CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

This week I returned to work after a four-week break. The break was wonderful, and, even though I probably spent more time on games than I should have, I got a bit of an idea of what an independent publisher could achieve full time. Granted, the last four weeks have been a lot more about the independent-publishing process, than about the actual writing, but I have still gained an inkling of what I could be doing if I wasn’t working full-time. Still, we play the hand we’re dealt, and some of us happen to like our day jobs. It all depends on where we’re at for now. So, what exactly have I achieved this week? Let’s see: Current Projects In the last two weeks I completed the following on my current projects: Edited RomanceNovel1A—Secondhand Sweetheart for PenName2 ; Edited Novella7A for PenName3 . Completed 250 words on my NaNoWriMo novel, which shall henceforth be called Steampunk7A. Began outline for RomanceNovel1C . Submitted proposal and outline for RPGAdventure9A . ...

On 29 September 2012, I posted a set of goals. Here’s where they’re at one month later: Completed Release one novel as PenName2: 1/1 released ( SecondhandSweetheart – Madeleine Torr ). Progressed Release five novels as C.M. Simpson: 1/5 released ( Fisherpriest ) Re-release 2 novellas under PenName3: Novella7A: editing complete, now only awaiting new cover art; Static Release five anthologies : 4/5 released. The status remains the same with the final one still requiring the completion of four short stories. Re-release 2 novellas under PenName3: Novella6A: complete, but still awaiting rewrite and new cover art; Re-release one novella under PenName1: Novella8A: complete, awaiting rewrite and cover art;. Release one new novella under PenName1: Still deciding on which one to complete. Additional Tasks Completed Re-edited, re-formatted and re-uploaded the four anthologies and all 26 individual titles ; Undertaken the terribleminds blog flash fiction ...

1415-1515: Mashpunk—Does steampunk play well with others? with Louise Curtis, Conor Bendle, Marilyn Pride and Rik Lagarto Panelists (from left to right): Louise Curtis, Marilyn Pride, Rik Lagarto The panel started out by giving a couple of broad definitions for steampunk, and then went on to discuss some other kinds of ‘punk’ I hadn’t heard of: trenchpunk and dieselpunk. Examples of steampunk novels included Mortal Engines and Lark Light by Philip Reeve, World Shaker by Richard Harland, Blaze of Glory by Michael Pryor and Leviathan by Scott Westerfield. The panel also went on to discuss favoured steampunk tropes and moved into the main focus of what genres would best get along with the steampunk genre. 1515-1615: Other entities—Fantasy beyond dragons, fairies, kings and queens with Katie J. Taylor, Lily Mulholland and Tor Roxburgh The discussion opened with what creatures they had chosen to write about and why. All had chosen creatures that were ‘off the beaten...