So I’ve finished my first draft of my young-adult fantasy, Quiver. Word count: 62,241. If I was writing one of the Elemental Assassin books, I’d need about 30,000 more words. But I think 62K is a good start for a YA. I’m thinking the final book will be between 70-75K.

After about six false starts, I finally think I’ve nailed down how I want the story to go. My main character, Gwen, is sort of a Scarlet Pimpernel meets Robin Hood type. With magic. Here is something resembling a blurb:

After her father’s murder, Gwen Frost has taken up his legacy as the Hood, an outlaw who haunts the forests around the capitol city of Cadogan. Gwen has a Talent or magic for sight, which has led her to become one of the best archers in all the Thirteen Kingdoms. By day, Gwen robs the corrupt nobles who travel through the forest and gives their money to those who need it. At night, she masquerades as Lady Gwendolyn, a spoiled, wannabe princess who seems to care for nothing but spending her inheritance on her extravagant wardrobe as fast as she can.

But when Gwen inadvertantly thwarts on assassination attempt on Prince Percy St. John, she finds herself working to stop a scheme that threatens the entire kingdom — and vows to finally bring her father’s killer to justice …

I don’t know why this draft was so hard for me to write. Maybe because I’ve never written a YA before, so I was unsure about the voice. Maybe because my first plot sucked out loud. Maybe because it’s been winter, and I’ve just felt sluggish and lazy.

Anyway, here’s the first chapter for your reading enjoyment. (And please excuse the formatting if it is wonky or if there’s a word or two missing. I had to go through and delete all the code, and I just never know what WordPress is going to do to the type until I hit post). Happy reading! :ww:

QUIVER — CHAPTER ONE

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