Insert Incredible Title Here Preptober

Task A. Write your synopsis - What is your story about? How would you describe it or what is the general idea of it? Describe it in 300 words.

Task B. Make your outline - What is the chronological timing of events? You can follow different structures such as Freytag’s Pyramid or The Hero’s Journey. You also don’t have to complete the whole story to get the reward. Simply achieve a minimum of 600 words.

INSERT INCREDIBLE TITLE HERE
(Outline following the Hero's Journey)

EXPERIENCING THE KNOWN WORLD
INTRODUCTION - Kieran Shaw begins in his mundane life as the son of a farmer, harvesting and storing wheat. We learn that Kieran's passion rests in expanding his mind through intellect and books, and that while just a peasant in the Middle Ages, knows how to read and makes that his main form of recreation when he's not working. He tends the farm for his father and would do absolutely anything for him. They only have each other, and while his sights are set elsewhere - he's no where to go. This is all he has. Due to his father's care, he has been sheltered from much of the bad things in life and feels devoted to him, as well as loved. There's a feeling of duty to stay, but inwardly he longs for more.

CALL TO ADVENTURE - His ailing father is sick for many weeks/days and is granted Last Rites before the priest and clergy go off. This creates a looming threat of change for Kieran. The death of his father will disrupt his everyday life as he knows he alone cannot keep the farm. He will have to sell it, as he was always the farmer's son and never the farmer. Perhaps his father indulged him in his intellect mind too much, allowed him too much freedom - he never learned all that he needed/should have learned.

He hesitates to accept this. There are a lot of dangers and horror within the unknown world during the Middle Ages as well as guilt for not sticking with his father's dream. This doubt and apprehension comes from a lack of confidence.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALL - He has no choice. His father dies. After perhaps some additional deliberation, he does what is needed and sells the farm to a neighboring farmer after making sure all is tended to, makes a prayer, and sets off. Determination has always been a strong trait of his and he creates a plan, but is unsure where it will take him. Perhaps he can look at it as an adventure?

THE AID - Kieran finds his good friends and convinces them to join him on this journey. He's never had to do anything alone and wants support now. Bellamy is able to help as a morale booster, helping to build Kieran up and be his inner voice of confidence. Conrad Veit provides motivation to better himself, as he always had, since he was the one who taught him how to read and know some of the more "un-peasant ways" of life. There is a discussion and they decide to join The Crusades.

JOURNEYING INTO AN UNKNOWN WORLD
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD - They get to where the other Crusades are, a training camp of sorts, and sign up. Kieran, Bellamy, and Conrad begin their journey into the unknown, leaving their old lives behind them. Around this time, perhaps add in a dream or vision (not sure which) that his father tells him about and either by common sense/something that has been hinted at/or just dumb luck it seems as if that dream/vision comes true. More of these may happen as the story progresses and will lessen as he becomes more decisive and steadfast.

EXPERIENCING THE UNKNOWN - The dangers of the unknown world are now upon them. They train, they join up with others, they begin to join The Crusades. They feel a sense of unity and accomplishment, like they're making a difference, and they're experiencing adventure.

THE BELLY OF THE WHALE - Just as Kieran, Conrad, and the others begin to acclimate to this new lifestyle, the unit falls under a heavy night attack, solidifying their separation from their previous life and their willingness to transform. All are either dead or have been turned into vampires. Among the dead are Conrad. Among the now vampires are Kieran and Bellamy.

THE ROAD OF TRIALS - To begin his metamorphosis, Kieran must now face new dangers of a new unknown world. He'll take his confidence that he's gained in starting anew with the Crusades and the teachings that Conrad has taught him, as well as the confidence from Bellamy, and begin. He will try and keep his group (the vampires) together, but it's all unknown. Several are lost along the way. Perhaps he too is injured/weakened along the way to find this normalcy and what actually entails being this new sort of being.

UNDERGOING THE DEATH AND REBIRTH CYCLE
APPROACHING THE INNERMOST CAVE - He will meet another group of vampires, one with a hierarchy. This is where he knows the stakes are high and if his group is going to have a chance at survival, they need to learn from them. They have to play the part, act confident and seem to know what is going on. He'll step up to appear as an alpha to be able to get what he needs.

