Mark Wayne – Author and Warrior
Sometimes there is no justice only mercy
This is the ending of my recently written story, “The Beauty of the Stars”.
I wrote the story last November 2014 in a flurry of free-writing mostly, during National Novel Writing Month, #NaNoWriMo, and the edits have continued until now. Hopefully, one more read through this weekend, a few more edits and then…? Well, who knows.
Are you at all intrigued, wondering what this story is about?
It is November 30, 2014 the last day of November and the last day of this years NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and the endeavor of writers worldwide to write 50,000 words during the month. This is my second time participating, the first in 2012 (I took last year off as the family went to Southern California for Thanksgiving and Disneyland!) and I am happy to say both years I reached the vaunted 50,000 word plateau! I actually hit the 50k mark on November 20th, averaging writing just over 2500 words per day.
I then proceeded to take the next 5 days off from writing on the draft. I did write a some poems but that was the extent of it. I now sit at over 53,000 words, with one day left to add to the total and still a long ways to go. Is the draft novel any good? Probably not, as most was written in a flurry of free-writing sprints but hey, at least I have a story down on paper. Now the real fun begins, really? The editing, re-writing and the critiques from others, oh joy!
If you are ever interested in writing a story then why not plan on joining next year? You will find lots of support both locally from the regions and worldwide via writing buddies. In case you are interested here is the synopsis (still a work in progress, also) of my story tentatively titled ‘The Seekers’, take care and happy writing! ~M
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In the not so distant future as society is rebuilding from the devastating chaos resulting from the destruction of the world economic infrastructure. An evil has risen from the ruins intent on exerting control over the world. The Group, a multimillion dollar corporation that manufactures unmanned drones, hides behind a veil of rebuilding the world to a future utopian society with no pain or need. This is to be accomplished by eliminating those deemed of no value to society. It is into this world that Johnny Mick and Faith find themselves.
Johnny Mick has been given an extraordinary spiritual gift that allows him to see the pain that is carried within people’s hearts and souls. Protecting those who are hurting sends him face to face with his own broken heart and his reluctance to fulfill his destiny. Faith is an independent and strong woman who has embarked on a mission to slay evil where she encounters it. Feeling abandoned as a child she long ago gave up the hope of being connected to another human being. She lives her life only from a sense of duty and obligation that if fulfilled will reward her in the next life
They unwittingly find themselves on paths of unacknowledged self-discovery and when their lives intersect they are forced to face the truth of who they are. They must fight the demons inside themselves and those that have sinister plans to control the world. This adventure set against the backdrop of the selective elimination of human beings, will lead them both to the ultimate showdown, where out of necessity they must confront their deepest pain and fears.
Just over half way through the month of November and I sit at a little over 40,000 words for NaNoWriMo. Not bad and well on my way to reaching the 50,000 word goal.
My story is a little, no alot, scattered at this point and most scenes will need some tie in to each other. But that will come later.
Are you participating in NaNoWriMo?
If so, how is it going?
Are you happy with your effort thus far?
My only advice as I struggle along the same path as many, for what it is worth is to just write! Now go write something, anything! ~M
There are many roads~Mark Schutter ©2014
(A little poetry writing diversion from National Novel Writing Month, almost to 20,000 words and just starting week 2. I digress, now isn’t this little frog just the cutest? There is so much beauty around us and we so often fail to see it. May you stop today, even for a moment and appreciate that which is freely given to us each and every day. ~M)
It is Day 2 of National Novel Writing Month (50,000 words in 30 days) and I am off to a good start, at least I am believing that! Having just finished writing and posting a poem a day during the month of October for #OctPoWriMo, wasn’t sure how many words I might have left in me for November.
I will endeavor to share some excerpts from the novel I am writing, sentences that jumped out at me. Bear in mind these are unedited, the result of free writing as the ideas flow and are put down on paper in my effort to reach the goal of 50,000 words by the end of the month.
“The soul is a magical and mysterious place and the scars this life leave on it are unseen by most human eyes. This gift was something I had never asked for but my mother had said, I had simply been chosen.”
“The gift of seeing the pain of someone’s soul and the blood that continually dripped from the wounds that others and this life had inflicted, was both a blessing and a curse. I carried within me the torture and ache that each person endured.”
“Approximately twenty-five yards behind her, I knelt down in the shadows of a doorway and raised my rifle. I felt the firmness of the stock against my shoulder as I pointed the barrel in her direction.”
