FIRST ASSIGNMENT: write your story statement.
A sinister Order has infiltrated the island of Anthanaeum, when the 14yo mixed raced Cursed Prodigy investigates, she uncovers a deadly conspiracy of human and beasts concocted by a god. She must eliminate everyone involved before they kill her...or worse, capture her friends
SECOND ASSIGNMENT: in 200 words or less, sketch the antagonist or antagonistic force in your story. Keep in mind their goals, their background, and the ways they react to the world about them.
The Order of the Chosen, once thought of as a harmless religious organization, was discovered by Maddison (the Cursed Prodigy) to be connected to the Massacre that killed the Queen of Forknowl. Now, they are plotting something on the island of Anthanaeum — something that might bring destruction to the whole island. Driven by their divine ideation, the Order will stop at nothing to bring Glory for the Chosen. What they see as Salvation for their people means death to all those who oppose them.
Of the spies working on the island for the Order, the most dangerous is Sebastian Ollie, a High Priest that infiltrated the Sage Tower and orchestrated their forces on the island. As he engages in a battle of wits against Maddison, he utilizes all of the tools at his disposal to deliver the last ingredients that can lead to God’s Arrival.
THIRD ASSIGNMENT: create a breakout title (list several options, not more than three, and revisit to edit as needed).
The Orphan of Anthanaeum
The Order of the Chosen
THIRD ASSIGNMENT: comps
Three Dark Crowns - Kendare Blake (2016) - Strong female protagonist in a High Fantasy Novel with multi-POV that has parallel and complex storylines with interesting character development. Similarly voiced and written for YA audience to engage a more commercial read, targeted towards a broader market.
Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson (2006) - Multi POV High concept Epic Fantasy Novel with intricate world-building, hard magic system, and a female protagonist with intricate plot. There’s intrigue as well as the looming threat of a god.
Uprooted - Naomi Novik (2015) - High Fantasy Novel that builds on intrigue and strong female characters and dealing with friendship and sacrifice. The discovery of unknown magic and overall expanded world-building, along with the uncovering of a looming threat and its origins.
Additional comps for length and marketability - The Poppy War: A Novel by RF Kuang | King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo | An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
FIFTH ASSIGNMENT: write your own hook line (logline)
Petty gossip of nobles about her origins isn't a concern for the Cursed Prodigy, she's too busy with matters of life and death; protecting her friends in the mercurial Library against vile crystal monsters, deadly mutated acolytes, and a god bent on their destruction.
SIXTH ASSIGNMENT: sketch out the conditions for the inner conflict your protagonist will have.
After Maddison’s investigation into the Sage Tower leads to something much more sinister. She must protect her new friends from the Order of the Chosen that is out for blood, while finding their true purpose on the island of Anthanaeum. As she tries to balance her cold calculations with her newfound concern for her friend's safety, she wavers for the first time from the words of her mentor: Caring is a weakness.
Secondary conflict:
With Maddison’s arrival to Anthanaeum the lives of Linden, Nina, and Benjamin are forever changed. One begin questioning their purpose and future for the first time. One finds the history of their past and is compelled to take on the mantle to protect the nation. And One is selected as the Beacon candidate by a mysterious Guardian of Knowledge, unwittingly thrusted into the path of a chosen one. Each are dealing with the ramifications of what it means to be 'worthy' realizing heroes are not born but the result of an individual's choice and sacrifice.
FINAL ASSIGNMENT: sketch out your setting in detail.
The Queen of Forknowl was dead, as well as the prince, or so people thought. They were just two of the many victims of an inexplicable massacre. More than a decade since their deaths, the traders of Amarastar have crisscrossed the oceans. The Imperial Family of GuiAnDao has drawn a curtain of secrecy ever more tightly around their nation. The King of Forknowl has tried to keep the peace, despite the loss of his wife and son. No one in the Three Kingdoms has paid much attention to the tiny island of Anthanaeum. It was home to the Sage Tower and the mysterious Library of unknown depth, filled with elemental Masters and researchers adept at manipulating crystal magics.
The Island of Anthanaeum, is a greater asset than anyone would expect for its size and is the setting of the Novel. We traverse the Island’s many locations from the Beast-filled forest to the south, to the Anthanaeum Academy, and the Library and its underground lair. As we follow Maddison and her friends through the course of eight months, we learn and see various areas of the Island and discover its hidden secrets and the unknown forces working there.
