NaNoWriMo Wrapup: Know the Novel: Part 3: It is Written

Today I am wrapping up the writer's linkup I participated in the past two months with Christine Smith. Just a little note: while I finished NaNoWriMo, I did not finish the story. I'm still working on it, but I hoped to be finished by the end of this year. I just have a few more scenes to go. I will answer the following questions to the best of my ability.

Q 1: Firstly, how did writing this novel go all around?

A:  It was rough, I'm not going to lie. This novel has fought me every inch of the way and only now that I'm almost done has it been easier to write.

Q 2: Did it turn out like you expected or completely different? And how do you feel about the outcome? 

A: Well, considering it's not done yet, what I do have done has both turned out like I expected and it's also completely different. Confusing, I know.



Q 3: What aspect of the story did you love writing about the most? (Characters, plot, setting, prose, etc.)

A: Definitely the characters. Even when I thought I knew them well, they took my expectations and turned them upside down. It's been fun getting to know them more.

Q 4: How about your least favorite part?

A: There were a few days I had to research autopsies, and I delved into Pinterest (AKA: Procrastination Station) and saw a lot of pictures that made me feel physically sick. (I'm squeamish, okay?) I had to stop and get away from it for a bit before I could continue.

Q 5: What do you feel like needs the most work?

A: Probably either the dialogue or the transitional material. I had a lot of stage directions going on which will need to be cut and worked on when I go back in for edits. I'm still learning and I take bits and pieces of advice from blogs, pins on Pinterest, people on Twitter/Facebook and try to incorporate them. It's an on-the-job-learning experience.

Q 6: How do you feel about your characters now that the novel is done? Who's your favorite? Least favorite? Anyone surprise you? Give us all the details!

A: Ha ha... I wish it was done. Almost there. There have definitely been some surprising characters, including one who I thought was dead, one who was supposed to have left in the first half of the story, and yet another who decided to make the crossover from my other WIP (work-in-progress) world.  (I'm not entirely surprised with this last one. Both WIPs are connected in a way.)
 Tolliver is still my top favorite, but other characters who have been fun to write are one of my child characters, Lewis Moore and James' love interest, Isabel. They couldn't be any different from each other, either. Whereas Lewis is sweet and adorable, Isabel is devious and backstabbing. Stay clear of her at all costs.

Q 7: What's your next plan of action with this novel?

A: Finish it up and then let it sit for a while, probably until April where I'll take it in for edits in CampNaNoWriMo.

Q 8: If you could have your greatest dream realized for this novel, what would it be?

A: My greatest dream for this novel is that it would get published and that it would connect with readers. I think that must be every writer's dream though.

Q 9: Share some of your favorite snippets!

A: Snippet #1[Lewis hugged a bag of groceries to himself. “Yup. And it’s a good day.
Bright, shiny, with a bit of blue peeking through the clouds.”
He drew in a deep breath. “It’s cold, but it’s a good day to be alive.”

They walked up the steps to the apartment and Ross opened the door. 
Tolliver walked in and unloaded her backpack. “I’m going to put my stuff away,” she said,
“I’ll be right back down.”

“Don’t be too long, Lizzy,” Lewis said. “I want to eat soon.”
He helped Ross put away the food, holding the new jar of peanut butter.
“I’m excited to try this new food.” He looked at the label. “Peanut butter,” he read.
“I didn’t know they made butter out of peanuts.” He shrugged.
“Learn something new every day.”]

Snippet #2

[“There’s a lot of beauty in the outdoors, isn’t there?” James said.
He inhaled the various scents. It was so peaceful and beautiful. He could stay there always.

“I know what you mean, sir,” Jeremy said.
“It’s like the sky came down and touched the earth,
like holidays and treasure hunts all rolled into one.
Peace and joy, sadness and glory.” He ducked his head.
“I’m probably not making much sense, but it’s what I feel, sir. In here.”
He touched his chest where his heart should’ve been.

James nodded. “It makes sense to me,” he said.
Perhaps he was wrong.
He wasn’t clear on the technical side of writing, but did Inklings have real, beating hearts?
It seemed this one did. Was he wrong to dismiss them as less than humans?]

Snippet #3

[The streets were quiet this afternoon. 

No one noticed the hooded figure slip along under the gas lamps, her head held high,
her face shadowed by the large hood that covered her head.
She drew her dark cloak tightly around her and slipped her slender, gloved hands back through
the slits, hugging herself to keep out the bitter chill. 

A cool wind blew around the corner whipping her skirts and her cloak about her like
a raven’s wings floundering in a gale.
She could hear as well as see the old wooden sign swinging over the brick building’s black face.

KeltingsWay Inn… At last.
She clenched her teeth to stop them chattering and reached out a hand to open the door. 

A blast of warm air, heady with apple ale and spices filled her
nose as well as the odor of dozens of unwashed, filthy bodies.
Isabel wrinkled her nose and pushed back the bile rising to her mouth.
Stand tall, shoulders back, she reminded herself. Don’t let them intimidate you. 

Even so, the glances of more than one unsavory man darted her way,
lingering on her feminine form. Her hand moved to the dagger on her hip.
If they dared try anything, she would end them. ]

Q 10: Did you glean any new writing and/or life lessons from writing this novel?

A: With this novel, I tried planning most of it out. While it's been helpful for keeping the story on course, it's also been constricting and there are parts where my characters took things into their own hands and ran with the story. I'm glad they did. Those spontaneous moments are some of the best parts.

I think I've learned that it's good to have a direction, but that I don't have to stress too much if my character goes off script for a while. That is okay too.

Well, that's a wrap!

If you've stuck around this long, thank you for reading! I'm hoping to pop back on later this month to do a sort of "Top Five Reads of 2019" post, but it probably won't be out until after Christmas.

Have a Merry Christmas! Talk to you all soon.

*nota bene* Some of the formatting may be a little off on the snippets. I've tried my best to make them fit.