Oh Parents, Where Art Thou #AtoZchallenge 2026 #Writing #Plotting #StoryBeats

My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.

Heath's parents… when was the last time they made contact? Hannah wants to know. They go to try to find them. Finding their hearts is even more difficult.

(This is another "side-quest" deviating from the primary goal.)   

Have you ever known someone with parents who were largely "absent"? How do you feel about such parents?

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249351265-cave-of-existence - "Want to read" (Book is not yet published)

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📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

🛒Existence Series books: https://amzn.to/4rQwBsv
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. 

Important dates for A-to-Z 2026:

April The International April Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog Hop 

May 4 -9 Reflections (bonus blog hop)

No Good Deed #AtoZchallenge 2026 #Writing #Plotting #StoryBeats

My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.

A side-quest has occurred in Act 1, revealing a backstory that will be relevant and needed later.

Jun's step-sister is being blackmailed. Her landlord died, and his son took over. The son drugged her, videoed her in a compromising situation, and forced her to sign a waiver that he could hide cameras and live-stream her. It's not just about moving from where she's a community leader, but getting the videos down. It isn’t just her. 

Hannah is particularly upset by this news. Heath learns that, when he was Frank, he saved her from similar exploitation. 

Have you ever had to protect a family member? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249351265-cave-of-existence - "Want to read" (Book is not yet published)

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📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

🛒Existence Series books: https://amzn.to/4rQwBsv
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. 

Important dates for A-to-Z 2026:

April The International April Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog Hop 

May 4 -9 Reflections (bonus blog hop)

Maybe It's Better This Way #AtoZchallenge 2026 #Writing #Plotting #StoryBeats

My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.

When debating what to do, and if they should do it, protagonists usually encounter reasons NOT to answer the call, not to move the story forward. So the next goal is for the characters to face the realities of other paths. 

(Lichtenberg figures or Keraunographic Markings)

Jez meets a guy with Lightning tattoo-like marks. True love? One of their kind? No. But she promised her mom she'd find someone. She can't talk to Wend about it, because they aren't speaking. 

Xavier feels like he has failed to reunite their kind because these two can't get along. He turns to Heath. 

But Heath is a wreck because Hannah is saying they already had their happy life and she's more in love with the previous version of him. So he's busy trying to win her over in this lifetime, which is difficult because he has been avoiding serious relationships. Except with Caleb, but it feels cruel to ask him. 

Have you ever met someone who survived being struck by lightning? 

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249351265-cave-of-existence - "Want to read" (Book is not yet published)

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📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

🛒Existence Series books: https://amzn.to/4rQwBsv
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. 

Important dates for A-to-Z 2026:

April The International April Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog Hop is halfway over for 2026!

May 4 -9 Reflections (bonus blog hop)

Like, Love, or Leave #AtoZchallenge 2026 #Writing #Plotting #StoryBeats

My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.

As they're debating what to do and how to do it, more problems arise. 

Eden and Jez have a huge fight.

 

Jun was playing guitar by the firepit. Eden started singing a song to go with the tune. But the lyrics were very suggestive. Is it an actual song, the kind that's published and out in the world? Or was Eden seducing Jun? 

Jez demands that Jun and Eden kiss. If there's nothing going on, it won't matter. Xavier says it's a bad idea. So, naturally, Jez leaps on him and kisses him. Really kisses him. Wend's fury is obvious as the wind kicks up. Heath tries to calm her as he clings protectively to Hannah. 

💋🌪

Have you ever been romantically interested in someone who was attracted to someone else in your social circle? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249351265-cave-of-existence - "Want to read" (Book is not yet published)

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📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

🛒Existence Series books: https://amzn.to/4rQwBsv
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. 

Important dates for A-to-Z 2026:

April The International April Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog Hop 

May 4 -9 Reflections (bonus blog hop)

Knowledge #AtoZchallenge 2026 #Writing #Plotting #StoryBeats

My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.

The Debate over what to do and if they should do it rages on in the next part. The multiple layers of problems (that they're aware of) are laid out. 

Heath and Xavier debate if searching for the ring giver is the best use of their time. There's the pregnancy issue. And weddings to plan. Maybe The Eyes in the Shadows have been thwarted, and they can let their guard down. It might be time to focus on what they know. 

Heath quips about days long ago when he created advanced mathematics, "not so one could simply apply what they know, but so they'd yearn for more knowledge, to answer questions that seem to have no solution." 

Wend tries to talk to Jez about how she's feeling. But Jez doesn't want to discuss pregnancy and babies. She's barely winning to be "trapped" in a committed relationship. Honestly, the two barely have common ground. 

Are you friends with anyone you barely have anything in common with, and how do you make it work? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249351265-cave-of-existence - "Want to read" (Book is not yet published)

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📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

🛒Existence Series books: https://amzn.to/4rQwBsv
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. 

Important dates for A-to-Z 2026:

April The International April Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog Hop 

May 4 -9 Reflections (bonus blog hop)

Just Do Something #AtoZchallenge 2026 #Writing #Plotting #StoryBeats

My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.

The "act one problem" is where the protagonist discovers they have an issue they have to resolve, and is asked to set off on the story adventure. The protagonist decides whether or not to do whatever it is they need to do. This is where we are in the story now.

Xavier suggests trying to find the guy. The problem, of course, is that they have no idea where to look. 

"Well, we know he dropped by your parents' place in February of nineteen-ninety-five. So, sure, that ought to make it easy. Caleb, break out the bloodhounds, gotta follow an old trail." Heath rubbed his face with his palm following his sarcastic remark. 

Hannah suggests that the guy might show up at their important life events. This steers the conversation to Wend and Xavier having a child, which might cause him to show up. Thus, Wend reveals that she seems to be barren. An argument breaks out in the group over how to deal with this situation. 

How might you comfort someone who was struggling with infertility? 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249351265-cave-of-existence - "Want to read" (Book is not yet published)

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📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

🛒Existence Series books: https://amzn.to/4rQwBsv
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. 

Important dates for A-to-Z 2026:

April The International April Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog Hop 

May 4 -9 Reflections (bonus blog hop)

I Know That Guy #AtoZchallenge 2026 #Writing #Plotting #StoryBeats

My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.

Catalyst- We're at the part of the story where everything has been set up, we know where all the main characters are (physically and metaphorically), and now something has to happen to move the plot.

Hannah digs up an old home movie. Once the group returns and the old "white sheet on a clothesline" outdoor theater is set up, the old film begins to click. Chance's high school graduation party. Several members of the Existence spot their previous selves. And then there's a man by the gift pile. He leaves an envelope. Barely engages with anyone, as far as the film shows anyway, and leaves. 

But Xavier recognizes him. 

It was a birthday gift. Was he thirteen or fourteen at that party? He couldn't recall. There had been no card to indicate whom it came from. It wasn't even properly wrapped. Just a plain, velvet ring box mixed in with the other gifts on the table. Weeks later, he found the note inside, under the ring. It said to take care of it because one day this ring would lead him on the path to saving his heart and the world. - Fractions of Existence

Have you ever recognized someone in the background of an old picture or video? 

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/249351265-cave-of-existence - "Want to read" (Book is not yet published)

---

📚💙 — J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge

🛒Existence Series books: https://amzn.to/4rQwBsv
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social  My current favorite social media site.
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner  I'm grateful for follows!  https://www.goodreads.com/j_lenni_dorner
  #AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website. 

Important dates for A-to-Z 2026:

April The International April Blogging from A to Z Challenge Blog Hop 

May 4 -9 Reflections (bonus blog hop)