ONCE UPON A TIME in the past, I took part in Julian Daventry's Shared WIP Tag series/link-up and had a lot of fun talking about my first novel ever, Broccoli Queen. That was in October 2017, and since A YEAR HAS ALREADY PASSED I thought it would be cool to do it again!!
^^ plus it's NaNoWriMo already so ...
Introduce the story: blurb, maybe a cover or anything else!
FUN! So my story tells about the last habitable island on earth (set in a futuristic era) and what my protagonist has to do to save the life of her nephew who is one human too many for their population limit.
Mock cover and blurb:
The 101st Human
He's one human too many on the last habitable place on earth.
When things go horribly wrong and the family's dangerous secret leaks out, Sammy becomes a hunted child. Rae must hide him fast, but there are only that many hiding places on an island.
Facing blackmail, murder, and a suspiciously helpful boy named Adam, Rae must brave her fears and find a way to keep alive the one person on earth she'd be willing to die for.
Where did you get the idea for your story? What came to you first: your theme, character, premise, setting, etc?
So, I was inspired by my friend, Abi, who once had a series of writing prompts on her blog. This one really grabbed my attention, so I wrote a short story based on it! (I actually submitted it somewhere but it wasn't accepted.) I played around with the idea some more and IT GREW INTO A NOVEL. What came to me first was obviously the premise, and then the setting. The characters and theme and plot took longer to compile, and they are now vastly different from the original short story. All in all, I've been plotting this book in my mind for about ... a year. Now finally, I've got most of it sorted out, and am ready to put my pen to paper!
What have you done to get experience for your story (like watching knitting YouTube videos)? What did you put into the book because it’s something you know about (like if you’re a martial artist, and put that in)?
So, for question number one - I've done nothing. ZERO. That will come after draft one XD
And for question two - I put in a wanna-be writer, a painter, modern day musicians, baking, and looking after younger kids because I know about all those things XDD
What made you decide to write this particular book for NaNoWriMo?
I'd already started the first few chapters in the summer, so this was the logical second step. This is the most ready of all the book ideas I have so that's why I'm writing it for NaNo as my primary project (I have a few things on the side as well haha).
Do you research before, after, or during your first draft writing process? Have you done any research for this particular book? How do you usually research?
I have not researched anything for my books. Ever. Yet. I want to do it after draft one is done because I feel like I'll get carried away in research if I do it before. But I haven't actually gotten to the point where I'm ready to research and incorporate that research into any book ... so... yeah.
How do I usually research? I type the same thing into the Google search bar in about ten different ways and read all the articles that pop up.
Do you plot or plan your book in any way before you start writing? What methods do you usually use and what did you do this time?
Do you hand write or type your first draft?
I have found that planning a book is actually very important. My general method goes something like this:
i. get a story idea
ii. write the idea down so it won't escape
iii. combine the idea with some other story idea I had a long time ago
iv. let the combined ideas stew in my brain for as long as possible
v. write down important details and plot points
vi. attempt to organize happenings in order
vii. attempt to organize happenings into chapters
viii. let the ideas stew some more in my mind until I have the holes filled in
ix. make sure I have a title
x. START THE WRITING
AND THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR THIS BOOK TOO
In this case, I'm handwriting the first draft.
i. get a story idea
ii. write the idea down so it won't escape
iii. combine the idea with some other story idea I had a long time ago
iv. let the combined ideas stew in my brain for as long as possible
v. write down important details and plot points
vi. attempt to organize happenings in order
vii. attempt to organize happenings into chapters
viii. let the ideas stew some more in my mind until I have the holes filled in
ix. make sure I have a title
x. START THE WRITING
AND THAT'S WHAT I DID FOR THIS BOOK TOO
In this case, I'm handwriting the first draft.
Do you have a brainstorming buddy and if you do, who was it this time and how did they help?
So, my sister and my mom are the ones whom I always try out my ideas on. Usually I just do all the talking and they listen and sometimes offer helpful tips (and sometimes, crazy and fantastical tips that won't help).
But if I really need a fellow writer to think with I'll out to my faithful brainstorming buddy Karyssa Norton and we'll have an absolute blast!!
For this novel though, I did most of the work myself ;D
But if I really need a fellow writer to think with I'll out to my faithful brainstorming buddy Karyssa Norton and we'll have an absolute blast!!
For this novel though, I did most of the work myself ;D
How did you come up with your characters’ names?
I cannot remember. I just ... did. Usually I have this little list of "names I love and want to use" in my brain and just refer back to that XD
Do you know what your story's theme is? If you do, how did you find it, and if you don't, how do you plan to find it?
Well ... it's hard to explain what the theme is in this case. It's kinda about fear, and facing it, and overcoming it, and about doing the brave thing(s) ... *shrugs*
SO! THAT WAS PART ONE of this five part tag. Below are the other participants, so check out their lovely blogs and find out more about their wips!
SO! THAT WAS PART ONE of this five part tag. Below are the other participants, so check out their lovely blogs and find out more about their wips!
