Tag: Seeds of Life

“Seeds of Life” Draft Complete

by Diane, posted in News Flash, Seeds of Life

On December 21st, I put the final touches on the first draft for Seeds of Life. It contains 110,733 words, which breaks down to 25 chapters that contain three scenes each, except for the last one, which has one scene, the wrap-up scene. This translates to 73 scenes.

The story is told through three points of view: Eloise of Larkspur, Hadwin the Wander and King James Proctor of Ravencroft. The scenes are fairly equally distributed, though I believe Eloise has 2 more than Hadwin and James. The novel opens and closes with her.

There was no purpose for crude language or sex scenes, so there are no F-bombs or intimate scenes. I don’t even think a character called someone a jackass. In fact, there may be no cursing at all. While I had planned to avoid using the F-bomb, the rest I hadn’t planned for. That’s the way some stories roll.

Rating this novel, I’d put it for ages 14 and up because there is some non-graphic violence. There’s no petting only a little kissing. The only time butt is used is when someone lands on it.

The year is 2050, and the major part of the story spans from spring to fall.

The first chapter in its raw form is posted to the book’s page, here: Seeds of Life.

My goal is to release the novel on October 3, 2021.

COVER: I’m working on it. The one posted here is a mock-up. I still have loads of work to do to it. This is where I finished last night before turning out the lights.

Advertisement

“Seeds of Life” Nearing 90,000-word Mark

by Diane, posted in Seeds of Life
Seeds of Life

You’ve read that right. My first dystopian novel is nearing the 90,000-word mark. In fact, the word count as of 10:00 pm Monday December 14th is 87,821. If my prediction of 90,000 words had been correct, I’d be writing the final scenes right now.

However, the characters are just about to set out on the challenge this entire novel has been leading to. All those who play a major role in the outcome have arrived at Ravencroft, County Regal.

At this stage of the writing process, the minimum 1,000 words a day is unnecessary. I’m so eager to read the ending, I’m often writing more than 2,000 words per day. Now that I’m closer to the end than the beginning, I think the word count will hit 100,000.

Common Theme for My Novels

A common theme runs through almost all my stories. It’s not like I choose it; it choose me. The theme is the importance of home, family and freedom.

Continue reading ““Seeds of Life” Nearing 90,000-word Mark” →

A Novel with a Slow-burn Romance: “Seeds of Life”

by Diane, posted in Seeds of Life

I’ve read many reviews where readers express their dislike for books where it takes forever for the couple to come together. They call this a slow-burn romance. However, I’ve read just as many that express the same dislike for insta-love stories where the couple meet and are instantly in love within the first chapter.

This insta-love sort of happens in A December Knight, though it is not as quick as the first chapter. Two weeks into the relationship, the couple, Jan and Delanie, are madly in love. This is quick as far as I’m concerned.

I believe in love at first sight, but I know this doesn’t happen with most relationships.

Personally, I like writing a mixture of books. Some have insta-love and others have slow burns. I also write some where the speed of love falls somewhere in the middle.

For Seeds of Life, I wanted the romance to take its time. I wanted to nurture it through shared experiences. The couple in this novel are new to romance, so in one minute, they like each other and in another, they like their freedom more.

For those who love insta-love, this book may not satisfy them. For those who love slow burns, well, I think you will love this.

Actually, I’m not certain they’ll stay together. Is that a spoiler alert? There are many forces pulling them apart and at 70,000 words, they have decided they’re better off single. Let’s see where the next 30,000 words finds them.

I’ll finish writing Seeds of Life by December 31st. It will go into the cellar to ripen for at least four months. I’ll haul it out in the spring, give it a read and see where it stands. I hope to publish it in October 2021.

The first raw, unedited chapter is on its book page here: Seeds of Life. The word count appears daily in the right-hand margin.

eBook Sale

The eBook for the Salvation of Mary Lola Barnes is on sale for 99 cents until Sunday December 6th. That’s a $4.00 savings. This sale is only in Canada. You’ll find it at Amazon.ca.

Have a great weekend, and remember, Be kind to your future self.

“Seeds of Life”: Word Count Reaches 60,000

by Diane, posted in Seeds of Life

The draft for my first dystopian novel, Seeds of Life, has reached 60,000 words. 60,480 to be exact. Approximately two thirds of the story has been written.

All the characters who play a major role in the story have been introduced and have all met. At the moment, their personal conflicts attempt to tear the small group apart. They don’t realise they’ll have to band together to fight an even bigger threat to their well-being.

The year is 2050. After a major set-back, society is struggling to provide the basic things, such as food and shelter, and they’re working to recreate major technology that had provided basic conveniences, such as electricity.

Sounds strange, but it’s not really. Everyone can flick a switch to turn on a light, but many don’t know how to create electricity, built components needed, deliver the electricity or construct a lightbulb. It’s like a car: many people can drive one, but not everyone can tear apart the engine and rebuild it. These days, some don’t even know how to change the oil.

Finding a survivor who knows how to create electricity and then finding the components is a challenge when everything is lost and everyone is focussed on finding food for them and their family.

Civility has prevailed, and the barbaric actions of desperate people have faded into history.

The major parts of the story take place at Ravencroft, County Regal, where society exists under the monarch system of government. This felt like a natural progression, given the small population and small area governed by the individual. The whole of North America is governed this way, with hundreds of rulers spread across the continent – or at least this is what the residents of County Regal believe. At this point, only 28 years after the Devastation, there’s not much contact with far-off locations.

The Devastation was world-wide, so all societies are dealing with establishing a stable population with the basic needs of life. No one has any time for war… Or do they?

The first raw, unedited draft for Chapter 1, Scene 1 is found on the book’s page.

30,000-word Milestone Reached for “Seeds of Life”

by Diane, posted in Fiction, Seeds of Life

For several years, the Seeds of Life story has rattled around in my brain. To silence the chatter, I started recording it on September 13th. I write approximately 500 words a day at this time of year because there’s so many other things going on.

On October 27th, I reached the 30,000-word milestone. When it comes to writing, my journey is like crawling up a large seesaw. At first, the going is slow; the climb is steep, and I need to build momentum. Then, around the mid-way range, the  seesaw levels out, and I pick up speed. The seesaw soon starts to tip in the other direction, and by the time I’ve crossed over to the last 1/3 of the story, I’m travelling quickly, non-stop to reach the end. It’s a rush, and I’m excited to learn what happens. I burn the midnight oil and I rise early to continue the adventure. I ignore everything and everyone until the final words are recorded.

At 30,000 words, I’m one-third the distance to the end. Within three weeks, the seesaw is going to be level, and then I’ll write a few thousand words a day. I expect to finish this story by the end of November. It will ripen for the next few seasons, then, if all goes well, it will be published December 2021.

Continue reading “30,000-word Milestone Reached for “Seeds of Life”” →