The
Words Said
Project Novella: The Kingdom
The bar was set at 20,000 words and I had a little more than two months to write them all down. I had the characters, the setting, the point of view, and most of the backstory firmly in mind before I began, but I didn't know what was going to happen. The plot spilled out and took form as I wrote Project Novella, emulating the styles and routines of famous writers along the way. At around 15,000 words, it was clear that the story would travel far beyond the 20,000-word goal I'd set — the thought made me smile.
Below, you will find the unfinished novella, which stands (as of April 18, 2016) at 20,157 words, divided into sections according to the different writers I emulated. Read it. I dare you. And don't expect to find repeated passages or paragraphs full of gibberish; it's all authentic.
Don't take it from me, though: just listen to what the words say.