This is number seventeen in a series of posts where I document the complete process of writing a novella - Day By Day!
INTRODUCTION
I am documenting (via my blog) the complete start to finish experience of writing a novella that I will be releasing for FREE once it is written.
I will be writing approximately 900 words per day and I will post each day's writing the following morning, unedited, on my blog. This means you get to see my draft with all its original spelling mistakes, bad grammar, and clumsy sentences
The timeline for the experiment is as follows:
- Plotting, Characters and Scene Outlines - April 1to April 20 - COMPLETE
- First Draft Manuscript - April 21 to May 18 - IN PROGRESS
- First Manuscript Edits - July 1to July 5
- Reader Proofs - July 6 to July 25
- Final Manuscript Edits - July 26to July 31
STATUS
Today's Date: May 5th
Progress: Day 14 complete. Following is the day's writing (Chapter Seven continued)...
“Do I have to?” asked Ryann as cook pulled her out of bed.
“Come on, you’re almost fully recovered now and trying these on will surely put a smile on your face.”
“But I just want to sleep a little longer. Just a little.”
“You’ve slept enough for a small army, little one, these past few days.” Cook laughed and hugged Ryann to her. “Now slip off that nightdress and try this new dress on.”
Ryann stepped back from cook, pulled her tight fitting nightdress over her head, and picked up the new brown dress that was laying on a chair next to her bed. “It’s a little big,” she said, letting it drop over her shoulders.
“Nonsense. You’ll be grown into that in no time. Good. Now try on these other clothes.”
Ryann grunted and groaned as she pulled on and off various garments that cook had delivered to her room. Finally she was done and she picked up her nightdress once more.
“Hold it there,” said cook, pulling the nightdress away from Ryann. “That’s going too. It’s a miracle it hasn’t already pulled itself apart. There’s a new one on the end of your bed.”
Ryann leaned forward and grasped the new nightdress. She held it to her face and breathed in its aroma. “Roses. It smells of roses.”
Cook chuckled. “One of the girls rubbed a few petals into it. She thought it would help you grow attached to it.”
“It’s beautiful.” Ryann slipped it over her head and did a quick twirl. “Now can I go back to bed?”
“I suppose you can, Ryann. But just make sure you’re up bright and early in the morning. No more rest for you. It’s back to Master Bramwel’s duties tomorrow.”
Ryann hugged cook one more time before lying down on her bed. “Bright and early,” she repeated as she watched cook leave the room.
Ryann turned to face the wall and counted the marks she had made there. “Forty-two.” The punishment from Bramwel and the cost of new clothes had reduced her savings quite considerably. It was going to take forever to save the twenty silver coins to buy her freedom. She tried to do a little math in her head. Forty copper coins was equal to two silver coins, and that meant she still had to earn another eighteen silver coins. Surely that couldn’t be correct. But it was. She knew it was true. She dropped her head to the bed and closed her eyes. It was no wonder that everyone stayed at the castle forever. Perhaps the only way out was like Megan. A tear welled up in her eye. She hoped not. There had to be another way. She had to earn the money somehow.
Tomorrow she would ask cook how many people had bought their freedom. Cook would know. Maybe cook could even help her to earn a little more money. She smiled and closed her eyes even tighter before suddenly sitting up with a shock. “Where’s my hairbrush? Cook said she would get me a hairbrush.” She frantically looked around the bed and on the chair beyond, but she couldn’t find one. Maybe cook had forgotten. Or maybe cook planned to cut her hair after all. A thousand thoughts went through her head as she dropped off to sleep.
“Good morning,” cook said the following morning as Ryann walked into the kitchen. “That dress suits you so well, but look at your hair. Didn’t you even wash it this morning?”
“I couldn’t find my new brush,” said Ryann, sitting down at the kitchen table.
“It hasn’t arrived yet,” laughed cook. “They said it would take a couple of days to get one for you from the town. As soon as you’ve had some breakfast you’d better go and do something about that mop of yours. Master Bramwel will have you beaten if you’re not looking your best.”
Ryann smiled, glad that she was going to keep her tangled locks after all. “Yes cook.”
“Hey, you’re up again?” Kieran asked, coming into the kitchen.
“Hi,” smiled Ryann.
Kieran sat down next to Ryann and picked up some bread from the table. He leaned in close to Ryann. “I got Bramwel into trouble the other day with Lord Cala.”
“What happened?” Ryann listened as Kieran told her the story of Bramwel in the sitting room. “Has he punished you yet?” she asked after he had finished.
“I don’t think he dares. After all, Lord Cala thought it was funny. But I need to be extra careful in future. He’s bound to be on the lookout for me from now on.” Kieran swallowed some bread before continuing. “Actually I’m glad you’re well again. It’s been a lot of extra work doing your duties as well as mine.”
“I know. I’m really grateful, Kieran. Truly.” She leaned across and kissed him on the cheek.
“None of that you two,” cook interrupted from the far side of the kitchen. “And you, little Miss Ryann, you need to get straight to Master Bramwel’s room. I’m sure he’ll be waiting for you by now.”
Ryann blushed and got to her feet. “Yes cook. I’m just leaving.” She smiled at Kieran. “See you later,” she whispered.
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