Finally Finished "The Unkindness of Ravens"
Writing Project Completed
Project Finished: "The Unkindness of Ravens"
Summary: A high fantasy coming-of-age story. While the kingdom is at war, the next monarch must be chosen. Albin, royal heir of House Crow, is forced to flee to save his life. While in hiding, he loses his eye, earns a favor from his god, and has to pretend to be a member of the untouchable caste.
Inspiration: This penthius freewriting exercise.
Soundtrack: Wagner's "Siegfried" - yes, opera.
Date Project Started: 12/15/2005 - that was when I started doing research.
First Draft Wordcount: 17,616 words
Final Wordcount: 15,543 words
Major Editing Changes: I added in a fair amount more description of the surroundings, removed one scene entirely, and expanded the ending.
Markets: I wrote this specifically for the Blood and Devotion Anthology. That's not my usual way of operating, but I had an idea that I'd tagged as "high potential" that seemed to fit the guidelines admirably. If it isn't accepted, the length of this story will make it a difficult sell. Not a few of the critiquers said, "You should make this into a novel!" Chirpy fuckers.
Notes: If necessary to get a few more markets for this project, I could probably shorten this by removing the inn scene.
Excerpt:A rustling noise to his right made him jerk his head around and crane his neck. He felt horribly vulnerable. Anybody could sneak up on his right side, and he would never know it. Anybody at--
His thought vanished when he saw what was beside him. For a moment, he forgot to breathe. On top of the bedside table to Albin's right, a black-skinned man the size of a ten-year-old child crouched, watching him intently. Seeing that Albin was looking at him, the man cocked his head so far to the side that watching him dizzied Albin.
"Humph," the man said. "You do look like carrion."
He straightened his head and gave a quick shake of his shoulders that made his skin ripple. No, Albin thought, it wasn't skin. The dim light had misled him. The man was covered with tiny black feathers. Only his face, hands, and feet were bare. Albin dragged his gaze back to the man's face. As soon as he saw his eyes, shining black orbs with no white surrounding them, he knew the depth of his mistake.
"Lord Crow!" Albin gasped.
He would have flung himself to grovel on the floor, but Lord Crow put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Albin shivered under the touch of his god, but he stayed in his bed.
"No, you definitely have too much life in you to be carrion," Lord Crow said, sounding irritated. "One of mine wronged you; crows should not feed upon the living. It is twice the offence since my wing also extends over you. The crow who took your eye has been punished, but I still owe you a favor."
Thoughts flapped through Albin's mind, but he could catch none of them. "What--?"
"No wishing for immortal life or anything of that sort, mind you," Lord Crow warned him. "I couldn't even use trickery to give you a semblance of that. It must be a favor that is within my domain to grant."
Project Finished: "The Unkindness of Ravens"
Summary: A high fantasy coming-of-age story. While the kingdom is at war, the next monarch must be chosen. Albin, royal heir of House Crow, is forced to flee to save his life. While in hiding, he loses his eye, earns a favor from his god, and has to pretend to be a member of the untouchable caste.
Inspiration: This penthius freewriting exercise.
Soundtrack: Wagner's "Siegfried" - yes, opera.
Date Project Started: 12/15/2005 - that was when I started doing research.
First Draft Wordcount: 17,616 words
Final Wordcount: 15,543 words
Major Editing Changes: I added in a fair amount more description of the surroundings, removed one scene entirely, and expanded the ending.
Markets: I wrote this specifically for the Blood and Devotion Anthology. That's not my usual way of operating, but I had an idea that I'd tagged as "high potential" that seemed to fit the guidelines admirably. If it isn't accepted, the length of this story will make it a difficult sell. Not a few of the critiquers said, "You should make this into a novel!" Chirpy fuckers.
Notes: If necessary to get a few more markets for this project, I could probably shorten this by removing the inn scene.
Excerpt:A rustling noise to his right made him jerk his head around and crane his neck. He felt horribly vulnerable. Anybody could sneak up on his right side, and he would never know it. Anybody at--
His thought vanished when he saw what was beside him. For a moment, he forgot to breathe. On top of the bedside table to Albin's right, a black-skinned man the size of a ten-year-old child crouched, watching him intently. Seeing that Albin was looking at him, the man cocked his head so far to the side that watching him dizzied Albin.
"Humph," the man said. "You do look like carrion."
He straightened his head and gave a quick shake of his shoulders that made his skin ripple. No, Albin thought, it wasn't skin. The dim light had misled him. The man was covered with tiny black feathers. Only his face, hands, and feet were bare. Albin dragged his gaze back to the man's face. As soon as he saw his eyes, shining black orbs with no white surrounding them, he knew the depth of his mistake.
"Lord Crow!" Albin gasped.
He would have flung himself to grovel on the floor, but Lord Crow put a hand on his shoulder to stop him. Albin shivered under the touch of his god, but he stayed in his bed.
"No, you definitely have too much life in you to be carrion," Lord Crow said, sounding irritated. "One of mine wronged you; crows should not feed upon the living. It is twice the offence since my wing also extends over you. The crow who took your eye has been punished, but I still owe you a favor."
Thoughts flapped through Albin's mind, but he could catch none of them. "What--?"
"No wishing for immortal life or anything of that sort, mind you," Lord Crow warned him. "I couldn't even use trickery to give you a semblance of that. It must be a favor that is within my domain to grant."