When Eeke Abschrift, a wide-eyed graduate student finds herself at the center of an extremist group's attack against artificial intellegence, she finds unlikely allies in an absentminded couple and two reformed henchmen.
Assignment #2 - The Antagonist Plots the Point
Renee ‘Missy’ Fleming is nothing like her name’s sake.More often referred to as The Countess, Missy is ruthless in her attempts to stop the rise of artificial intelligence, nor can she hold a tune.
She leads a local organization known as Purification of the Insipid and Stratified Societies, or, due to the unfortunate acronym that comes to mind, they are more commonly called The Society.
Countess is the former wife of James Charleston, one of the investors of Charleston Smith’s Amsterdam’s leading A.I. business, and she will stop at nothing to take down her ex-husband, his company, and the monstrosities he has helped bring into this world.
Assignment #3 - Create a Breakout Title
Charleston Smith’s
Artificially Human
Synthetic Consciousness
Assignment #4 - Deciding on Your Genre
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman – Neil Gaiman is one of the best a transforming everyday life into the extraordinary.Neverwhere, in particular, is an excellent urban fantasy novel and is exactly what I tried to accomplish in Charleston Smith’s.To me, there is no greater feeling than wondering if something that you’re reading, something off-beat and fantastical, can happen to you.
Anxious People by Fredik Backman – Anxious People calls out to me because Backman develops characters so well.The best stories to tell are the ones most personal to you and I try to let that show in my writing.
Assignment #5 – Hook Line
A curious graduate student, a pair of concerned parents, and two unconventional henchmen have their worlds collide when Amsterdam’s leading A.I. provider is broken into by a group of extremists who are looking to bring down the growing A.I. community.
Assignment #6 – Two More Levels of Conflict
Inner Conflict: Raised by her grandfather to be accepting to all people, Eeke must now recalibrate her world views.Torn apart inside by the hatred shown towards what the extremists refer to as ‘skinjobs’, she must trek this new world as she tries to take down The Society.
Social Conflict: Eeke has never known her parents.Her grandfather, Oliver, told her they passed away in a car accident when she was younger; however, Eeke is more than just Oliver’s granddaughter, she is his greatest creation to date.You see, unbeknownst to Eeke, Oliver is the mind behind Charleston Smith’s, and created Eeke when his own daughter passed away.Eeke, who’s foundation is her relationship with her grandfather, will face an unscalable mountain when she is forced the face the facts of who…or what, she truly is.
In addition, Oskar and Olivia Kristiansen will be followed as they head to Amsterdam to finally get the son they’ve always wished they’ve had.Once their soon-to-be-son is kidnapped by The Society, they must deal with the emotions of losing a son before they’ve even met him.
Assignment #7 – Importance of Setting
Amsterdam: Amsterdam perfectly fits the quaint feeling needed for this personal story.The winding alleys and flowing canals provide for a unique setting that other major cities don’t offer. In this distant-future Amsterdam, they are leading the way in the advancements of artificial intelligence, yet there are so many opportunities for our characters to grow and interact.Whether it’s walking the canals, visiting the Rijksmuseum, or eat local cuisine.By the end of the story, I want my readers to feel like they have just visited this European gem.
Vergeten:Lost in the western fields of outer-Amsterdam, Vergeten is an over-sized windmill that never got into working order and is now home to The Countess and her men.After all, what better place to hide then in a windmill nearly forgotten by all except for urban legend.An old, accordion style elevator connects three levels of the old mill and provides The Society with plenty of room to hold court and more importantly hold their captives.
Oliver’s Cottage:Eeke’s grandfather’s old Dutch cottage acts as a main headquarter for Eeke and her band of friends.It is warm and welcoming, providing plenty of memories and backstory for Eeke and Oliver; however, it also acts as a launching off point to drop some hints regarding Eeke’s true nature.
