You hear me bark about plans all day, but have you ever wondered what one even looks like? Well, I've got one to show you. Since I've just finished Necromancer For Hire: The Circle of Life, I'm gonna release the plans I used. This plan was around 4k words long, and it produced a novel 37 chapters long.

This was a raw first draft and I changed several things in its transition to novel.

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-silver moon is having lunch with time

-catching up and having fun

-time wants to introduce them to the other dragons

-go outside, meet them. Victor is sick upon being near life, back hurts

-life is tender and cares for Victor while umbra and matthew apologize

-they must leave on important business

-Matthew gets a phone call

-he gleefully chats with infinity

-umbra is angry that infinity didn't call him even though he is the leader

-Matthew teases that infinity likes him better, so he should be leader

-umbra declares that Matthew is only second in charge and only allowed to be leader if he is unable to drag himself into infinitys office

-finally infinity calls them to his office for an important mission

-time asks them not to go, saying he still wants to hang out with them

-umbra says that he must attend to important guild business, infinity just started respected them. Because of time.

-they shake hands and head off to the guild

-ebone takes them up to infinitys office

-infinity reports to them the underground guild situation

-he gives them address, and needs them to investigate it since they've show competency in dangerous missions

-umbra is pleased and thanks him

-infinity isn't as enthused and tells them to be careful. This is a serious matter.

-meanwhile, Pilate is resting on a table,doodling

-there is screaming behind him, blood covers the floor

-asher, arisha, and hawkins walk out, bloodied up

-commenting on how the only info they could get out of him was something about alcorith horizons

-asher remarks infinity is too soft to do anything direct to them attack wise

-hawkins snarls that they won't be getting anything else since the informant is dead

-arisha calls him a necessary causality, they'll find a new one later

-as they walk out, hawkins steps in front of pilate

-pilate is alarmed when the adults get near him

-asher is frustrated by the lack of info from their interrogation

-he says he's tired of being stuck in this stupid guild, he wants to go on another mission

-arisha coldly comments that their boss hasn't given them commands yet. She's enjoyed her free time

-go into an argument about her career

-as they are getting more angry, Asher turns to pilate, clenching his fists

-asher drags Pilate away to talk to the boss, implying abuse. Hawkins is disgusted

-next chapter, silver moon is tracking through the alleyways. They couldn't risk teleporting. It's too obvious.

- Matthew and aunora are armed and ready to fight. Kids are in the center.

-finally, they find the guild after some close run ins.

-its a shady building that leads underground. It's literally an underground guild, matthew comments. -umbra comments that it would be dangerous for them all to go in at one time. Someone needs to stay behind to monitor activity by the door.

-he volunteers and asks victor to stay with him.

-Victor is somewhat miffed. Umbra says as his master he needs to protect him, and going in there is too dangerous for him.

-he tells Matthew good luck and to jot down everything onto his phone.

-Victor is embarrassed that he was forced to stay behind bc umbra thought he couldn't handle it. Umbra says they've had some close calls and doesnt want him to be hurt.

-meanwhile, Pilate and Asher are walking out of an orientation. asher threatens that if Pilate doesn't pull his weight around the guild, he's going to be punished. Pilate instinctively grabs his black eye

-he says he will start being better.

-asher sneers good, because the boss has taken a liking to you. hes a good little prodigy, for some reason

-asher sticks a knife in his hands, telling him that he needs to grow a pair and toughen up.

-asher walks away, and Pilate is scared. He doesn't want to “toughen up.” he just wants to go to school, draw, and be normal. He lowers his head. That isnt an option. He glances at his phone. It's already 1:00 so there's no use coming in late to school.

-he goes into the camera/guard room and sits down, and he starts to play on his phone.

-he looks up at the camera feed, noticing two people outside. He recognize them, its the people asher hates

-heart thudding, he realizes that this would get him recognition. Maybe Asher would stop beating him if he captured his worst enemies

-he sees umbra, stalking the perimeter with his war scythe and victor sitting on the floor

- he decides that it would not be smart to go after Umbra. He needs to get victor.

-cut back to Umbra and Victor

-umbra hears a noise and goes on guard  

-a massive creature jumps out of the alleyways, snarling and growling.

-Umbra calls for Victor to get back, and hide

-Victor stumbles into a dumspter, panicking

-umbra is busy fighting

-hands reach out, grabbing Victor and pushing a cloth onto his mouth. It smells like sweat and chloroform

-he passes out

-cut to Matthew and co. Esper and Seraph are shapeshifted into smaller forms

-Matthew still has gun drawn

-aunora remarks that matthew would be a good leader

-matthew is honored, but replies that umbra is leader

-aunora mutters that he would be a better one

-matthew smiles, saying he would love to be leader. But this is something important to umbra. And sometimes, you have to sacrifice things for the people you love.

