The science fiction series, Salvage, is a coming-of-age story of a young woman in a perilous interstellar world. Nightmares plague her and circumstances thwart her ambitions, and she struggles to survive.
In Episode 1 we meet her the first time at thirteen years of age, traveling on a transport to a colony world. An emotionally immature genius, she lives on logic, yet logic will not fix the nightmares that cause her problems on-board ship.
Will she survive the dangers of space travel? Her fellow colonists? The nightmares that haunt her?
Part 1 of Salvage, Episode 1, is almost drafted! It’s taken awhile, but it’s closer than it’s ever been. So exciting!
There’s always more to learn about the craft of writing, and more to revise. Meanwhile, I’m also starting to work on finding beta readers. If you’re interested in being one, let me know.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Dim lights flickered on, illuminating curved metal walls extending into darkness. While he waited, he put one hand on the smooth metal, envisioning the giant struts just outside, encasing the tube and holding the water tanks fast to the body of Brio’s Hope.
From down the corridor came soft sounds, a light series of tapping soon followed by tiny green lights swirling around the tube, moving closer. Soon he could see the crowd of centipede-like robots spiraling around the corridor walls, the cleaning brushes sweeping around conduit and pipe. They soon streamed around him, on their way to their docking stations.
The last fraction of Part 1 of Salvage you would think would be easy to finish. Wrapping it up has been a little more complicated, though. I’ve spent some time streamlining my writing process, specifically in the spreadsheets where I go from plot elements to scenes to scene elements. In the process, I’ve detailed each key scene a little more fully. That seems to be making writing the actual scenes go a little faster.
The drone shot out of Brio’s starboard port. The shimmering light of the FTL bubble danced and shivered as it curved around the hull. Inside the ship in a narrow access alcove near the water tanks, Emmett and Mr. Davis watched its progress on a small holographic display. A collection of manual controls, unneeded for now, ranged below.
So, sometimes a writer has to tighten her belt, er, plot. Did I mention my unique talent for making a short story very, very long? Turns out that’s something to rein in to create a great story.
After research, thought, and analysis, I’ve tightened up the plot for Salvage’s episode 1.
For right now, the ship in episode 1 of the Salvage Project is called Brio’s Hope. Here’s a little backstory and detail on the ship from my notes.
Photo: Pixabay on Pexels
I am excited for the possibilities for the coming year — the business year for my writing runs from August to August — and I’m so ready to dig in again.
I’m looking forward to making progress on…
Thanks for coming along on the journey!
“Passengers had a water leak an hour ago.” The air suddenly seemed to sharpen.
Water had been critical to interstellar travel from the beginning. Reclamation tech had never lived up to its promise, and building craft with large enough water supply tanks proved too expensive for most. So, ships like the Pinoche carried less water, relying on carefully planned stops along the route to collect ice.
Work continues on the Salvage project, and I’m starting to spend time thinking about structure for the Blue project — occasionally even the Sifa and Peter project.
Although incredibly clean, like the rest of the ship, the floor in the corridor showed its age with scuff marks and scratches, the kind paint doesn’t hide. As she strode along, the worn metal grating beneath her feet rattled occasionally. Kaylah tipped her head back to examine the conduits running overhead behind a series of grates. Several were taped together with what looked like duct tape.
“A budget ride is a budget ride,” a family friend had warned as they said their last goodbyes back on Earth. He had added earnestly, “but it will get you there in one piece. The captain’s a good man.”
“Whatever that means,” Kaylah thought. She pulled her coat tighter. The air smelled musty but better than in the passenger rec area. On any given day, when too many of the unwashed crammed into the converted cargo hold… Her nose crinkled in disgust. She understood the need for limited water rationing, but she didn’t have to like it.