Usually, when I write a novel, something is going on. There is a definite plot carrying the story along. As I write about Ship Nineteen, my problem is simple: What plot?
The Premise
This is a survival story of these nine Carduans learning to survive on an alien to them planet. The passengers range from ten years old to seventeen. The crew know little more than flying a space ship.
Marooned on a planet with no hope of going home and, as far as they know, alone, they must find a place to live, foods they can eat, a source of water and a way to defend themselves against the monstrous beings living on their new world.
What Plot Makes This Exciting?
That is my problem. As this is a sister novel to the one on Ship Eighteen and both take place over the same timeframe, both are written on a countdown of days. It is set up by weeks counting down from fifteen, each week split into the six days of the Carduan week.
Every day things happen. Some are dull and routine and short. Others are exciting and dangerous. All do feed into the whole of learning to survive, but each is a separate incident.
One Goal
Obviously the two ships will meet up. That is no spoiler. Sola, the main character on Ship Eighteen, dreams of meeting Tico, her son on Ship Nineteen. He remembers this dream. Does anyone, but them, really believe this dream?
Yet, this may be a glimmer of a plot or, at least, a goal for both stories. Is this enough? I don’t know.
Other Events
There is a bit of a romance. The Carduans are snake-sized snacks. Owls see them as dinner, not to speak of coyotes.
What is there to eat out in the wilds? How would you find out? After all, some plants are deadly poison.
What plot can I find? Perhaps learning to survive is one.