Dreams & Dragons

Fraser Ronald of the Accidental Survivors podcast and Sword’s Edge Publishing has given me some thoughts on the chapter I posted earlier.  Since this project is as much about exploring and exposing the writing process as it is about getting the novel written, I thought I’d post my thoughts here.  (Okay, maybe “as much” implies a little too much emphasis taken away from the goal of finishing the novel, but exploring the process is still a goal of mine.)

Fraser wrote:

As a global, this chapter does what it needs to do as a first chapter. I am situated in the setting. Here’s what I understand the setting to be: Late 18th, early 19th century type setting with airships. Temperate climate. Pseudo-European culture. And monsters come at night.

If I’m wrong about any of that, it means the chapter didn’t work as well as I thought it did. (more…)

So, it’s been a while, and I’ve got little to show for it.  Allow me to post what I have, then I’ll explain what happened.

Crynn saves Becca’s son, Erik, from a Crawler attack.  
Becca is almost caught with Cara in her home when Crynn shows up to tell her about Erik.  
Cara, ejected from the house ahead of schedule, wanders the town trying to avoid people while waiting for her rendezvous time, when a rival pirate gang attacks.
Crynn goes out to help fight off the pirates, and catches sight of Cara during the fight, but is unable to find her afterwards.
Becca uses one of her new inventions to destroy one of the pirate ships.
Cara escapes to her own ship, and begins planning retribution against the rival gang.
Crynn and Becca are debriefed about the attacks, and Crynn is assigned to hunt down the pirates.
Becca returns home and discovers that one of her inventions was stolen during the raid.
Cara has to deal with new crew members, as well as her second in command, who wants more technology before making any moves.
Crynn confronts Becca about information and inconsistencies that came to light during their debriefing that leads him to suspect she knows about Cara.
Becca tries to join Crynn in his search for Cara and the pirate attackers, and has to deal with her son.
Cara attacks the rival pirates, and is betrayed and captured. (more…)