Writing Labyrinth of Souls

Origin of the Story

Writing Labyrinth of Souls

Origin of the Story

Labyrinth of Souls is one of those stories that came out of no where. I hadn’t planned on writing anything like this, especially since I am working on a full length novel. As I worked on the back story for some of the characters, I fell in love with their story, and I thought, “That would make an interesting story, but it would take a lot to turn it into a novel.”

That is when I realized that it would make a good novella that I could write quickly. Part of me was concerned about taking a detour in the middle of writing the novel. I would have ended up writing a lot of this material anyway. It is important for me to know so I can understand the characters and their relationship with each other.

I started writing the story as The Faith of the Summoner, but with the first scene a character called said they where entering Labyrinth of Souls, and I changed the name immediately.

So, the story found its voice, and the writing began:

After a life filled with calamity, Raih is sent into a mystic labyrinth to find her path where she is attacked by a strange creature; but when she is injured by the beast, she must learn to tame her inner chaos, before the beast returns to finish them off.

You can read early drafts on Wattpad.

Raih

Raih, The Summoner

Raih is a character that I have been developing for about 3 years. Over that time, I discovered more about her, but her backstory was always foggy. I tried to fit her into several stories, but she never really fit.

All that changed when I started writing Dragon in the Snow. I had a dream about her role in the story and her relationships with several characters. She now had a home.

One of the relationships that mattered most was her relationship with Jodhaa Bhai, which is the heart of the Throne of Embers stories.

Raih is a unsure about her place in the world, but wants to find a way to be more than her past should allow.

Check out her story on Wattpad.

Jodhaa Bhai, the Mystery

Jodhaa is a character that came partially out of history and partially from the wonderful movie Jodhaa Akbar, but who isn’t tied too closely to either.

Jodhaa

Jodhaa is a strong character who knows who she and where she came from. What I love about her most is how she looks several steps ahead before she acts.

Where Raih is the heart of the story, Jodhaa is the soul. She is a mysterious figure. I honestly don’t know what all I can say about her without giving out too much about her story.

Learn more about Jodhaa in the early drafts of Labyrinth of Souls on Wattpad.

25% Written

I am so excited that I am a quarter through the outline for Labyrinth of Souls, and it is turning out to be the type of story I love to write. Even though I know what is going to happen, it is still finding ways to surprise me.

The characters are so alive to me, and the world is filling in.

Part of me wishes I could attend Sunsuulyn Academy. I am not sure what I would find in the Labyrinth, but I feel like my experience would be more like Raih’s than Jodhaa’s.

The early draft is up on Wattpad, and I would love to get your feedback.

Imagining a spirit world

One of the most challenging things about Labyrinth of Souls is imagining what the spirit world should be like. To be honest, it is hard to shake the imagery of Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, and Final Fantasy X’s Guadosalam. These two keep coming to mind as I try to develop the setting further.

Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke are top of my mind, but I don’t what copy someone else’s work. This part of the story is so important to get right.

I have a few ideas, but it I’m not sure exactly how it will look in the text. I am more certain about the tone in the scenes than the imagery. I have to just play around with a couple ideas and see what works.