The fifteen minute novel writing experiment is a attempt to write a complete (and very rough) draft of a novel by writing for fifteen minutes each day. I have taken a timed writing from one of the daily prompts done in 2021, cleaned it up a little and used it as my jumping off point into a story. Each day I will take the last line of the story written the day before and use it as my sentence starter and write for fifteen minutes, growing the story as the year progresses.
Day 25: “And your skills?” one of the women asked.
“And your skills?” one of the women asked.
“I am good with plain sewing and knitting and fairly good with most everyday items. My friend here,” she said indicating Anya can also sew the everyday items and make lace while our companion here is still learning, but we will promise to keep an eye on her.”
The woman at the table picked up one of the sheets of paper and consulted it while nodding. “Plain garments are always welcome, and if you keep an eye on your young apprentice then we’ll put you there. Lace making you said?” she looked up at Anya.
“Yes,” Anya said.
“We have fewer of those so if you wouldn’t mind taking that as your task, it is always a popular item at market.”
Anya nodded and the woman made notations on her page. She reached under the table and came up with two blue tokens and one yellow one. Sh4e handed a blue to the two women with her and the yellow clay token to Anya.
They took the tokens and stepped out of the way so the latest arrival could talk to the women at the table.
“After you show the token to the supply mistress it helps to thread it on your chain so you don’t lose it and have to get another assignment token. Then each time you need supplies while you are here you can just show it there.”
Anya nodded as she followed the others down a corridor. They walked down the corridor and entered another room. This one had a table laid across the space blocking access to what was behind. Anya blinked. They told her that there was a treasure trove of materials but she hadn’t really thought to see it. Now she could see a wealth of materials all ordered in what looked like a vast space on the other side of the table. They went up to the table and the two women with her each received a basket with cloth and the necessities for plain and simple garment construction. Anya was given a basket that contained a lace making pillow, bobbins, a pair of scissors in a small sheath and a skein of silken thread. It shined and Anya tried not to stare. Her lace, while using the same implements, used a more common thread made from linen. It was deemed good enough for the wealthy ladies of their village, even if it wasn’t good enough for export. Anya had never worked with silk threat before and hoped she didn’t mess it up. ‘It should be just the same,’ she told herself. She was pleased to see that there were patterns in the basket as well. Anya took her sewing basket and followed the other two from the room.
Ten til Midnight 