New York Pitch Conference - September 2021
in New York Write to Pitch 2023 and 2024
Posted
Assignment #1- Story Statement
When Eeke Abschrift, a wide-eyed graduate student finds herself at the center of an extremist group's attack against artificial intellegence, she finds unlikely allies in an absentminded couple and two reformed henchmen.
Assignment #2 - The Antagonist Plots the Point
Renee ‘Missy’ Fleming is nothing like her name’s sake. More often referred to as The Countess, Missy is ruthless in her attempts to stop the rise of artificial intelligence, nor can she hold a tune.
She leads a local organization known as Purification of the Insipid and Stratified Societies, or, due to the unfortunate acronym that comes to mind, they are more commonly called The Society.
Countess is the former wife of James Charleston, one of the investors of Charleston Smith’s Amsterdam’s leading A.I. business, and she will stop at nothing to take down her ex-husband, his company, and the monstrosities he has helped bring into this world.
Assignment #3 - Create a Breakout Title
Charleston Smith’s
Artificially Human
Synthetic Consciousness
Assignment #4 - Deciding on Your Genre
Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman – Neil Gaiman is one of the best a transforming everyday life into the extraordinary. Neverwhere, in particular, is an excellent urban fantasy novel and is exactly what I tried to accomplish in Charleston Smith’s. To me, there is no greater feeling than wondering if something that you’re reading, something off-beat and fantastical, can happen to you.
Anxious People by Fredik Backman – Anxious People calls out to me because Backman develops characters so well. The best stories to tell are the ones most personal to you and I try to let that show in my writing.
Assignment #5 – Hook Line
A curious graduate student, a pair of concerned parents, and two unconventional henchmen have their worlds collide when Amsterdam’s leading A.I. provider is broken into by a group of extremists who are looking to bring down the growing A.I. community.
Assignment #6 – Two More Levels of Conflict
Inner Conflict: Raised by her grandfather to be accepting to all people, Eeke must now recalibrate her world views. Torn apart inside by the hatred shown towards what the extremists refer to as ‘skinjobs’, she must trek this new world as she tries to take down The Society.
Social Conflict: Eeke has never known her parents. Her grandfather, Oliver, told her they passed away in a car accident when she was younger; however, Eeke is more than just Oliver’s granddaughter, she is his greatest creation to date. You see, unbeknownst to Eeke, Oliver is the mind behind Charleston Smith’s, and created Eeke when his own daughter passed away. Eeke, who’s foundation is her relationship with her grandfather, will face an unscalable mountain when she is forced the face the facts of who…or what, she truly is.
In addition, Oskar and Olivia Kristiansen will be followed as they head to Amsterdam to finally get the son they’ve always wished they’ve had. Once their soon-to-be-son is kidnapped by The Society, they must deal with the emotions of losing a son before they’ve even met him.
Assignment #7 – Importance of Setting
Amsterdam: Amsterdam perfectly fits the quaint feeling needed for this personal story. The winding alleys and flowing canals provide for a unique setting that other major cities don’t offer. In this distant-future Amsterdam, they are leading the way in the advancements of artificial intelligence, yet there are so many opportunities for our characters to grow and interact. Whether it’s walking the canals, visiting the Rijksmuseum, or eat local cuisine. By the end of the story, I want my readers to feel like they have just visited this European gem.
Vergeten: Lost in the western fields of outer-Amsterdam, Vergeten is an over-sized windmill that never got into working order and is now home to The Countess and her men. After all, what better place to hide then in a windmill nearly forgotten by all except for urban legend. An old, accordion style elevator connects three levels of the old mill and provides The Society with plenty of room to hold court and more importantly hold their captives.
Oliver’s Cottage: Eeke’s grandfather’s old Dutch cottage acts as a main headquarter for Eeke and her band of friends. It is warm and welcoming, providing plenty of memories and backstory for Eeke and Oliver; however, it also acts as a launching off point to drop some hints regarding Eeke’s true nature.