:

Hammer and the Trolls eBook cover

Progress Report: Week 4, August 16-22, 2015

Pretty busy week. I completed a 2,500-word research essay for one of my university subjects and thirty pieces of poetry and flash fiction. I also completed a chapter book for younger young adults, and designed a cover for a short story, which I then edited, formatted and uploaded to five different platforms. Not bad for a week with classes and other study thrown in.
 
Overview
New words produced: 10,119Old words revised: 0Works completed: 31Works revised: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 871University Prep and Assignments: 3,640
Back-on-Track Challenge:
Design covers for, edit, format, and upload the following:
ShortStory474—Hammer and the Trolls released on schedule on August 16, 2015



New Writing
Chapbook5E—Rocky and the Spacefarer’s Christmas is now complete and moves up into the category above. It is due for release in December 2015.Chapbook5B—Rocky and the Great Teddybear Rescue: Added 1,000 words. This is due for release in January 2016.
Publishing Tasks
Created 3 blog posts for this blog;Created 3 blog post for the C.M. Simpson Publishing blog;Created 2 blog post for the C.M. Simpson Art and Photography blog;
New Arrivals
The following pieces arrived last week and were completed:
Poem619— Moving Forward : a speculative poem about finding new paths in life;Poem620—To Do is to…: A speculative poem about the meaning of actions;Poem621—Live Again: a science fiction poem about bringing lost species to life;Poem622—A Winter’s Night: a real-life-based series of haiku about a winter’s night;Poem623—A Battle with the Troll Lords: a fantasy poem about a human-troll battle;Poem624—I Gather Data with my Eyes: a poem about writing;Poem625—Into the Unknown: a science fiction poem imagining how the first warp was viewed;Poem626—Victory in Discovery: a science fiction poem imagining how achieving in the face of doubt might feel;Poem627—Coffee Woes in Space: a science fiction poem imagining how an Australian stockman might feel while travelling across space;Poem628—A Prayer for Dragons: a series of englyn penfyr about dragons;Poem629—Return to Me: a series of englyn milwr about an absence;Poem630—Dragons and Daylight: a series of tanka about dragons;Poem631—The Seeking Dragons: a series of tanka about more dragons;Poem632—The Medilo Acrostic: an acrostic about the dangers of the Medilo Swamp;Poem633—The Astronauts and the Clowns: a science fiction Alexandrine-style verse about overlords and astronauts;Poem634—Soldier, Warrior, Fighter, Love: a speculative cinquain about soldiers;Poem635—The People in My Life: a found poem about people and the poet;ShortStory532—Possums in the Firelight: a piece of flash speculative fiction about werebeasts.ShortStory533—Break from the Dying World: a piece of flash science fiction about a dying world and a rescue mission without hope.ShortStory534—Flame Trees: a piece of fantasy flash fiction about trees.ShortStory535—When Jonquil Called the Sun: a piece of science flash fiction about trolls.ShortStory536—The Flashlight Diversion: a piece of urban fantasy flash fiction about trolls.ShortStory537—Environmental Assignment: a piece of science flash fiction about a natural disaster and reparation;ShortStory538—The Veterinary Shore: a piece of science flash fiction about first contact;ShortStory539—Lady Mirabella and the Raiders: a piece of science flash fiction about taking risks and dealing with your enemies;ShortStory540—A Fistful of Cobblers: a piece of science flash fiction about a change in life;ShortStory541—Party Birds: a piece of speculative flash fiction about birds who like to party;ShortStory542—End the Day Well: a piece of post-apocalyptic flash fiction about how to end the day well;ShortStory543—In Memoriam: a piece of post-apocalyptic flash fiction about the importance of remembering; ShortStory544—Louise’s Calling: a piece of post-apocalyptic, urban fantasy flash fiction about troubled times and a debt.

Progress Report: Week 3, August 2015

I really have to stop saying I’ll do better—although, I did do better this week, even if the word numbers don’t reflect it. The essay I worked on this week took most of five days this week, between researching a field I had no idea about, wrapping my head around three theoretical approaches so I could apply them and compare the results, and just getting a rather complex topic in order. I had to set it aside for a bit, so I gave myself a day to publish. Not a lot of new writing got done, but I still have poems, flash and chapbook additions to transcribe, so it was more than reflected in the words below. Lotsa stuff to go, but we are making progress.OverviewNew words produced: 3,244Old words revised: 0Works completed: 0Works revised: 0Covers created: 0Works published: 0Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 838University Prep and Assignments: 2,368Back-on-Track Challenge:
Design covers for, edit, format, and upload the following:
ShortStory474—Hammer and the Trolls (August 2015): covered, formatted and released onto Amazon-Kindle, Draft2Digital, DriveThruFiction, Kobo, OmniLit and Smashwords for sale.
New Writing
Chapbook5E—Rocky and the Spacefarer’s Christmas (December 2015): Added 1,304 wordsPublishing TasksCreated 1 blog posts for this blog;New ArrivalsThe following pieces arrived last week and were completed:
Poem618—Just Believe: a science fiction poem about believing and alien races;
The following pieces arrived last week and are awaiting completion:
RPGCampaign1A—The Sunken City Campaign: A post-apocalyptic setting where the GM can vary the magic and the tech.

Update: Hammer and the Trolls now out on Amazon, OmniLit, and DriveThruFiction

Hammer and the Trolls has made it out to three more platforms:

Amazon - in Kindle

OmniLit - in PDF, .prc, and html formats

and

DriveThruFiction - in PDF





In a world where trolls can invade a castle from the inside, an interstellar prince finds he’s not the only one who can fire a sun-cannon, and the princess discovers she isn’t the only one who needs rescuing.

Hammer and the Trolls is a tale of science fiction and fantasy. It is a stand-alone short story that can also be found in the following collections: C.M. Simpson: Short Stories and Poems from 2015.

New Release: Hammer and the Trolls

And Hammer and the Trolls is now out on Smashwords! Check it :-)




In a world where trolls can invade a castle from the inside, an interstellar prince finds he’s not the only one who can fire a sun-cannon, and the princess discovers she isn’t the only one who needs rescuing.