A Change in Plans....

As a freelance writer, I am open to taking on other writing projects as I work on my own projects. Two such projects have come up and they will be the ones that get the lion's share of my attention for the near future. MY work on my own novels has not been stopped, but these new projects take the first two slots. It happens sometime, and I will try to work on my novels whenever I can.

The first project is a new Outcast Ops novel! The sales of the four other novels in the series have been strong over the last couple of months, and Rick and I have agreed to start creating a new Outcast Ops novel. The title at this time is Outcast Ops: Watchlist, and while there is no target date, we hope to have it out by the fall.

The second project is a story in a new Battletech Anthology. As I've said before, I've written for several Battletech anthologies, but this one has a new twist on the concept. I won't say more than that for now, but those of you who read these stories will like them.

But that will take most of my attention away from my novels. It can't be helped, but now is the time to get down to work. The OO novel is more plotting then writing, while the anthology story is pure writing, limited in time and word count. So, the best of both worlds.....

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The writing update:

The Assassin Prince --- Outline (through Chapter 32)
The Darkness of Shadows --- Outline (through Chapter 16)
Operation: Broken Chains --- Outline (through Chapter 20)

It still progress.....

When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.

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Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! Red Ice is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK! For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one)

In addition, Red Ice is now an audio book! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to it free! The audio version can be found here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible) African Firestorm is being recorded and hopefully will be released sometime soon. Please read or listen and leave a review!

Later!

Craig

Why Three Novels at the Same Time?

Because I'm a sucker for punishment?

I don't know. I've worked on multiple Batteletech stories at the same time, writing in several in a single session. I guess it might because being able to switch between projects allows me to stay fresh. I'm not sure it's going to work for novels, but I want to have all three outlined, researched and ready to go to should I need to.

For me, outlining is the hard part --- it's giving the story a rough form --- who did what, and what happened next. The finished outline is a slab of rock -- the writing is the forming of the story details, so it goes from rock slab to completed sculpture. Hard because I am so use to hammering the keys and having only a vague idea of how the story is going to go.

I was told by a fellow writer I should concentrate on one novel at a time. Maybe I will, But I like having that option to have something else I can work on should I become bogged down on the current one.

Am I finding any surprises in the outlining stage? Yes. Darkness of Shadows was only a vague idea when I started outlining, yet that one is forming faster than the other two, background-wise. I may have that one as the go-to should my writing of  The Assassin Prince bog down for some reason. (Which is why I'm outlining all three, to keep the writing on-track.)

My plan to have a couple of three novels in the outline stage at any one, ready to be slotted in should I finish a novel or get bogged down on it. Different genres should help separate them, forcing me to think about it as I write.

That's all for tonight. I see you in another week or so.

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The writing update:

The Assassin Prince --- Outline (through Chapter 29)
The Darkness of Shadows --- Outline (through Chapter 14)
Operation: Broken Chains --- Outline (through Chapter 18)

Not as much as I hope, but I was invited to pitch for an anthology, so I was working on that. Still, I did make progress on all three.

When I say "Through Chapter X," That means completed chapters. Each of the novels has partially outlined chapters which are not included in the totals above. Any feedback will be welcomed.

*******

Both Outcast Ops novels I co-authored are on Amazon and are both part of the Kindle Direct program. African Firestorm is here: Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon! For those in the United Kingdom, Outcast Ops: African Firestorm on Amazon UK!! Red Ice is here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon!. and for those in the UK, Outcast Ops: Red Ice on Amazon UK! For anyone else, please check your country's Amazon Website (if there is one)

In addition, Red Ice is now an audio book! If you're member of Audible, you can listen to it free! The audio version can be found here: Outcast Ops: Red Ice (Audible) African Firestorm is being recorded and hopefully will be released sometime soon. Please read or listen and leave a review!

Craig