FIRST ASSIGNMENT: write your story statement. A sinister Order has infiltrated the island of Anthanaeum, when the 14yo mixed raced Cursed Prodigy investigates, she uncovers a deadly conspiracy of human and beasts concocted by a god. She must eliminate everyone involved before they kill her...or worse, capture her friends SECOND ASSIGNMENT: in 200 words or less, sketch the antagonist or antagonistic force in your story. Keep in mind their goals, their background, and the ways they react to the world about them. The Order of the Chosen, once thought of as a harmless religious organization, was discovered by Maddison (the Cursed Prodigy) to be connected to the Massacre that killed the Queen of Forknowl. Now, they are plotting something on the island of Anthanaeum — something that might bring destruction to the whole island. Driven by their divine ideation, the Order will stop at nothing to bring Glory for the Chosen. What they see as Salvation for their people means death to all those who oppose them. Of the spies working on the island for the Order, the most dangerous is Sebastian Ollie, a High Priest that infiltrated the Sage Tower and orchestrated their forces on the island. As he engages in a battle of wits against Maddison, he utilizes all of the tools at his disposal to deliver the last ingredients that can lead to God’s Arrival. THIRD ASSIGNMENT: create a breakout title (list several options, not more than three, and revisit to edit as needed). The Orphan of Anthanaeum The Order of the Chosen THIRD ASSIGNMENT: comps Three Dark Crowns - Kendare Blake (2016) - Strong female protagonist in a High Fantasy Novel with multi-POV that has parallel and complex storylines with interesting character development. Similarly voiced and written for YA audience to engage a more commercial read, targeted towards a broader market. Mistborn: The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson (2006) - Multi POV High concept Epic Fantasy Novel with intricate world-building, hard magic system, and a female protagonist with intricate plot. There’s intrigue as well as the looming threat of a god. Uprooted - Naomi Novik (2015) - High Fantasy Novel that builds on intrigue and strong female characters and dealing with friendship and sacrifice. The discovery of unknown magic and overall expanded world-building, along with the uncovering of a looming threat and its origins. Additional comps for length and marketability - The Poppy War: A Novel by RF Kuang | King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo | An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir FIFTH ASSIGNMENT: write your own hook line (logline) Petty gossip of nobles about her origins isn't a concern for the Cursed Prodigy, she's too busy with matters of life and death; protecting her friends in the mercurial Library against vile crystal monsters, deadly mutated acolytes, and a god bent on their destruction. SIXTH ASSIGNMENT: sketch out the conditions for the inner conflict your protagonist will have. After Maddison’s investigation into the Sage Tower leads to something much more sinister. She must protect her new friends from the Order of the Chosen that is out for blood, while finding their true purpose on the island of Anthanaeum. As she tries to balance her cold calculations with her newfound concern for her friend's safety, she wavers for the first time from the words of her mentor: Caring is a weakness. Secondary conflict: With Maddison’s arrival to Anthanaeum the lives of Linden, Nina, and Benjamin are forever changed. One begin questioning their purpose and future for the first time. One finds the history of their past and is compelled to take on the mantle to protect the nation. And One is selected as the Beacon candidate by a mysterious Guardian of Knowledge, unwittingly thrusted into the path of a chosen one. Each are dealing with the ramifications of what it means to be 'worthy' realizing heroes are not born but the result of an individual's choice and sacrifice. FINAL ASSIGNMENT: sketch out your setting in detail. The Queen of Forknowl was dead, as well as the prince, or so people thought. They were just two of the many victims of an inexplicable massacre. More than a decade since their deaths, the traders of Amarastar have crisscrossed the oceans. The Imperial Family of GuiAnDao has drawn a curtain of secrecy ever more tightly around their nation. The King of Forknowl has tried to keep the peace, despite the loss of his wife and son. No one in the Three Kingdoms has paid much attention to the tiny island of Anthanaeum. It was home to the Sage Tower and the mysterious Library of unknown depth, filled with elemental Masters and researchers adept at manipulating crystal magics. The Island of Anthanaeum, is a greater asset than anyone would expect for its size and is the setting of the Novel. We traverse the Island’s many locations from the Beast-filled forest to the south, to the Anthanaeum Academy, and the Library and its underground lair. As we follow Maddison and her friends through the course of eight months, we learn and see various areas of the Island and discover its hidden secrets and the unknown forces working there.