-he's content with letting umbra have his ego stroked

-they explore some more, dodging guards

-come across the stairway for the sacrifice pit

-cut to victor. He slowly awakens, getting sick upon gaining consciousness. Pilate had conveniently supplied him with a bucket

- he hears Pilate comment that the chloroform always makes people sick. They don't show that on tv, he says. he is a dork.

-victor is groggy and confused, finding that his captor is a child like him.

-pilate suddenly tries to be intimidating, hitting the knife against his palm and scowling. He asks for his name and affiliation and reason for being there, but victor is silent

-Pilate grows flustered, asking him once again.

-finally, he begs him to answer. He's upset

-victor points at his throat, but Pilate is still confused. He asks if he has strep throat, and starts to back away. He doesn't want that illness.

-victor sighs, trying to grab the sketch book Pilate has on the desk

-hesitant, Pilate slowly hands him the notebook

-Victor writes that he's mute

-pilate sighs, lamenting that its his luck to try to interrogate the mute guy.

-victor asks who he is

-pilate answers he is pilate falconidal. He is a loyal, merciless following of the guild Victor invaded. He's trying a little too hard.

-victor remarks that he looks scared. He's sweating

-pilate snaps that he should be scared of him. He already knows who Victor is. His first question was a trick question. He is Victor Mortis.

-pilate growls that he will be responsible for capturing him, and asher will be delighted with him.

-he fiddles in his pocket, pulling out several zip ties.

-he struggles to restrain victor, unsure how to use them. He tells Victor to sit still as he hastily googles it.

-victor feels bad for him, he doesnt even know what he's doing

-pilate is unsure of himself visibly. He pulls out his phone, saying he will alert his supervisors.

-next chapter, pilates pov. He texts his supervisors, but the only reply he gets is “later”. He is ignored and not really respected.

-pilate simply settles for staring at Victor. He gets uncomfortable and starts squirming around.

-pilate goes back to playing on his phone, until he hears a pencil scratching on paper. Victor has broken out of his handcuffs and his writing.

-he is infuriated, saying he's not supposed to do that. He blames wikihow for messing up his handcuffs.

-victor asks if he lives here

-pilate is shocked, taking several seconds to read it. He has to sound it out.

-slowly, replies that he does not, he and his master asher live in an apartment in the poor part of alcorith.

-but this is their guild, he calls it the “circle.”

-grow silent again. Victor seems unsteady and upset.

-pilate is disturbed by his panic and isnt sure what to do.

-awkwardly, he pulls off his smiley face pin and gives it to victor

-he begs him to stop being upset

-victor looks up, and they lock eyes

-victor looks at him like he cares for him, and pilate staggers back

-turning his back, he starts to draw

-next chapter, Victor's pov. He's watching pilate draw and is amazed.

-he was never really able to draw. Only symbols.

-pilate seems very strange and kinda sad. He keeps looking up to find Victor staring. He seems to like it.

-finally Victor writes what is he drawing and holds it up. Pilate gets bashful and mutters it just one of his characters, its not important.

-Victor counters that he wants to know about it.

-pilate is very very shocked and shakily asks for him to wait for him to finish the final touches.

-pilate shows the drawing. Its a realistic, awesomely drawn fox.

-victor is floored, amazed

-pilate is surprised that he likes it. He says no one really payed attention to his drawings.

-victor writes that he has so much talent

-pilate stutters no one has ever said that to him before, cuts himself off

-victor asks to see his entire notebook

-pilate, finally, nods and sits next to him and starts flipping through the pages

-victor asks how he got this good

-pilate replies he has a lot of free time. Looks kinda disturbed.

-Victor touches his finger to a set of runes at the bottom of the page. He asks what they are for

-pilate is having the time of his life, and offers to show him.

-next chapter, pilates pov. He is overwhelmed with the attention hes getting.

-his master never complimented his work

-pilate says hes a biourgist

-victor writes life magic?

-pilate confirms, yes, one of the heavenly elements.

-pilate takes the sketch book, throwing it open on the ground

-a circle of reddish-white magic ignites around him.

-the runes on the page glow

-the paper shines bright white, and a massive paw pops out of it. A golden-red manticore crawls out.

-victor is frightened but Pilate assures him its okay.

