Time slides by and I re-discover a story idea that intrigued me years ago. I’ve lost track of how many calendars–not calendar pages–but actual calendars have come and gone since I last examined the story.

The Oath

Recently, I cleaned out and organized a six-drawer storage unit where I keep writing projects. I came across an entire drawer devoted to a manuscript with a working title of The Oath.

The fantasy plot revolves around three protagonists and a scheming antagonist, linked together by a magic bond between swords and sand. The antagonist had succeeded in outlawing the sand-readers and sword-bearers of the kingdom. The unlikely trio of protagonists were drawn together by their separate needs and hunted by a bounty hunter. I had not decided which of them was the main character, because each had a compelling story arc of their own.

Also in the storage drawer, I found two notebooks of research on swords, draft scenes, a plot outline with potential twists, and character profiles. Sheets of paper with setting details and photos of potential character likenesses filled the bottom of the drawer.

TWA Writing Contest

A folder in the drawer held two short stories tied to The Oath. I had submitted them to the Tampa Writers Alliance’s (TWA) 2006 Writing Contest. Each story represented a different scene from the novel, based on two of the protagonist’s story lines. What shocked me was the date on the TWA letter providing the judges’ evaluations. It was January 18, 2007. More than 13 years ago!

Evaluations

The judges’ evaluations were mixed. One judge liked the stories, calling them intriguing, with a strong character, and a great opening sentence. The other judge did not share the same opinion and pointed out many flaws. Those comments were spot-on and are issues I’m still wrestling with today. Both sets of evaluations provide terrific feedback.

However, after the contest, I put the short stories and the unfinished manuscript away. Time marched on and all the work sat in the drawer. Whatever digital file it was saved on would have been back in the days of 3.5 inch diskettes and many computers ago–all long gone.

Time Slides By No More

In re-visiting the old materials, the story entices me again. Perhaps I’ll load the plot outline in Scrivener and see how that goes. Time slides by, but an intriguing idea with so much work done remains an opportunity that deserves more than a resting place in a drawer.