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 48: In addition, even though she finished the library book, she still hadn’t figured out what significance the tower held.
In addition, even though she finished the library book, she still hadn’t figured out what significance the tower held. Anya also hadn’t figured out why the rituals book had been given to her. As per the note in the book, Anya didn’t share the volume with anyone and when she finished reading it, she slipped it into her bag, hiding it away with her extra rations beneath the bed.
Since the day she awoke early Anya had seen nothing out of place. No more sneaking figures, no more strange dreams, no more strange metallic flashing from her birth mark. Rather than returning to normal, she felt as though the world was waiting around her.
Anya looked at the book she borrowed from the library. She knew she had to put it back, but wasn’t sure if she should take another one. There were three days left by the reckoning of the others as to when the Star would choose. Anya was no closer to knowing what to do with herself after that. And she didn’t know if she was being watched.
‘I’ll think about a new book today, but definitely take back the book I have tonight,’ Anya decided. She left the book by the bed and finished dressing for the day. The other two women had more or less adopted her into their group and Anya was pleased that she had a place. There weren’t many women moving about the place singly and those that were seemed to have very specific jobs. As part of a group sne didn’t stand out. At times she wondered why they weren’t art of another group. The older woman came here since she was a child and appeared to know many of the others and the younger woman too had been coming most of her life but did not seem to have a cadre of friends her own age. Anya knew the younger woman’s mother was the older woman’s friend and her death no doubt left a gap, but it seemed strange that they had no others with them.
Anya had been reluctant to ask many questions in the beginning as she was trying to find her place, but as routine set in but as routine made the world around her familiar, Anya felt she might be able to work in a few questions. After breakfast they settled in and began their morning’s work. Once established and in motion, Anya turned to the older woman.
Talk started small as progress on their individual projects was discussed and then Anya let her gaze wander deliberately around the room. “Do people routinely come to the Star in groups?” Anya asked. The older woman looked up and saw where Anya’s attention lay. Anya turned back to look at her, resuming her lace making as though it was a casual question.
“Sometimes,” the older woman told her. “Sort of. Each woman comes on her own, but often times villages will have more than one wishing to make the journey and they will travel together. Or if they start out alone they will meet someone else making the journey along the way. Three girls started off from my village the year we left and then I met her mother along the way.”
“Oh,” Anya said. She realized she might have trod on a sensitive subjects. She glanced at the younger woman. “And are they…” she let the sentence trail.
The older woman smiled and shook her head.
Ten til Midnight 