PARTICIPANTS
Jules @ Saver of Memories
Nicole @ Legend of a Writer
Ceci @ Ceci Creates
Gray @ Writing is Life
Julia @ Lit Aflame
Jem @ Jem Jones, Writer
Melissa @ Quill Pen Writer
Brooklyne @ Showers of Blessings
Ariel @ Scribes and Archers
Keturah @ Keturah’s Korner
Sarah @ Pen of a Ready Writer
so, are you doing nanowrimo??
drop the link to your nano profile below! and tell me about your wip ^-^
ACK YOUR STORY SOUNDS SO GOOD!! It’s such a creative plot! And wow, you’re handwriting it? I have admiration.
ReplyDeleteGood luck for NaNo! (This is for NaNo, correct? I feel like an idiot for not knowing that...)
ACK THANK YOU SO MUCH !! I like handwriting so much better than typing tbh and I spend too much time on screen as it is lol
DeleteYES IT'S NANO (no worries, I didn't know it till it was explained to me either haha)
THIS SOUNDS SO GOOD AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY GOLDEN GOODNESS.
ReplyDeleteEEEEPPPP THANK YOU THANK YOU I'M SO HAPPY YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF IT <333
DeleteI love the title and premise of your story! I'm typically not a fan of dystopian books, but I could see myself picking up this one.
ReplyDeleteEleanor | On the Other Side of Reality
awwww thank you immensely, girl <3 oh yeah, dystopian can get old pretty fast but IT'S SO MARVELOUS YOU LIKE THE SOUND OF THIS!! ^-^
DeleteI really want to read your book! It's so unique and intriguing. I'm serious about wanting to read ;D
ReplyDeleteketurahskorner.blogspot.com
THAT IS SO GOOD TO HEAR !! I'm just so flattered and excited that you want to read it, hopefully you get the chance someday <333
DeleteOH WOW. THIS SOUNDS AMAZING. Wow, Lisa, I cannot wait to read this book someday.
ReplyDeleteAAAHHHHHHH WOW thank you for your compliments <3 I cannot wait till you get to read this book someday too !!
DeleteThis story sounds so interesting, and that cover is amazing!
ReplyDeleteACK GRAY, thank youuuu <3 AND I'M SO FLATTERED YOU APPRECIATE THE COVER :'')
DeleteOoooh I really love the premise of your story! I can't wait to hear more about its characters. :D
ReplyDeletethank you Melissa !! AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL YOU GUYS MORE <3
DeleteThis sounds so intriguing!
ReplyDelete<333
DeleteTHIS IS SUCH A COOL PREMISE, LISA. (And the cover is amazing; my sister wants to know if you painted it yourself??)
ReplyDeleteAnd the idea-stewing period is definitely very important! It's crazy how our brains can make connections with completely separate ideas, which add a heap more depth to the plot... and how our brains manage to fill those plot holes. ;)
- Jem Jones (or my NaNo profile)
JEM !! SO DELIGHTED YOU LIKE IT !! (Say thanks to your sis, I'm so honored - but sadly no I didn't paint it. I just did a lot of photo manipulation/editing ;DD)
Delete*high fives on idea stewing* IT'S RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME HOW OUR BRAINS COOK UP STORIES WITHOUT US TRYING, half the time XDD we just need to by patient!!!
(OOOOOH your Nano profile *goes to stalk*)
oooh, this sounds awesome! good luck for NaNo! <3 <3
ReplyDeletealso, I love your mock cover ;)
YAY SO HAPPY YOU LIKE IT !! Thanks I'll need that luck for the writing haha -_-
DeleteWOW. THIS SOUNDS AMAZING. Also, on a random note, I love your graphics. They look so professional.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU soooo much ELLA <3 It's great to hear you like the graphics - it's taken ages for me to work up my level of professionalism lol ;D
DeleteI really like your cover! How did you design it?? :)
ReplyDeleteBest wishes on this writing venture!
-Brooklyne
THANKS FOR THE GOOD WISHES <3 For the cover, I took some five photos off Unsplash, combined them into one on Autodesk Sketchbook (erased and blended parts), and then on Pixlr I added scrunchy texture overlay and the the text ;D It took time but was rather fun and not complicated!! Looking back though, the story deserves a darker cover haha
DeleteOh wow, Lisa!!! Sounds like an intriguing one! Love all the conflict :)
ReplyDeleteHoly cow, I plot the same way!! Especially when it comes to combining ideas.....the stewing process is very important, I find :).
Can't wait to hear more!
Catherine
THANK YOU CATHERINE <3 *high fives for plotting method* YES COMBINING IDEAS IS THE BEST!! also it helps so you don't have so many story ideas to write anymore XDD CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MORE ;D
DeleteAGAIN, the COVERS!!!! Everyone has such amazing covers!!!!! Gahhhh
ReplyDeleteBut like, seriously, this idea??? So amazing!!!! I think this story is going to go places....
I love ones that are crafted from these little prompts that pop up everywhere. So cool to see what people can make with just one sentence.
YOU LIKE MY COVER? YAY!! I'm delighted! I'm so honored you believe in me + my story idea and I hope you're right about it!!
DeleteWriting from prompts is really really cool. It must be a thing for me. Two of the three books I've been writing are based on prompts XD
THANKS JULIAN!!
It sounds nice and your cover also looks pretty good!
ReplyDeleteAhhh this sounds SO intriguing and your cover looks amazing, too! :)
ReplyDeleteI admire that you handwrite your first draft, I would never have the patience, I'm much quicker at typing on my computer haha :)