The Gods in Haven: Initial Planning Complete

This has certainly been an interesting way to plan a novel in a new world. Writing two short stories (Prior Enragement and Prior Restraint) to understand the world in and outside the Priory has been a great way to get started. As an added bonus, they will split into chapters that dovetail nicely without significant work. That's part one 90% done, even before I start!

I've now sketched out the flow through The Gods in Haven for my two main characters, Chandra and Anjuna, right up to the big finale. The story splits nicely into four parts, which I've provisionally named:

• Latter Gods

• Colliding Conspiracies

• Collaborating Cabals

• Elder Gods

Part one comprises six chapters, alternating between Chandra and Anjuna's perspectives, currently titled:

• Ringing in the New

• Poetry in Motion

• Harbinger of Whom?

• Rhyme or Reason

• Coming Up Short

• The Second Coming

Those chapters are almost entirely composed of text from the two short stories, but will need a degree of rework. Most of the changes will be in Chandra's chapters, as I hadn't fully thought through Haven and the existence of Anjuna at the time. There are also some minor terminology changes throughout. For example, the old gods at the time of the war are now called the elder gods, and the new ones that have emerged since are the latter gods. I'll also tweak things to allow for where the wider story is heading.

I've created an initial breakdown for the chapters in part two already, but those are likely to change before I write them. There's further planning I intend to do once part one has been reworked, primarily in a couple of secondary character arcs. I'll hold off on getting too carried away there.

I have written an initial blurb though. I find it helps to keep the point of the story straight in my mind:

After the war between the gods almost wiped out humanity generations ago, the survivors now live in the town called Haven, with the Priory at its centre. There, experts in every field gather, preserve, and rebuild the scientific and cultural legacy of the human race at the behest of the Prior – the lone surviving elder god. The latter gods that have subsequently emerged are weak in comparison, living with humans in Haven.

As Chandra begins work as a newly qualified historian, portents of a new latter god appear. He becomes a harbinger of the emergent deity, who has an annoying sense of humour. Chandra has the fate of the god in his hands. Quite the first day at work.

Anjuna, Chandra's sister, has no interest in the Priory – nor her brother. Life's tough enough as it is in Haven without unnecessary distractions. Then she bumps into the Laureate, the god of poetry, while scrambling for food in the market, and is surprised to discover it's not just her who's unimpressed by the Prior. The chance to do something about it is hard to refuse.

Both brother and sister come to question the central tenet of their society – the story of the war between the gods. Whose side was the Prior really on?

I've also created my pictorial overview of the most significant characters, as you can see below. I find it keeps their characterisations straight in my non-pictorial mind, and has helped to inspire some of their arcs.

I refuse to use generative AI to create these images, but I'm comfortable with re-using those already created by someone else, at least for my personal inspiration. You can tell these aren't ones I created, as most of the clothing they're wearing is inappropriate for the world they're living in. It's their physical appearance and demeanour that interests me.

On the subject of graphics, yes, that's an early attempt at a cover for the novel above. It'll likely change, but that tree is important in the novel. You'll first hear about it in part two.

Right, it's time to rework the stories into part one of the book. That shouldn't take too long, maybe a week, but I've got a few days off for good behaviour first. Not that it's much of a holiday. Most of it will be spent driving

I'll be shuttling from Wiltshire to Surrey and back again before measuring up my son's new house (exchanging contracts soon, hopefully). Then we'll head off to Kent to scatter his Grandad's ashes, before returning to Wiltshire, dropping him off in Surrey on the way. Then I'll start editing – once I manage to wake up.