Log Line

In a world where the balance between magic and technology crumbles as war rages between Mages and Techies, a boy who is the reincarnation of an ancient hero must confront his forgotten past, while a girl born from both magic and machine wrestles with her identity—all in a race to save the dying Life Tree that holds the fate of the realms.

Story Pitch

In a world divided by the realms of light, shadow, and mortals, the Life Tree—the ancient source of all magic—is dying. Jacob, a 10-year-old boy unaware of his destiny, is the reincarnation of Raven, a hero from an age long past. He carries fragmented memories of his previous life, memories that hold the key to locating the Verdant, a chosen one destined to plant the Life Seed and restore the world’s balance. But as Jacob’s magic awakens, he struggles with his identity and the growing realization that his life is entwined with the fate of the realms.

Xania, a girl engineered from both human and machine, harbors extraordinary abilities and a deep trauma from witnessing the destruction of others like her. Bound by the Life Seed implanted within her, she must confront the duality of her existence: is she a weapon or a savior? Tasked with teaching her how to be human, Prince Enero becomes her only ally, though his father sees Xania as a tool for conquest.

As the war between Mages and Techies threatens to tear the world apart, Jacob and Xania must navigate a web of deceit, ancient prophecies, and their own inner conflicts to plant the Life Seed. But with time running out, they must decide whether to save a world on the brink of collapse—or destroy it to end the cycle of suffering forever.

Story Themes

Identity and Time: Dipak’s struggle with time sickness and his fractured sense of self creates an exploration of identity. His experiences of countless lives and memories blur his present, making it difficult for him to know who he is without Raven. This theme of identity is central to his relationship with Jacob, as he must now reconcile his memories of Raven with the child that Jacob has become.

Loyalty and Loss: Dipak’s unwavering loyalty to Raven—and now to Jacob—is central to his character. The pain of losing Raven, only to find that they have been reincarnated as Jacob without his knowledge, drives much of Dipak’s internal conflict. The theme of loyalty to family, even across lifetimes, ties into the broader exploration of fate and duty.

Reincarnation and Continuity: The idea of reincarnation plays a major role in the story. Dipak’s realization that Raven is now Jacob forces him to confront the continuity of souls and how relationships change across lifetimes. The theme of whether or not people remain the same after reincarnation is explored through Dipak’s fear of not recognizing or liking this new version of Raven. 

Innocence vs. Danger: Jacob’s childlike wonder is in stark contrast with the dark forces gathering around him. The swirling leaves, controlled by his unconscious magic, become a metaphor for his own burgeoning power—something beautiful but also potentially dangerous.

Fate and Destiny: Dipak’s arrival signals that Jacob’s destiny is beyond what either he or his mother can fully grasp. These characters are soul bound and have fought this battle many times in other lives with varied out comes. Xania was created for the sole purpose of becoming the next Life Tree while allowing others to maintain control over it through her computer system. 

The Pull of Magic: Jacob’s and Xania's unawareness of their own magic mirrors the tension between magic and reality in the story. As the magic awakens in them, it also awakens the conflict between those who seek to control or destroy it. 

Outline Structure Thoughts

Act 1 (the beginning) – about 10 scenes

• Hook (1% mark or scene #1) – This is your first opportunity to grab the reader’s attention and make them wonder what’s going to happen next. 
• Inciting Incident (12% mark or scene #5) – This is an event that upsets the balance of your protagonist’s world and gives rise to their objects of desire. 
• First Plot Point (25% mark or scene #10) – This is when the events of the story get personal. Something or someone allows or forces your protagonist to commit wholeheartedly to the journey ahead.

Act 2 (the middle) – about 20 scenes

• First Pinch Point (37% mark or scene #15) – This applies pressure to the protagonist and reminds them who the antagonist is and what’s at stake.
• Midpoint (50% mark or scene #20) – This is your protagonist’s "moment of truth." Somehow he or she finally realizes the true nature of the antagonist’s actions or intent. It’s also the moment your protagonist shifts from "reactive mode" to "proactive mode."
• Second Pinch Point (62% mark or scene #25) – This another moment of applied pressure. The goal is to remind your protagonist what they still have to conquer, overcome, or accomplish in order to achieve their story goal.
• Second Plot Point (75% mark or scene #30) – This is the final injection of new information into the story. The threat from the antagonist worsens, the stakes are raised again, the danger gets even more real, and emotions are at an all-time high. It usually includes or leads to an "all is lost" moment.

Act 3 (the ending) – about 10 scenes

• Crisis (88% mark or scene #35) – This is a decision your protagonist needs to make between taking one action or another. It's a decision that serves as a last-ditch effort to achieve their story goal.
• Climax (90% mark or scene #35/36*) – This shows the outcome of the choice the character made during the Crisis. It’s the moment where your protagonist finally faces the antagonist. It’s also the moment where your story’s meaning is bestowed upon the audience. *Usually, the Climax directly follows the Crisis, but not always.
• Resolution (or the last scene/s) – This is the final scene (or scenes) of your story. You'll want to show what life is like now that your protagonist has achieved (or has not achieved) their story goal.

Warning!! Spoilers!!!

Reading past this part of my prep will get into a ton of spoilers for the story. If you want to wait and read the story with a fresh perspective then you shouldn't read anything past this point. I am posting this for those that would like to take this creative journey with me. If you'd like, you can see the process of writing this novel as it unfolds. From the sketches, ideas, thoughts and scraps to the (hopefully) final novel at the end of Novemeber.