Novel Update
I have been working on a novel for a couple of weeks now. Just doing what I can as I have time. Most of that has been working on characters and developing a story line. Yesterday I wrote a draft of the potential first scene. That alone feels like a pretty big step for my first serious work of fiction, but I wrote the scene from the point of view of three of my main characters.
Why though? I don’t know if this is how other writers do it. I chose to do it this way so that I can see the progress of the characters and that I understand them the way I think that I do. I’m pretty sure that I will not do this for every single scene. I may limit it to just scenes where I have a bunch of new characters all at once. I’m not sure.
I found the experience to be very successful. I feel like I do understand the characters well, and that they all three have very distinct voices and personalities. It was really enjoyable to think about the same scene from angles like that and from three different peoples eyes.
I would love to get some feed back of my progress so far. Also, which point of view do you think should be in the book? Please be kind though. This is the draftiest of drafts. There is no polish. Barely any spellcheck or grammar check. Thanks :)
Kaede
I stand in the middle of the room, surrounded by my guild mates, preparing to read them the letter that I had received this morning. I have already read it and decided what I want to do but I will give them all a chance to to come to their own decisions.
I'm pretty sure enough of everyone is here, and the key members are definitely here. Soren and Rey are here, that makes me feel better. I know Soren will vote for this. I'm not sure how Rey will vote but I know she will be honest about her vote and will challenge me if she doesn't agree with what we have been asked to do. I value those challenges, it lets me know if I am doing good or not.
I raise my hands to start the meeting. "Alright everyone. Listen up please. Thank you for coming in today. Lets try to make this short before it gets too warm in here. We got a job request from our king."
"To Kaede, Master of The Silver Circle,
It has come to our attention that the Mason leader, Robert Loung, has turned his cloak and now shelters within the Dreadmire where he gathers followers and commits acts of treason against Us and Our realm.
We have heard of your reputation for handling such situations. If you could remove this thorn from Our side, you shall not find Us ungrateful. A charter for the guild's house in the capital, long delayed, might at last find its way to the seal.
Given at Chikoreem Castle, this 12th day of the Harvest Moon, in the third year of Our reign."
I pause to let the words sink in and allow everyone to process. "We have a job opportunity. It's not very honest work, you all know that I do not like taking assassination requests. But it comes from the King and it would get us that new guild hall that we have been trying to get. Any thoughts?"
I look around the main room of our guild hall, it is too small for us, shoulder are pressed against each other and it's getting warm. Rey is fidgeting at the back of the hall, shifting from foot to foot and looking around at others. I don't think she will make a public vote on this one and will probably approach me later to talk about it.
Spinx and Finn are closest to the hearth. Spinx will probably vote for this as well. But I haven't know Finn for long enough to know how he will vote. Finn is one of out most recent recruits and fresh out of the local mage college. I am thankful that Spinx has taken to Finn and basically made Finn his apprentice, I don't have time to take someone so young under my wing right now.
Spinx catches my eye, gives me one of his mischievous grins and then winks at me while giving me a thumbs up. I don't think I will ever understand that gnome, but he supports me constantly.
Soren is the first to speak up, "Let's go for it! We need the new hall and since it's located in the city, it will increase our guild sales drastically." A few of the other members murmur in agreement to go as well. With comments about easier shopping and access to the higher quality (and therefor higher paying) job boards.
I'm pretty sure that i could hear Tova saying something to Caspian that we should not do this and that it is murder. Tova has really changed over the years and I am happy to have helped her get there, but between her and Caspian, they have enough friends that they could tank this vote. And if that happens then our guild will be in a world of trouble.
Then there is too much chatter and I cant make out too many distinct conversations. It all just gets fuddled up. So I put and end to it. "Peace friends. I call a vote. Soren please keep tally. All those in favor?" To my relief it looks like most of those that are present put up their hand. Rey and Tova vote against and Caspian and Soren vote for it. I did not expect Tova and Caspian to vote against each other, they are usually a united front.
"Sixty seven out of eighty three, we have a passing vote," Soren informs me loud enough that everyone can hear.
"Alright crew lets do this. Rey, I'll need all the information you can get me on this Robert Loung and his Masons. Soren start getting supplies for a team of ten. {Character} please see me in an hour to get my response to the king, " I hand out orders knowing that everyone will do everything they can to make sure those orders are followed. "The rest of you, we'll need volunteers, please report to me in my office later to express interest. Meeting is over, Thanks all."
