Four days into November, and things are running pretty smoothly. I’ve written 12,419 words, or about 1/8 of the total. That’s close enough to par for me, especially at the beginning of writing.

Subplots

Besides the main plot, there are ten subplots that I’ve planned. With the expansion of the main plot, some of these will run their course in this book, and others will persist through the trilogy.

I’ve made a large chart detailing each plot and how it comes into play for each scene. Each subplot was outlined using the same major beats as the main plot. I’ve got the first half of the novel roughly planned out, though I expect some changes in the future.

I’ve detailed the larger of the four plots for this novel below. I’ll cover the other six on Monday.

Current version of my plotting chart. Each row is a chapter, and each column a plot.

Subplot 1 – Ivy’s Learning

This plot concerns Ivy learning that she is able to control the magical power from the river, and then her mastery of it over the course of the second half of the novel. As a cleric, the other character’s views on her shift and change, depending on their view on magic.

Subplot 2 – Kel and Mellien’s Romance

This builds slowly in the first half, since the two each have something they think they should be devoting their energy to: Kel the boat and trip, Mellien teaching Ivy. They both try to deny their feelings for one another to try and protect the other from danger.

Subplot 3 – Hob and Mellien’s Distrust of One Another

They distrust one another because of the belief that magic and technology cannot mix. This will, over the course of the first two books, be shown to be wrong, but is a deeply held belief along the River.

Subplot 4 – Jerol’s Training

Jerol starts out listless and without a true goal. After seeing Kel do some fancy piloting (probably down some rapids, but that might change), he decides he wants to become a pilot. Having a purpose of completing his training not only teaches him skills, but also helps him become a better person.