CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Why Ingress? By now, you pretty much know how much I hate just going outside, enjoying the beautiful (or not-so-beautiful) weather and scenery, and just… walking. Being raised to understand that anything that does not lead directly towards achieving a livelihood is a colossal waste of time, I have a lot of trouble justifying just going for a walk. Sure, in my head I understand the health benefits, the lower blood sugar, the lower blood pressure, the easier maintenance of a healthier weight, lower stress, reduction of back pain, reduction of the likelihood of a back injury recurring, greater creativity, and greater productivity, but the actual doing? Well, that always seems like I’m not doing anything. So call me human. The thing is, it’s easier to get motivated if I make it fun, so I go outside and play. How do I justify playing? Well, walking is something I have to do… Trust me, there’s logic in there somewhere, but whatever works, right? This time, I returned to a...

Well, on the upside it looks like Niantic has made some progress on the red-banner error that stops me from raiding. And, while I *still* could not have taken this big fella down on my own, it's a little disappointing that, months after their introduction, I still can't enter raids. Mind you, what a *very* pretty pokemon - and it came to visit not once, but twice in one day. What are the chances of that happening again? <sigh> So, this is this morning's effort. Notice that I'm still being asked if I want to "rejoin" the battle, when I've never been part of it to start with. I suspect this might be part of the error, but I can't be sure. Anyway, you'll also notice the intriguing (33) at the end of the Error message, and the more detailed message, which is an improvement on the single-word message I used to get. And this is from the same gym this afternoon. Same error message,but I wasn't quick enough to screen-shot it.I will also...

If PCs call LN7 for back-up: LN7 arrives in force, and with back-up. The Girl-with-the-Dog comes straight to the garden and attempts to convince the girls to go with her willingly. She is accompanied by 5 LN7 operatives (2 thelema, and 3 cyphers) whose sole task is to secure the girls if Girl fails to do so. There are other agents nearby, but they hang back unless the children try to escape and the PCs try to assist the children rather than the agency. Anika is very taken aback by their arrival, but will speak with the Girl. If the Girl makes a successful TH4 Air (Trickery) roll, opposed by Anika’s Earth (Interaction or Trickery) skill, whichever is higher, the Anika agrees to go with LN7, taking Leyila and Lewistrom with them. LN7 allows the PCs to tag along. If the Girl is unsuccessful in her Trickery test, Anika and Leyila try to escape, and the PCs are ordered after them, along with a number of other LN7 operatives. PCs must, at this point, decide if their primary loyalty...

Last week saw some significant progress for the first week of September. It also saw a massive change of expected direction, with focus shifting to finding full-time work as opposed to full-time writing. I have four months to turn that around, but I’m a realist; it probably won’t happen. Ironically, that is only going to push me to try and prove myself wrong, but I doubt I can build a liveable wage from my writing in the next four months. The next twelve was a possibility. Once I start working full-time that goal will take a little longer, especially in today’s crowded market. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?   Week 1 Progress (September 3-9, 2017) New words produced: 9,171 Outlines and Notes: 0 Works completed: 0 Works edited: 0 Covers created: 0 Works published: 0 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 1,052 University Prep and Assignments: 2,808 (and uncounted hours) Writing News Last week saw some shorter works pro...

I should also let you know that C.M. Simpson: Short Works from 2015 and 2016 has now been released as a large-print paperback. It is currently available on CreateSpace , and should be available from other venues, such as Amazon.com later in the week. Seventh sons and space colonies, bird flu and poetry from the stars, flying ships, early Australia and fairy, pixies and elves in modern urbania, all can be found in this collection of poems and tales.

This report summarises the writing progress made in August. Much happened, and I find myself at the end of August, and half-way through my final semester of university.   Overall Progress for August, 2017 New words produced: 32,973 Outlines and Notes: 2,924 Works completed: 0 Works edited: 4 Covers created: 3 Works published: 6 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 9,398 University Prep and Assignments: 1,571 (and innumerable hours)

Just a quick note to say that the science fiction short story The Starman's Arrival is now released in ebook form. It will come out, mid- to late- next year, in paperback, as part of the collected short works anthology for this year. In the meantime, it can be found at Smashwords , Amazon, DriveThruFiction, and via Draft2Digital distribution. Knocking over those crates of beer was a death sentence. I did it on purpose, in front of everyone, and then I did the only thing I could—I ran. I think I saved the starman. Now, the only way I’ll know, is if the supply ship comes in time to drive the raiders away—and I get back out of Blacklegs’ Forest alive. Wish me luck, okay? I’m gonna need it.

Well, August started really well… and then it went very, very pear-shaped. I have discovered I cannot sustain a good writing pattern during exams and assignment season, if I get sick. I guess it’s a good thing, I have only 9 weeks left of university, and then I can get down to business, maybe… It depends on whether or not I find work, and when it starts. Needs must, as they say. So, August...   Week 3 Progress (August 20-26) New words produced: 2,168 Outlines and Notes: 0 Works completed: 0 Works edited: 0 Covers created: 0 Works published: 2 ( Fate in the Sun, Shades of Memory ) Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 0 University Prep and Assignments: 1,571       Week 4 Progress (August 27 to September 2) New words produced: 13,317 Outlines and Notes: 545 Works completed: 0 Works edited: 0 Covers created: 0 Works published: 0 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: ...