CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

Today, apart from the usual end of month administration, some reading for another project, and the creation of a new cover, I spent reading over the existing words for an older project. With only one other project currently under way, it is time to up my game. Pending confirmation of any other projects, this novel marks the start of two projects running concurrently, with the occasional third, shorter work, thrown in. It will also be the first to be sacrificed for higher priorities, and then recommenced once those priorities pass. As I went over what I’d written – way back in 2015 – this reunion between Dockmaster Tescha and a very old acquaintance caught my eye: ---------------------------------------------------------------- They all waited as the queen surveyed them once more, Tescha just as curious about the reactions of those around her, as she was about the queen herself. When the gaze of those golden orbs rested on her, she raised her head, and gave the queen her ful...

August saw an improvement over July’s performance, which was expected as my health improved, and the RSI injury healed enough not to hurt when I typed. By the end of the month I was typing a regular 5k with notes. The goal for September is to increase that to 7k of words and notes as a minimum. I did get sidetracked earlier in the month as I improved my business knowledge, and that learning will continue. After trying out a couple of different work schedules, I think I’ve found one that’s both acceptable, and achievable and sustainable, but only time will tell. I have a list of tasks as long as my arm, so the long days will continue, and I won’t be terribly social. Hopefully, that will ease, coming into October or November. With that in mind, here is what was achieved in August: Progress: August 2018 New words produced: 72,085 Outlines and Notes: 9,606 Words compiled: 0 Works completed: 0 Works edited: 5 ( Shadow’s Rise, two submissions, ...

Today’s words are done for Mack ‘n’ Me: The Wolves of Alpha 9. They took longer than I’d like, but I kept getting ideas and scenes for another project which needed to be recorded as they came, since ideas don’t like to hang around and they refuse to be called back. I’ve also run through the final edit for September’s short story, and should be able to finalise that tomorrow. Right now, I’ll post this, and I’ll be off to do some reading to familiarise with a new setting for a short story submission. ---------------------------------------------------------------- “You weren’t expected,” said the man holding my blaster, and I took a good long look at him. Dark-haired, brown eyed, a little taller than most, and pretty well built, he stood like a fighter, not a soldier. I was willing to bet he moved more like Tens than a Marine. And I was pretty darned sure he’d be hard to drop on his ass… and that was without the blaster. With the blaster, I had no chance, because he’d shoot me...

I’ve just finished the words for Mack ‘n’ Me #5. They are good words… until tomorrow, when I will edit them again and probably ask myself who wrote this shit, and then they will be edited and will be good words, all over again. For now, in their mostly unedited first draft state, here are the first words of the day, written around 7 hours ago. You don't need to ask if Cutter's mission is going sideways, you just need to ask how bad and how fast: ---------------------------------------------------------------- Turns out it was a good question to ask. I’d been trotting through the tunnel, towards the slant-wise cutting that would take me down a level, when Tens and Case called me back. “That wasn’t the maid,” Tens said. “It was the concubine.” “Figures.” I slowed to a walk, found an alcove, checked it for creepy crawlies, and stepped inside. “Go on.” “And it’s a slave bracelet.” “A what?” “You heard the man,” Case told me. “A slave bracelet. You know, the ...