FACING THE GREAT ORDEAL - There will be a realization that a fight must occur. This group isn't to be trusted and there can't be two alphas. Kieran will draw upon all the lessons he's learned through his journey and possibly make a terrible sacrifice. This will be his figurative death and rebirth into more of the Kieran we know today - with newfound strength to achieve his goal.

RECEIVING THE REWARD - Despite the cost of victory, he is rewarded with new insight. He IS a leader and must do better for his group. They can't turn into that group. They can't be a repeat of them either. They must find better.

BEGINNING THE RETURN JOURNEY
ATONEMENT - With the great victory under his belt, he now strives to return to some version of his former known world. He is now forever chanced from this experience of death and rebirth but they recognize that something is missing. They did some things that were wrong, they became misguided, it's now time to get back on track.

TRUE RESURRECTION - This will be the true moment for Kieran to define himself, to make a decision. There is a village with people there and his group is tired/weak/needing nourishment. He will need to make a decision as to what to do and his group looks to him for guidance. He needs to accept who he his and decide his actions.

RETURNING TO THE KNOWN WORLD - Back into the known world, much like his home but slightly different. There will be some changes. We will discover that on the outside all looks well, but the internal transformation has taken a toll on Kieran and has slowly slipped into madness. Perhaps we learn that Bellamy is saddened by this. There will now be a new normal in which to dwell.

Task C. Create your main character - This would be your main protagonist. Tell us about them - what do they look like, where did they come from, what are their strengths and weaknesses and what are their flaws. Why are they in this story and what do you want them to gain from their adventure? Be as detailed as you can regarding this. Please provide a description of at least 500 words.

KIERAN SHAW

There are some stories out there, like romanticized fairy tales, which describe a well-mannered Prince Charming, who leaves everything behind, unabashedly, and without hesitation, to save the princess and together live happily ever after. Kieran Shaw isn't a Price Charming, nor is he looking for a princess to save, but he does strive to find a happily ever after.

He is a dashing sort of lad, one with a handsome if distinctive face with high angular cheekbones, a thick mess of chocolate colored hair, small but piercing green eyes, and most notably a strong jawline. His look is as eccentric as it is enchanting. Add in a six foot frame with a slim yet strong build and he'll be someone that others remember.

His strong build might hint on the hard physical labor that he is accustomed to but one wouldn't outright assume that he was the son of a farmer, spending most of his days growing, harvesting, and storing wheat. Now, please note once again that he is the son of a farmer, and not a farmer himself. He originally spent his days having tasks delegated to him and and not possessing the agricultural know how himself. Instead, when he wasn't helping tend to the farm, he was filling his head with ideas of intellect - having been one of the few and privileged peasants in his area or all of Medieval Europe to learn how to read and get access to the written word. This mostly comprised of theological writings and devotional literature that extended religious horizons and deepen the understanding of doctrine.

Faith carries him, through when we first meet him and even prior, all the way through his journey. It is his strength as well as his foundation at all times, whether in times where he is secure in himself or not. Like Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me" is a pretty good analogy for this. His faith, intelligence, and determination get him far.

What hinders Kieran Shaw, at least when we initially meet him, is indecisiveness and lack of confidence. At the beginning, he allows his confusion when taking on change to cloud his judgement and to doubt himself. Time and time again. Instead of taking charge or speaking out, he remains quiet and he studies the situation.

Kieran Shaw will go through a journey in which leadership abilities and confidence will grow and enable him to create a new sort of world/society where he doesn't just survive, but thrives. His friends, acquaintances, and experiences will build him up until he is a flawless example of control, authority, and power.

What was once a quiet and compliant individual, Kieran Shaw, with his sharp mind, will take his ability to research and exam others until he is no longer the possibly forgettable obedient foot soldier he once was but will rise up as one of as one of the sacred.

No, there is no princess to save, and you won't find a Prince Charming in this story, just Kieran Shaw, leaving everything behind, and striving to find his happily ever after in this life and the next.

[Word Count: 530]

Task D. Set your commitments or make a timetable/schedule - How often are you able to write in a week and how many words are you able to write? Giving yourself a goal or a limit can help you pace yourself as you write.

I saw this online:


I figure if i aim for around 2,000 words a day, I'll be ahead of schedule but honestly, I just need to make time, stick to my outline, and write, write, write! Some days I might write more and other days less. I'm going to keep track of my word count in a NaNoWriMo tracker.