Those of you keeping track may be pleased to know I’ve made great strides on Visited Upon the Sons. Wound up doing a complete overhaul, telling the story from a different perspective and everything. But I think it’s working, because the story is beginning to take shape. I’m at about 5000 words currently (17 or 18 pages) and I think I’m maybe, what, half way done?
It’s been very challenging to write it, and it’s scary as hell, but I think it’s really coming out well. Here’s an excerpt from the first act:
“Okay. I’ll show you.”
It was such a simple phrase – only four short words – but it changed the course of David Harwood’s life.
He was only thirteen years old. It was one of those rare autumn days when the weather is Indian Summer-perfect and there was no homework. David and his friends Zach and Casey were just off the bus when they found their conversation turning yet again to the vacant house at the end of the street. It was an old Victorian that had been slate grey with white accents, and now was a uniform ashen tone of neglect and faded beauty. Its lawns were waist-high with wild grasses, and its once-delicate landscaping had long since been overcome by heartier weeds. It looked the part of the haunted house, and as houses like that often do, it was the subject of the kind of rumors that are irresistible to thirteen-year-old boys.
“My friend said an old woman died in there,” said Zach. Zach Meyer was a small, painfully thin creature. Perpetually nervous, he reminded David of a chihuahua all the way down to his eyes, his thick whalebone glasses making him bug-eyed just like those nervous, tiny little yapping dogs. “And her spirit is trapped in that house. She doesn’t know she should move on.”
I’m deep into the second act now, and really think there’s another 3, 4, even 5000 words left in this thing. I’ll keep you posted.
Thanks for reading!