Rey
Kaede stood in the middle of the room surrounded by all the guild members, its one of the things I admire about her, her willingness to just be one of us and not a boss. She has never stood in a position of power over us.
She raises her hands, palms out, and starts talking, "Alright everyone. Listen up please. " The guild hall quietens. "Thank you for coming in today. Lets try to make this short before it gets too warm in here. We got a job request from our king."
"To Kaede, Master of The Silver Circle,
It has come to our attention that the Mason leader, Robert Loung, has turned his cloak and now shelters within the Dreadmire where he gathers followers and commits acts of treason against Us and Our realm.
We have heard of your reputation for handling such situations. If you could remove this thorn from Our side, you shall not find Us ungrateful. A charter for the guild's house in the capital, long delayed, might at last find its way to the seal.
Given at Chikoreem Castle, this 12th day of the Harvest Moon, in the third year of Our reign."
I don't like that, that is outright murder and something that our guild has always been very against. We usually take requests to supply and protect and generally avoid anything to do with outright killing.
Kaede keeps glancing at me, I think she is trying to read my reaction. She continues, "We have a job opportunity. It's not very honest work, you all know that I do not like taking assassination requests. But it comes from the King and it would get us that new guild hall that we have been trying to get. Any thoughts?"
She is right of course, we can't deny the a king's request, that would be considered treason and then it would be our names on the piece of paper in another guild masters hands. We have to do this, her hands are tied. So why is she bothering with a vote? I'll have to ask her later about it.
Soren is the first to speak up, "Let's go for it! We need the new hall and since it's located in the city, it will increase our guild sales drastically." He's right, this would definitely bring in more money. What he doesn't say though, and probably didn't think of, is it costs more to be in the city like that. I don't know if we will be any better off in the city than we are where we are right now.
Everyone is talking at once and its getting very loud in here, I want to leave. Kaede speak up and over the noise, "Peace friends. I call a vote. Soren please keep tally. All those in favor?" I watch as most of the hands go up, the guild has voted to do this.
"Sixty seven out of eighty three, we have a passing vote," Soren informs kaede loud enough that even I can hear at that back of the hall.
"Alright crew lets do this. Rey, I'll need all the information you can get me on this Robert Loung and his Masons." I nod to her to acknowledge the request and I leave the hall with my task.
Soren
We have been called into the hall for a guild meeting. Such a waste of my time when i could and should be out there selling things. Although it is probably important, it's not like kaede to waste our time with useless things.
It seems like everyone is here. My crew of tailors are missing but I will vote for them. And it looks like a few of the guild's hunters and scouts are also missing. Otherwise a pretty good turn out for a sudden "urgent" meeting.
Kaede raises her hands and starts the meeting. "Alright everyone. Listen up please. Thank you for coming in today. Lets try to make this short before it gets too warm in here. We got a job request from our king."
"To Kaede, Master of The Silver Circle,
It has come to our attention that the Mason leader, Robert Loung, has turned his cloak and now shelters within the Dreadmire where he gathers followers and commits acts of treason against Us and Our realm.
We have heard of your reputation for handling such situations. If you could remove this thorn from Our side, you shall not find Us ungrateful. A charter for the guild's house in the capital, long delayed, might at last find its way to the seal.
Given at Chikoreem Castle, this 12th day of the Harvest Moon, in the third year of Our reign."
Oh. Well that's interesting. We have been trying to get a new guild hall for quite sometime. Ours is shabby and on the outskirts of town. This letter promises a new guild hall in the capital! Being in the capital should drive our sales so much higher. Maybe i could even start making a bigger commercial name for us. That's exciting.
As first officer, i feel it is only fitting that I speak first, "Let's go for it! We need the new hall and since it's located in the city, it will increase our guild sales drastically." I hear a few other members agree with me, which is good.
Kaede speaks up again, "Peace friends. I call a vote. Soren please keep tally. All those in favor?"
I quickly count all of the raised hands as well as those not raising their hands and report back, "Sixty seven out of eighty three, we have a passing vote."
Kaede carries on, "Alright crew lets do this. Rey, I'll need all the information you can get me on this Robert Loung and his Masons. Soren start getting supplies for a team of ten. {Character} please see me in an hour to get my response to the king. The rest of you, we'll need volunteers, please report to me in my office later to express interest. Meeting is over, Thanks all."
I bow to Kaede and leave the hall. Its much cooler outside of the hall. I start considering all the things we might need. Ill need to confer with Rey once she has started her research to figure out specifics.