-he pets the manticore and it starts purring and rubbing its face against his hand

-pilate lets Victor pet it

-pilate asks what kind of magic he uses

- Victor writes death on the page. Pilates eyes go wide.

-victor writes a question mark, but Pilate shakes his head and chills out.

-pilate murmurs that his summons keep him company. They can fight for him, but he prefers for them not to. He feels their pain.

-suddenly pauses, clutching his heart. He looks like someone just punched him.

-he whispers “serenity, he killed her”

-next chapter, matthew

-they, after a brief discussion, decide to investigate the passage way

-Seraph is flashlight and matthew is recording everything with cellphone

-reach altar room

-describe horrors

-wall is inscribed with magic

-aunora discovers it and asks if anyone can read it

-matthew mentions he can read some magic. After studying it, he claims that it is very, very archaic writing. Thousands of years old.

-aunora presses if he can make out any of it

-he can read “magic, the circle, sacrifice”

-Seraph attempts to see what he can make out, matthew wanders off to Esper, seeing the altar and abiathar laying on it.

-he collapses in front of the body and throws up. Aunora pats him on the back, identifying his license on the floor.

-Matthew is horrified, sickened, and whispers that he doesn't think theyre supposed to be here

-that very moment, they hear voices at the top of the stairs

-bits of plot convo. lifes plan.

-Matthew gaps in shock, holding seraph and Esper behind him

-two men with sun tattoos on their face come down

-they cry they dont have the clearance to be down here

-next chapter, back to Pilate and Victor

-Victor, horrified, asks what he means

-he clarifies, saying that the fae man killed serenity.

-victor realizes he means umbra and the creature that attacks them

-victor decides not to press it further. He asks if she is okay

-pilate nods, saying that his summons have died before, but it still hurts. They will come back with no previous memories however.

-victor pats him on the back, trying to comfort him. He looks distraught.

-pilate lays his head in his shoulder, which startles him, and he suddenly touches victors hair

-he brings the knife he had in his belt, and Victor gets afraid, and he cuts off victor’s hair

-victor is infuriated and offended

-pilate is confused why he is so mad. He cuts his own hair all the time

-Victor asks why he did that

-pilate said he had nice hair and wanted something to remember him by for later. He sees nothing wrong with it

-victor questions what's even wrong with him

-to make up for it, Pilate had given victor a pin from his headband

-he says to keep this with him when his master comes to pick him up. It will make him happy.

-back to matthew

-they see Matthew's gun, and they immediately rush into a fight

-the men are tough mages

-matt and aunora kill one, but the other injures seraph and runs before they can kill him

-matthew runs to seraph and kisses him, and he heals himself

-aunora is concerned about the one that escaped

-Matthew says it dangerous to pursue him

-she asks what to do next

-matthew holds his family close. He whispers he doesn't know

-next chapter, pilates pov

-he staring at victor again. Hes mystified by him.

-he plays with the hair on his sketchbook. He doesn't understand why hes angry. He had complimented him by taking his hair.

-he feels his heart beat. It had felt so strange for someone to be paying so much attention to him. He had even loved his drawings.

-he hears victors stomach growl. Victor is blushing and holding his stomach, totally embarrassed.

-he offers to get him food to keep him comfortable.

-victor, bashful, accepts

-he goes to the kitchen area, where several members are lounging. Pilate knows a few.

-hawkins is there and asks where asher is. Pilate doesn't know. He ignored his texts.

-Hawkins tries to awkwardly touch his shoulder when he sees his distant, upset expression. Pilate whimpers and shrinks away, associating the touch of an adult with abuse. He has his hand on the knife asher gave him.

-hawkins frowns, shaking his head. He mentions that the boss made food for the guild.

-pilate picks up two sandwiches and a bottle of water. He grabs something sweet solely for Victor to keep him happy.

-just then, someone runs into the breakroom, calling that there is a group of violent intruders. They've already killed (name).

-hawkins goes into defensive mode, and orders pilate to go somewhere safe.

-pilate is frightened by the thought of a killer being in the building. He fears for Victor's safety.

-meanwhile, umbra pulls his blade out of serenity. She vanishes, and Umbra search for Victor and starts to panic. He is consumed with rage after smelling chloroform and leaves to find his child, following his scent.

-next chapter, victor is starting to get anxious. He is worried for Umbra and his whereabouts, along with matthew and co.

-pilate returns and gives victor his food. He says theres a bit of trouble, but everything is gonna be okay

-victor decides not to ask.

