When I can't write, everything becomes a farce.
If you'd like to get a sneak peek at the story I'm working on, then read my plot synopsis below. I asked a friend for help, and then proceeded to write him the silliest synopsis I think I've ever written.
This is an actual conversation. There are spoilers and plot points, but I thought this was too ridiculous not to share. Thank You to the lovely NS for helping me talk out my writer's block.
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Brandolyn
I'm writing a story that's kind of like How to Train Your Dragon, with some Anastasia and a little Swan Princess thrown in there
NS
oh awesome all amazing stories
Brandolyn
yeah, so it's nothing new or super inspiring or anything, I just thought it was fun
NS
So what is the premise etc then you are going down
Brandolyn
ok, so in this world there are dragons. YAY. That`s cool.
The Dragons and humans live `mostly' peacefully because the King and the Alpha Dragon have a pact
Nice and Easy, Dragons protect the lands for the King and the King abolishes Dragon hunting etc.
The king is named "King of the Dragons' because the King appears to have control over them, but in reality it's a very fragile trust system
THIS HAS ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH THE STORY
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Brandolyn
except that the main character is Adam, the Prince of Dragons. He's never even seen a Dragon up close. but his father is King and one day He'll have to take over for his father and renew the pact
Anyway, Adam is 18 and a Prince. He's used to having servants and not getting his hands dirty, but he's a stand up guy, very honorable. Do the right thing etc.
His parents approve of a marriage with the daughter of the Earl of Sandridge: a young woman named Deborah. (Dunno about the name, not sold on it AT ALL)
Deb is 15, head strong, inspiring, down to earth, cool with getting dirty, and not a Princess, so totally knows how to do things for herself
NS
yup I see a bit of where this is going
strong female character to lead the male character
Brandolyn
Adam and Deb met when they were 11 and 14, and visit several times a year at high society social functions. But, every summer their parents ship them off to a 'Summer Cottage' to get to know each other.
so they learn to know each other at court, but also, each other as themselves. Relaxed and honest. Quirks and all. and they love it
They both approve of the arranged pairing. They truely love each other (but since they are so young, it's like the most innocent, school yard, kind of love)
Although they all approve of the marriage, Adam refuses to marry Deborah until after she is of age, and he feels he could be a good, supportive husband for her. He knows he's still a noob when it comes to how the real world works.
NS
ok awesome they have found eachothers half to be a whole
Brandolyn
I think that's sweet. So they're in this kind of 'courting stasis' but know they are eachother's love and partner
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Brandolyn
that's where is gets tricky. I'll come back to that
ok, so one day, while the kids are at the summer cottage, the King goes to a peace negotiation
NS
ok cool i will hold all questions until the end
Brandolyn
The Alpha Dragon goes too
The Alpha Dragon- in an attempt to save the King from an assasination attempt (because let's face it, the King and the Alpha dragon are Bros) the Alpha dies.
All hell breaks loose in the Dragon world
They have no Alpha, so the Dragons go BONKERS. Nn rules, no leader, no restrictions.
At the Summer Cottage, 1 Dragon tears the house apart.
(or we think it was only 1)
Adam's guards rush to save the Prince from the wreckage
but when the Prince wakes up, there's no sign of Deborah. None of the guards even thought to save her. They're reaction was "OMG THE FUTURE KING!"
or, when they did go look for her, they couldn't find her
Adam's heart is broken. He feels pain and guilt over Deborah's loss. Why him, and not her? Why should he live and she have to die?
He 'relinquishes' his title and runs away ashamed of his life.
He goes rogue, using the qualities and traits he learned from Her, to help other people.
He robin hoods all over. and helps people who are being attacked by dragons and people who are injured, or hungry. Whatevs he can do for peeps, he does
(now even trickier) so I want most of the story to happen 10 years after the Dragons go crazy, so Adam is 28 and Deborah would have been 25
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Brandolyn
Adam has been helping people all over the country and beyond
and often (not always) when there is a dragon attack, he sees or runs in to the same dragon. A Nasty, jet black, fire breather, with round golden, double lidded eyes, and an old scar that ziggs across the bridge of it's nose and through one nostril.
he is haunted by this dragon
he sees it everywhere. Even when he sleeps and when he blinks
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Brandolyn
(he saw this dragon when the Summer cottage was destroyed)
he holds a lot of anger for this beast.
Adam sees a dragon attack a farm and rushes to save the family within
He gets them out (a mother, father, 5 kids of varying ages and a handful of homeless refugees that they were letting stay in the barn)
(Here's where I lose the story, so bear with me) sees the black dragon flying away in the distance with the other dragons that did the attack and finally cannot take it and races after it. One of the refugees runs after him
She tries to stop him from going dragon hunting
He tells her, it's none of her business, and that dragon has it coming, it's ruined too many lives, it has it coming"
Brandolyn
She follows him and tries to reason with him, Show him that killing isn't the answer.
She starts talking about how she's lost people too. And they start to learn little snipits about each other. (Her name is Dee, but he's heart broken and dumb and doesn't realize it's Deb) and Deb is heart broken and a little pissed off at him and doesn;t realize that he is the 'Would be king of Dragons'
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Brandolyn
well, 10 years later, aa lot has happened
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Brandolyn
SHE has grown up. It's understandable that he wouldn't recognize her. And He is all dirty and scruffy, and again 10 years older. Muscles, scars and fraknly, no uniform, or suit\
so, I want them to realize the potential powerr in each other again before they reveal who it was that they lost, and that they lost them in the same house
NS
oh no I know I am just saying its one of those story devices
Brandolyn
Then, I need the Dragon to show up again, and this time, Adam isn't in a rage, and actually lets the situation play out
the dragon shows up and is all I"M HUGE AND AWESOME
and Adam's like, wassup, you giant scary beast, why you caus'n so much trouble
But when he relaxes he finally realizes the giant black Dragon is the new Alpha that has been seeking him out to renew the pact for 10 years
and then YAY there is hope for a human/ dragon compatible world again
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Brandolyn
LOTS of damage to undo. lots of explaining to do, but there's hope. And that's where I think I'll finish it. Adam finds Dee, and lets the Dragon finally find him and then there is hope.
NS
hope for a new tomorrow cool perfect way to end the first instalment. So what are you having troubles with
Brandolyn
so I feel like it's just enough story for a short story, not a novel, maaaaybe I can stretch it to a novella
Then I elaborate on my issues with the story, but you don;t need to read that. Even though NS was very helpful with his suggestions.
Silly right? Yeah, I thought so. But writing it all out like this might have helped. We'll see how my mind feels about the whole 'novella' idea. That'd be something new to try.
-Brandolyn
