Outspoken
Scope
The motivation behind building Outspoken
I started writing the novel OUTSPOKEN in 2013, as I was going through a very dark period of my life. At the time, I was very alone, very closed off to myself due to trauma, and had little connection to anything but my writing. After my family fell apart and I found myself across the country with multiple jobs to hold down and no friends to turn to, I ended up setting the first draft aside unfinished, and nearly gave up on writing altogether.
My junior year of college, I finally discovered the found family that would help me come to terms with my past, accept all the different parts of myself I had repressed for so long, and live freely as the passionate, queer, neurodivergent, artistic person I really was. I picked up playwriting, started therapy, and a whole heap of other things, but OUTSPOKEN still haunted me. It was always in a little back corner of my brain, begging to be written, but I was terrified that returning to this novel and trying to write it would drag my back into the dark space I'd been in when I first dreamed it up.
Thankfully, a few dear friends knew about it, and refused to let me give up on it. After a handful of half-hearted attempts to pick it back up over the years, the year 2020 (strangely enough) gave me both the stability and the time I'd needed to commit. And this time, things would be different. I realized that every time I'd tried to go back to OUTSPOKEN, I had forced myself to live within the story as my younger self imagined it. This time, I threw away everything I thought I knew, and let myself rediscover this strange corner of my mind with new, clearer eyes.
What I found was an incredibly empowering opportunity to not only write the queer fantasy that would have changed my life when I was younger, but to literally reclaim a small part of my youth by releasing the queerness baked into the DNA of the story.
In November of 2020, I finally finished the first full draft of OUTSPOKEN: Book 1, and found myself motivated to ride this trilogy out to the very end. But in light of all the changes, I would need a much better world building resource than I had available. Before jumping into books 2 and 3, I will be filling out this rich world so that I have a clear view of the cultural, political, and geographical climate, along with an easy to navigate bible of the plot, characters, and more. WorldAnvil seemed like the perfect tool, so here we are!
My junior year of college, I finally discovered the found family that would help me come to terms with my past, accept all the different parts of myself I had repressed for so long, and live freely as the passionate, queer, neurodivergent, artistic person I really was. I picked up playwriting, started therapy, and a whole heap of other things, but OUTSPOKEN still haunted me. It was always in a little back corner of my brain, begging to be written, but I was terrified that returning to this novel and trying to write it would drag my back into the dark space I'd been in when I first dreamed it up.
Thankfully, a few dear friends knew about it, and refused to let me give up on it. After a handful of half-hearted attempts to pick it back up over the years, the year 2020 (strangely enough) gave me both the stability and the time I'd needed to commit. And this time, things would be different. I realized that every time I'd tried to go back to OUTSPOKEN, I had forced myself to live within the story as my younger self imagined it. This time, I threw away everything I thought I knew, and let myself rediscover this strange corner of my mind with new, clearer eyes.
What I found was an incredibly empowering opportunity to not only write the queer fantasy that would have changed my life when I was younger, but to literally reclaim a small part of my youth by releasing the queerness baked into the DNA of the story.
In November of 2020, I finally finished the first full draft of OUTSPOKEN: Book 1, and found myself motivated to ride this trilogy out to the very end. But in light of all the changes, I would need a much better world building resource than I had available. Before jumping into books 2 and 3, I will be filling out this rich world so that I have a clear view of the cultural, political, and geographical climate, along with an easy to navigate bible of the plot, characters, and more. WorldAnvil seemed like the perfect tool, so here we are!
The goal of the project
I am hoping to have an in-depth resource that tracks al the timelines, complicated plot lines and character aspects, and political circumstances behind the story of OUTSPOKEN, as well as a fun place for my beta readers and future readers to get a sneak peek behind the scenes. Rather than vague notes scribbled in margins, or easily lost character webs handwritten on sheets of paper that are never there when you need them, I am creating this space as a single location to hold all the knowledge necessary to tell this story as vibrantly as possible.
Outspoken's Unique Selling point
This world is filled with all of the good old medieval fantasy archetypes... Just from a much different perspective. But more importantly, it's the fantasy that people like me have been looking for since we were children, rich with queerness of every kind, representation for characters with disabilities, and a positive view of neurodivergence that was nowhere to be found in the books of my childhood. Just as I have used writing it to reclaim my youth, I hope my audiences will be able to do the same as they read.
Theme
Genre
OUTSPOKEN is a medieval fantasy novel for YA and NA audiences. It is rooted primarily in a combination of the technology available in the mid-late medieval era and the brutal political climate of feudal Scotland. There is no magic, but certain advancements have been made to the development of some forms of technology and communication, which are rooted in the history of this land. One prime example of this is the creation of a rich, full sign language occurring much more quickly than here on Earth.
Perhaps the most advanced aspect of this story, however, is the approach to queerness and disability. I have built the understanding of these topics in this world by blending what I've learned studying the Elizabethan era, and my modern understanding as a queer, disabled activist. This world isn't perfect by any means -- it can be far, far from it at times -- but I have worked hard to create a fantasy world that welcomes those of us that live with these identities without using our daily oppression as a vehicle for plot. We deserve our own fantasy heroes, and there are many to be found in the pages of OUTSPOKEN and the history of Éirigh.
Perhaps the most advanced aspect of this story, however, is the approach to queerness and disability. I have built the understanding of these topics in this world by blending what I've learned studying the Elizabethan era, and my modern understanding as a queer, disabled activist. This world isn't perfect by any means -- it can be far, far from it at times -- but I have worked hard to create a fantasy world that welcomes those of us that live with these identities without using our daily oppression as a vehicle for plot. We deserve our own fantasy heroes, and there are many to be found in the pages of OUTSPOKEN and the history of Éirigh.
Reader Experience
This is a world fraught with political unrest, poverty, and cruelty, much like the medieval times on which it was based. But while there is fear and a rather constant sense of dread or foreboding, there is also a great deal of hope, and more than anything it should be a world to which everyone can deeply relate.
Recurring Themes
The way we see ourselves affects the way the world reacts to us.
The best thing in the world is to be seen and heard.
There is more to life than what we have been given, if we have the bravery to look for it.
No matter how alone and different you may feel, there is someone to whom you can relate, and often they are closer than you think.
The best thing in the world is to be seen and heard.
There is more to life than what we have been given, if we have the bravery to look for it.
No matter how alone and different you may feel, there is someone to whom you can relate, and often they are closer than you think.
Character Agency
In book 1, the characters feel as though they have very little agency, that they are little more than playing pieces manipulated by their rulers. Despite these feelings, however, they continue to break rules and act on their own instincts. As the world opens up to them in books 2 and 3, they will discover they have a great deal more agency than first they thought, and always have.
Focus
Drama
Death of the "Traitor" King Máirtín, and passing of his crown to his only son, rumored to be a bastard.
Laird Sadach's uprising, after years of playing supporter to King Máirtín.
Rumors of the True Prince Slánaitheoir's survival and plans to retake his throne.
Growing unrest of the lower classes.
Weakening of treaty along Western border.
Ripples of the Royal Slánaitheoir family murder 17 years ago continuing to have unforeseen consequences.
Laird Sadach offering Caillte his freedom.
Sir Lorcan Dorchadas's quest to win back Lady Sinè is renewed through a mysterious and shady promise from Laird Sadach.
Laird Sadach offering Caillte his freedom.
Sir Lorcan Dorchadas's quest to win back Lady Sinè is renewed through a mysterious and shady promise from Laird Sadach.
OUTSPOKEN © 2013 - 2021 by Maybe Stewart. All rights reserved. Artwork and graphics created by Maybe Stewart, unless otherwise credited.