-while they eat, Victor accidentally hits a bruise on pilates ribs with his elbow. He asks if he is okay

-pilate gets visibly nervous.

-he mumbles that he forgot to take the trash out, so his master punished him

-Victor is disturbed

-Pilate gets frantic, saying he deserved it, that he didnt follow his master's orders. It was his fault.

-Victor, still mulling over the sudden advent of child abuse, asks if he does that often

-pilate blushes and nodds. He says that its okay. He usually does something to deserve being beat, like not washing the laundry or something.

-he says the bruises aren't really as painful as they seem and he can put up with wounds.

-Victor is sickened

-after rambling on about Asher breaking his ribs in a drunken rage, Pilate is made uncomfortable by Victor's reactions. He grabs his other sketchbook and says he wants to stop talking about it

-victor presses on the issue that he is being abused

-pilate, after a while, finally loses his temper and throws his sketch book down

-he cries why does Victor even care about it. Why does he care about him

-Victor struggles to write a response, but Pilate is suddenly in an irrational tirade.

-he stutters that victor is just confused, sick. He has Stockholm syndrome. Pilate claims he is a monster, a monster that captured Victor. He shouldn't have pity for him.

-Victor reaches out for him, trying to calm him

-pilate screams at him, but he almost tries to embrace vic, but he stops himself

-Victor is startled by his bizarre behavior and isn't sure what to do

-pilate staggers back, only to see Umbra creeping up on the monitor *beforehand show a small segment that shows Umbra cutting down various ppl*

-he panics and freaks out, breaking down

-he grabs his phone, calling Asher

-he screams, calling him dad, he calls for help, he says its serious and he needs his master to protect him. He is barely coherent. He sees the intruder and he is afraid to die

-pilate is rocking back and forth and sobs he has to hide

-Victor cries out (no words), but Pilate runs out the door

-Umbra arrives, covered in blood and fuming and holding his scythe

-he immediately goes to victor, holding him and kissing him.

-their reunion is interrupted by Umbra hearing that someone is coming. He tells Victor to hide

-Victor refuses

-Umbra grows angry, and pushes him behind some boxes. He tells him not to move until he gives the clear. He throws his shirt and vest over Victor and tells him to mask his scent.

-his expression tightens. No matter what happens.

-Asher struts into the room, eyebrows raised

-he is surprised that Umbra was the prisoner Pilate had

-realizing he must keep Victor's identity a secret, Umbra smirks. He barks that yes, it is the one and only Umbra. He was waiting for an opportunity to meet Asher again.

-Asher licks his lips and comments that while he would love to play, he has business to do.

-many many armed men step in behind asher, and Umbras heart skips a beat. The odds dont look good

-he takes a step back, but realizes that he cant pull back any further or Victor will be discovered

-he charges head on

-Asher simply stands in the doorway as his men rush to attack Umbra

-the fight is brutal

-umbra receives many injuries

-hope spot, kills a few, but Umbra is cut down by being stabbed. He's shoved to the ground and they form a dog pile on him

-finally, when he can't even move, Asher stalks toward him

-he grabs umbras chin and comments that hes always loved a man covered in blood

-he kisses him, and Umbra cannot stop him

-Asher whispers even though he loves him, he still has to follow his boss. Umbra will regret the day he intruded upon the circle of life

-he pulls a knife from his belt and sinks it into umbras eyesocket. He does it several times and then licks the blade.

-he dumps Umbra back on the ground and tells a nearby guard to take the body. He has more plans

-next chapter, Victor watches the room clear. He lets loose all his emotion when the coast is clear.

-Victor processes the events that transpired

-Pilate creeps back into the room, calling meekly for victor.

-Victor is hysterical, collapsed against a box unresponding

-Pilate is trying to figure out what's going on. He sees the blood and shudders

-he hugs victor, but Victor doesnt respond. He's spaced out and gone.

-Pilate throws Victor's arm over his shoulder

-he tells him everything is gonna be okay, he will return him to safety

-next chapter, matthews pov

-he can hear footsteps from the stairs. Someone's coming.

-Asher comes into view, arms crossed. He recognizes them. Seraph sobs and hides behind Aunora, and Aunora whispers ashers name

-Asher snarls that they shouldn't be creeping around here. Around this guild.

-Matthew raises his gun, and hisses that they can go where ever they please, and this wont go on reported

-Asher grins. He tells them not to be so hasty

-he snaps his finger, and a man steps out behind him. He throws him load on the ground: umbras near dead body.