The above lines are from the prologue, much more to come! If interested visit the NaNoWriMo site, it is not too late to join! ~M
In the quiet before the coming storm,
in the dark before the first light of morn.
Out of the black night they come,
souls for the taking they have won.
From beyond the blood-red moon,
destruction and disease screams a terrifying tune.
Behold, a light-colored steed.
Ridden by death, its only purpose to make souls bleed.
Behold, a dusky charger.
Ridden by judgement, its only purpose to make life harder.
Behold, a scarlet mount.
Ridden by chaos, its only purpose to make nothing count.
Behold, a sallow pony.
Ridden by defeat, its only purpose to make conquest only.
The huntsmen were led by the dragon snake,
who turned the sun to black; its thirst to slake.
Those who were left fled in terror and fear,
a voice speaking of a fortress refuge; so we hear.
He will cover us with His feathers as a shield about us,
His angels will defend the throne; in this we trust.
He sets us on high, because we know His name,
set free by His mercy and kindness; we are never the same.
We call on Him and He will respond in swift deliverance.
He tramples the serpent in a moment of eternal significance.
Behold, a white horse!
Ridden by faith and truth, its only purpose to make all things new.
~Mark Schutter ©2014
(The poem above was inspired by verses from Psalm 91 and Revelation 6 and 19:11 from the bible. On this Halloween night where the veil between worlds may be thin I wished to convey that although there is evil, there is something stronger that wins in the end. This is also poem 31 of 31 for the month of October Poetry Writing Month. It is finished, now onto National Novel Writing Month and 50,000 words. God bless! ~M)
It was a dark and stormy night.
A time when writer’s will write deep into the fading light.
Fumbling over the words on paper that somehow dance and sing.
A Masterpiece or not may be created out of seemingly nothing.
The winds may howl and blowing rain splatters the window pane.
As the dark night begins to wane.
~Mark Schutter ©2014
Please share your thoughts, how would you finish the sentence? It just might be the next great novel!
At long last, 212 double space typed pages, over 62,000 words and 10 months later I have a rough draft manuscript that could be, just might be a masterpiece! Yeah! I finally finished my first novel after starting last November during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.) I completed 56,000 words during the month but it has taken me until now in fits and starts to fully flesh out the chronologically and tie up lose ends (I hope) and come to a conclusion that made sense with the original concept I started from.
Next step is having my lovely wife read, review and tear it apart just a little. 🙂 Then I will revise where and if needed. I will then be asking for help from others to read the manuscript and give feedback and then who knows. Publishing? Maybe self-publishing? E-book? If you have any suggestions or ideas I would love to hear them. Oh, and to come up with title! A little teaser about the story is below!
“Love and destiny sometimes finds us all when we least expect it, as is the case for two couples living in two 
different eras hundreds of years apart. As evil hunts each unlikely pair they find themselves in the fight of their lives as love grows for one another and faith in an all powerful God are renewed. The stage is set for romance and adventure and in the ultimate showdown between good and evil they discover of a love that exists outside of time.”
This is exciting for me and I have some other ideas percolating and hope to participate in NaNoWriMo again this year. Thanks for reading and all the support each wonderful reader of my posts has given to me. ~M
“I am
only one of many who stand in the void” the leader spoke.
His voice was strong and commanded attention but contained no trace of pride or self-serving attitude.
“The darkness has long railed against the light and the veil is often thin between the worlds. We serve only one and seek only to do his will. We come to those in need who call. We are ever ready to serve. Our mission is never complete until that day that no one knows. Until that time when the light forever shines with no shadows cast we stand vigilant and ready to come to the aid of those in need. Should you have need we will be there as you are a chosen one as are all who his children. He is forever accepting of those who turn to him and travel the new path he lays before them. Your destiny lies before you.”
At this he backed his horse into line with the others and with a nod of his head towards Taylor, at once the horses’ all jumped into the air wings beating strongly against the air as they took to flight. They rose quickly and all turned back to the east from which they had first came and rising higher and higher into the sky they flew. Continuing until they were only specks in the distance against the blue of the sky, finally disappearing completely.
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The above writing is a short excerpt from a novel I am currently working on editing and revising. The rough first draft was written entirely in the month of November 2012 during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
A long ways to go and feedback is always appreciated, what do you think? ~M
Mark Wayne - Author and Warrior 