Lyla Campbell


We're almost over the hump in October. That means every other part of the country is watching the tendrils of fall unfurl. I live in Houston so it's still hot and, well, hot. Regardless of the fact that autumn landscapes are not universal, National Novel Writing Month happens every November. Period.

I'm excited. This will be my fourth and hopefully my best NaNoWriMo yet. I'm using the Snowflake Method to organize my ideas this year. So far I'm really liking this method. It speaks to my engineering sensibilities. At this point, I'm through step 2 and working on step 3, fleshing out some character charts. While I'm getting to know my characters better, I wanted to share this year's novel synopsis with you. My story centers around a post apocalyptic world mixed with Arthurian legend.

Centuries ago, a breakthrough in medical science solved the disease of aging. Dying became a choice that fewer and fewer chose as each decade passed. One night in the dark hours of the morning, Emma, a young woman living on the mainland is woken violently. She is left disoriented and in total darkness as the fabric of science unravels suddenly and absolutely. As the sun rises, it reveals a landscape not seen for more than a millennia. In order to stay alive, Emma joins with two others who survived the event on their journey off the mainland and across the channel to an island where it is rumored a settlement of people have been living according to the ancient ways in hopes that they still remain. During their travels they discover ancient myths are proving to be more truth than fiction as they relearn how to live in an old world that is new to them.

The idea formed out of two TV shows. One on the science channel about the effect of free radicals on aging and how it can be slowed down and the other from a show on the History Channel about the truths behind Arthurian legend. (I guess it just goes to show that you can find inspiration anywhere.) The synopsis is still evolving and I don't yet have a title that I really like. But, that will begin to gel as the story unfolds

I hope everyone had a great writing weekend! I'll have more on my NaNoWriMo progress and writing goodness soon.
2 Responses
  1. wordsurfer Says:

    I started out on the snowflake method, but it was too much work for me. :) Good luck with that! Your synopsis sounds very interesting, btw.

    Oh, and nice idea to bring in 'The Lady of Shalott' as well. Could be an intruiging backdrop to your story.


  2. Nicole Pyles Says:

    I think I will join the hop too! I have an outline completed and I think it would be a great time to work on it. Not sure if I want to push myself to reach the entire word count, but I will try. I write best during the week, (not weekends) and I need to do about 2200 words a day during the weekdays of NOvember to make it.

    We can do it!!!


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