bibliophile birds
Lovin' The Homestead
in November i'm participating in a writing event called National Novel Writing Month. the goal is to start writing on November 1st and complete a 50,000 word novel by the end of the month. so, from now til November 1st, i'm compiling my research material and story outline.
i'm writing a post-apocalyptic story. an outbreak (viral or bacterial) wipes out most of the country/worlds population in a matter of days. infrastructure is basically destroyed almost immediately. a small group of survivors set up a community on a large farm. they face numerous challenges and must protect themselves against marauders and whats left of the government.
Characters
Main
Woman: mid-late 20s. The farm was her familys property. She had been living in a city on the other side of the country with her boyfriend but had returned for a visit, and to tell her parents she was pregnant, when the outbreak hit. Her parents were infected and died, leaving her as the only surviving family member. Her boyfriend was sick when she last spoke to him but she has no idea what happened to him after the phones stopped working.
Man: mid-late 20s. He lived on a nearby farm and grew up with the girl. They were very close but never romantically involved. They are the only survivors from their town. His family property was sold years before and he had been working in a factory a few towns away.
Boyfriend: late 20s.
Government Assigned Refugees
Student: A young woman, late teens- early 20s. She had been a college student studying political science.
Girl and Boy: A girl, 16 or 17, and her young brother. Orphaned by the outbreak.
Soldier: A man, late 30s-40s. Former career military, dishonorably discharged for being gay. Very tough exterior but a gentle man inside.
Nurse: A woman, early-mid 30s. A nurse.
Teacher: A man, 30s-early 40s. A high school history teacher.
Other Refugees
Professor: A woman, early 60s. She had been a distinguished Anthropology professor. Found living in a library in the city, she decides to come back to live at the farm.
Government
Acting Head of the Government. Formerly the Secretary of Agriculture, he is the highest ranking government official who survived the outbreak. Very conservative, pro big ag. Widely disliked during his term. Now working to make all remaining agriculture government owned and controlled.
Representative: Woman, 40s. Very bureaucratic and difficult.
so, what i need are some scenarios. they are going to have cows, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, ducks, the whole shebang. the farm they will be running will be around 400-600 acres, plus access to the surrounding smaller farms that are now abandoned.
so, you guys are creative, informed, and farmy, which means you're perfect for this exercise!
i'm writing a post-apocalyptic story. an outbreak (viral or bacterial) wipes out most of the country/worlds population in a matter of days. infrastructure is basically destroyed almost immediately. a small group of survivors set up a community on a large farm. they face numerous challenges and must protect themselves against marauders and whats left of the government.
Characters
Main
Woman: mid-late 20s. The farm was her familys property. She had been living in a city on the other side of the country with her boyfriend but had returned for a visit, and to tell her parents she was pregnant, when the outbreak hit. Her parents were infected and died, leaving her as the only surviving family member. Her boyfriend was sick when she last spoke to him but she has no idea what happened to him after the phones stopped working.
Man: mid-late 20s. He lived on a nearby farm and grew up with the girl. They were very close but never romantically involved. They are the only survivors from their town. His family property was sold years before and he had been working in a factory a few towns away.
Boyfriend: late 20s.
Government Assigned Refugees
Student: A young woman, late teens- early 20s. She had been a college student studying political science.
Girl and Boy: A girl, 16 or 17, and her young brother. Orphaned by the outbreak.
Soldier: A man, late 30s-40s. Former career military, dishonorably discharged for being gay. Very tough exterior but a gentle man inside.
Nurse: A woman, early-mid 30s. A nurse.
Teacher: A man, 30s-early 40s. A high school history teacher.
Other Refugees
Professor: A woman, early 60s. She had been a distinguished Anthropology professor. Found living in a library in the city, she decides to come back to live at the farm.
Government
Acting Head of the Government. Formerly the Secretary of Agriculture, he is the highest ranking government official who survived the outbreak. Very conservative, pro big ag. Widely disliked during his term. Now working to make all remaining agriculture government owned and controlled.
Representative: Woman, 40s. Very bureaucratic and difficult.
so, what i need are some scenarios. they are going to have cows, goats, sheep, chickens, turkeys, ducks, the whole shebang. the farm they will be running will be around 400-600 acres, plus access to the surrounding smaller farms that are now abandoned.
so, you guys are creative, informed, and farmy, which means you're perfect for this exercise!