My theme for the 2026 A to Z Challenge is plotting Book Three in my Existence series — Cave of Existence.
Now split, but with members of the other group, they leave the Cave. Caleb and Jun head off to find Light. Xavier and Wend travel back to New York to prepare for their babies. The effects of the Consent spell ripple across the world.
This is where the ⏰ticking-clock comes in. They haven't yet learned if Love can conquer all. They don't yet know if they're a help or a hindrance to life on Earth, if the Eyes in the Shadows are right to want to destroy them. But they've taken actions that cannot be undone, so now the consequences are playing out. The surviving members must change, they can't go back to who they were, they must adapt and overcome for the rest of the story, and all of that will happen under the pressure of time constraints.
How might our real world be different if everyone were forced to obey consent-guides?
Fellow writers, allow me to suggest: https://www.savannahgilbo.com/blog/save-the-cat-middle-1 Perfect if you want to brush up on Story Beats.
Or http://blog.janicehardy.com/2013/10/plotting-with-save-cat-beat-sheet.html For a bit more instruction.
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)
Oh... forced to obey consent-guides would get certain people tossed from office. Cough. Ha ha. Happy A to Z. Jamie of UniquelyMaladjustedButFun
ReplyDeleteIt certainly would make child-rearing different. There are times the children don't know better and the parent must make a decision. Caregiving (both on the littles and the bigs who are recovering from an injury or just reached the point of their life the body is an injury) requires some non-consentual activities. But some of the people acting as caregivers are bad actors, so there is that in play too. But I will consent to the end of A-to-Z. Happy Zed day.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing the challenge. It's always good to introduce the ticking clock. Makes things more exciting.
ReplyDeleteInteresting going with the beats approach. I think I do it instinctively, but then on editing, check what has changed in each chapter - that idea of going in one way and coming out with something changed (otherwise, what was the point of the chapter?).
ReplyDeleteThank you not only for your AtoZ, but for diligently visiting everyone (including my guinea pigs, who were very impressed!). Pippin did his best visiting, but really only felt comfortable trying to comment on your blog!
Get some rest now... at least a weekend!
Jemima (and the guinea pigs)