-Matthew drops his gun and rushes to umbras side, propping him up

-he asks if hes dead

-Asher replies no, but he doesnt have long

-Matthew is sobbing, realizing Victor is gone as well. He must be dead.

-aunora breaks down as well, which collapses the rest of the team

-Asher orders them to leave and never come back. If they speak about anything that happened here, they will die.

-he orders for mattthews phone

-aunora has to get it because matthew is freaking out

-Asher destroys the phone and tells them to scram. Let Umbra be a lesson to them

-Matthew is inert, and aunora throws Umbra over her shoulder. She drags matthew up and grabs the kids.

-they escape the guild, Esper tending to Umbra as then run

-next chapter, Pilate has Victor outside the guild, where he originally found him.

-he tells Victor he must go, and he cares about him

-he shoves a little piece of paper in his pocket with his number on it. He says if he needs him, call him

-Pilate sees someone messing with the door

-he says goodbye and flees

-through blurred vision, Victor sees silver moon

-however he cannot call for help or even speak, but he manages to stumble out

-Matthew cries his name and throws his arms around him. He thought he was dead

-Victor breaks down in his arms, seeing umbra

-holding victor, Matthew cuts a portal and they go home

-next chapter, home

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Matthew (acting as leader) and Aunora report to infinity. They cannot tell what happened to Abiathar, and he questions where Umbra is. Matthew says they found nothing suspicious.

Matthew and Aunora cannot get Victor to speak, Seraph attempts to get to him and he panics and shuts himself away

Seraph is bothered from taking care of Umbra, he and Matthew talk

Aunora sees Matthew in the kitchen one night, cooking. That's the first time she's really seen him since Umbra was hurt, he's constantly been tending to him. Matthew reveals his alcoholism to Aunora and he tells her he needs to go home and settle his nerves.

Victor manages to go upstairs. He's been sleeping on the couch for the past few days. He sees Umbra stumbling into the hall, with all his bandages. Victor has horrible flashbacks and runs back into the living room. Seraph tries to consol him, Victor pulls away, locking himself in the bathroom. He's terrified of Umbra, but he also wants his dad.

Aunora is doing her best as a mom, since Esper is being Umbra’s nurse. She's unable to cook and is distraught. Seraph comes to her, concerned. Victor has eaten in a while. Aunora tries to get Victor to eat but he refuses. She asks if he's taken his medicine. He hasn't. Victor eventually faints and Aunora takes him to her bedroom and makes him sleep. He's too weak to fight her.

Esper is giving Umbra a check up. He comments that the infection is mostly gone and his fever has dropped. He mentions he's making a good recovery. Umbra is upset- he wants to see Victor. He's afraid that he was too hard on him and now he hates him. He recalls the part where Victor ran away from him crying. Esper tries to sooth him, saying that Victor is a finicky person so he shouldn't take it to heart. It doesn't help Umbra.

Victor has a brief flashback of being in an orphanage, alone and playing with stuffed animals. He's very young. The mother of the house leans in the door and murmurs he (Victor Mortis) has guests. Umbra and Matthew step in. Matthew urges him *since That's all he talked about in the car* and Umbra approaches him, smiling. He says theyre gonna be his new daddies. He reaches into his coat, pulling out a stuff animal, he knew that Victor loved them. He plays with him. He tells him he's gonna love him and never let him go. Victor wakes up in tears. He knows what he has to do.

Last chapter. Victor pokes his head into their room. Umbra is looking in the mirror. In the low light, he almost looks like he's crying. Umbra wipes his eye and is startled. They sit on the bed. They talk about how painful its been. Victor has survival guilt. Victor doesn't want umbra to constantly martyr for him. Umbra says its going to be a long time until everything is back to normal, but they can do this, together.

Ending:

Part one- Life is in office, Asher and Hawkins reporting to him. Autumn is on the desk. Finally describe her. Learns about silver moon and their “exploits.”

Autumn mentions that her sister was one of the intruders. Life could care less- he's more concerned about the two men. They bear the stink of “her.” He is angered that the witch is still conspiring against him.

Part two- Matthew is face first on the ground, sobbing. She stalks around him, hissing for information. He cannot tell her. She asks where Umbra is, and Matthew sobs there was an accident. He almost died. She doesn't care and threatens to harm Umbra further if he doesn't tell her everything (“You know what I'm capable of”)

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I derailed during the falling action and ending lol. Also I had to edit the final paragraph bc spoilers lol,,

But yeah, that's how I plan. Broken sentences into chapters.

Hopefully that sheds some light on how to do it.