Jenna

Jenna was born while out shopping for a gift for a friend, Nik.

While looking around for a gift, I was starting to come to the conclusion that I wasn't going to be able to find one. Until, I entered a gift shop.

It's one of those shops that are like a Hallmark store but without the cards. Little figurens, statuettes, things like that. While looking around I came across a display with small porcelin statuettes of a variety of animals.

I stood there for a moment looking at all these animals, picked up a german shepherd one and pop! Almost instantly the story of Jenna came in. I left the store with the story evolving and by the time I arrived home it was all complete. The storyline, plot, concept, and cast of characters were all (almost) there.

In honor of this I desided to give Nik this story. But in a different fasion. I would do it in a gift novel - a concept that I just came to call it. Each month, or so, I would give her another chapter.

The question is, how long will it take to finish this story? How long will it go on past the original plot? Oh, say till one of us (Nik, Jenna, or I) pass on? Who knows.

The interesting point to this writing is that I'm trying to keep it in "real time". Meaning I try to keep the action of the story along the same time line/ season line as in the real world. If it's spring now, it's spring in Jenna. If's it's winter, then it's winter. Before my stories wouldn't quite follow the set boundries of the "real world".

I'm also paying closer attention to the details of the characters. If a character is hurt in one chapter which would require time to heal, it would reflect that in the story. Equipment have a certain wear and tear life. I try to keep each chapter a segment of one month.

Some might just call this better writing and I'm sure they are right. Hey, don't block out my ray of sunshine.

Below is the first chapter to Jenna. It is the first draft as I gave it to her. When I complete the full story, or come to a stopping point, I will return to draw in the details and clean it up.

JENNA - Chapter 1