All Three DSR Contributors Survive First Round of Cuts in Novel Challenge
Febuary 27, 2017
DSR
contributors Chris Dec, Ruthanne Deceder and Ted Gross survived the first round of eliminations in their
8-week novel writing challenge.
The three authors are working on independent novels and will attempt to continue to
submit 12,500 words every two weeks, until they reach the 50,000-word
mark, generally considered the magic number to qualify as a novel.
Should any of the authors fail to meet any of the final three deadlines or
word counts, they will be eliminated from novel-writing contention.
In first round action, Ruthanne Deceder set the pace with 19,821 words,
followed by Ted Gross with 18,102. Chris Dec barely made the cut,
squeezing 12,518 words in, just under the Monday night wire.
Chris Dec:
Title of Novel: Homeless State
Author:
Christine Dec
Genre:
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Dystopian future
Brief:
In the not too far future, the economy is squeezing a larger gap
between the haves and have-nots. More jobs are offshore, more
foreclosures are happening, and the record number of homeless families
and individuals is a real problem for the government. Shelters are
overflowing, and building new shelters can’t happen fast enough.
The story is about a homeless family that begins living in a government
proposed experimental housing cooperative. Homeless State, carved from
four adjacent states, becomes home for a growing number of capable
candidates who cannot manage a high mortgage or rent, but who are
willing to give their energy to creating a cooperative community.
The novel takes place over 4 years, during which time, Jack, at 13, is
in a new high school at Homeless State where he develops into an
extraordinary leader.
Progress:
This is my first novel. I have an outline, story and characters
developed. It has been a few years of me being kind of stuck, not
knowing how to proceed. I am going to stop bouncing from one chapter to
another and join Ted’s marathon, hopefully, getting one chapter
finished at a time.
Ruthanne Deceder:
Title of Novel: TBD, but most likely "A
Memory of Lilies"
Author:
Ruthanne Darling-Deceder
Genre:
Fiction
Brief:
A young girl born in the rural southern France, yearns to move to
America. Through multiple adverse and comedic adventures, she
realizes the art of possibility and realizes her part in making her
dream come true. Her family remains unified while surrounded by a
broken world caught up in international politics surrounding
Vietnam. Madeline longs for newness, but too nieve to realize the
dangers of uncharted international waters. The tides of strife
and struggle nearly break her and her dream, but she knows the fields
of lilies always bloom again.
Progress:
This is my first novel while I have several started, this is the hope
for a finished product. I thought of finishing one of my other
novels, one being a memoir, but something this week led me to pay
homage to the memory of my mother's story through the eyes of
Madeline. Totally new book for me and special in a way as I am
collecting memories from my belated mother's friends here and abroad to
solidify Madeline's story.
Ted Gross:
Title: Losers Weepers
Genre: Sci Fi / Time Travel
Brief:
18-year-old Pike Gillette contends with super powers that first surface
during a high school football game.
Progress:
None. I've read very little science fiction and have never tried to
write any.
