APPARENTLY I WON NANO?! (A repeat of Know the Novel, part 1...part 3 coming later xD)
You guys.
I won NaNoWriMo.
Remember in my last post I was all like "Well I'm not even at 15k but that's alright I've made my peace with the fact that I'm not winning"? *cackles evilly*
I WON ANYWAY.
Granted, I won at 11:58 PM on November 30, two minutes to spare, and then proceeded in my exhausted and desperate state to copy-paste the entire text of my novel not once but twice into the NaNoWriMo website, so that it thought I'd written about 60k words in one day and gave me credit for a 100k novel. Thus all my word counts and lifetime stats are forever ruined. *cries*
But I WON.
I won with 50,015 words, and I'm probably 2/3 of the way through this story? Most of it is trash, it has next to no plot, and it's really depressing to read back through it. I have a fluctuating love-hate relationship with this story, but I won't be going back to it until I've got the Pentegreens Book 1 done. :P (Edits are starting now and I'm in chapter 3 and it's going remarkably well.)
I'm going to be doing Part 3 of Christine's Know the Novel Linkup when it comes out next week, but for right now...well, I never gave you a proper intro to my NaNo WIP Watched, so I figured I'd give that out now. And what better way than to go back to part 1 of that lovely linkup?
Here is a mockup cover for my lovely little novel--the whole running thing hasn't happened YET but believe me when I say that it will. Mwahahahahaha.
Questions
1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?
The weird thing is that the characters of Watched--Mel, Lucas, Bryce, and their familes--all started out as side characters in the Pentegreen series. I might argue that my weird brain had Mel as more of a protagonist than Esma in the original incarnation of that series. *is confused* But one day while walking through Washington DC I started thinking....what if some of my characters ended up here, but in the future?
This is where Watched came from--some of the Pentegreens lifted out of their own story and deposited in dystopian Washington DC.
2. Share a blurb!
Okay, this blurb is atrocious...but here ya go.
A world at war. A nation divided. And a group of people caught in the middle...
America's war with the rest of the world has dragged on for nearly a decade, and soldiers willing to fight grow scarce. After doing away with the draft nearly thirty years ago, it becomes clear that if homeland defense is to be maintained, more people must be sent to the front.
It's a perfect way to both win a war and deal with the Christian problem.
Mel Alltote wants nothing more than to live her life for Jesus and escape the boy at her school who seems hell-bent on torturing her. But when the new edicts put not only her but her family into unthinkable danger, she must make a choice: does she stand for Jesus, or does she run for him?
With the help of Jeannie, her relentlessly optimistic best friend; Bryce, the genius boy torn between his promise of a future and his faith; Opal, Mel's quirky and fierce older sister; and Lucas Burns, the school's resident heartthrob, she may just be able to make it out of here. But the government is closing in.
And soon, it may be too late.
3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?
I love writing the grunginess of the city, the darkness and murkiness and the nightlife. This is the suburbs of DC--they've never been to the downtown/Mall within the story itself, at least not yet--and the kids spend most of their time either at school or out at night, which is a ton of fun. The aesthetic of this story is also neon purple lighting, which is probably going to play a pretty crucial role in the story later on (and needs to be brought out slightly more--this is a first draft that will NEVER see the light of day xD)
4. Tell us about your protagonist.
5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?
The main antagonist of this story is all the people who are out to take the Christians down. The government, the terrorists they're fighting a war against, the people of America who hate them. Everyone anywhere could be a villain for this story, and that knowledge haunts Mel.
But then there's also a kid named Mitch who bullies all the Christians at their school. Bully is a light word. He's a literal monster and makes all of them, especially Mel and her friend Bryce, as miserable as he humanly can. I really, really don't like him.
But then there's also a kid named Mitch who bullies all the Christians at their school. Bully is a light word. He's a literal monster and makes all of them, especially Mel and her friend Bryce, as miserable as he humanly can. I really, really don't like him.
6. What excites you the most about this novel?
Not writing fantasy for a little while! :/
Seriously, though, as I mentioned in the last post about this book...I'm just so grateful to have had a brief break to really focus on writing something that wasn't Pentegreens! xD They're my sweet precious children and I love them, but I needed a break from them, I really did.
Seriously, though, as I mentioned in the last post about this book...I'm just so grateful to have had a brief break to really focus on writing something that wasn't Pentegreens! xD They're my sweet precious children and I love them, but I needed a break from them, I really did.
7. Is this going to be a series? Standalone? Something else?
Trilogy, probably. For a while I thought it was going to be a trilogy but then didn't know what I was going to have to do to get it to that point. Then this incarnation of it gave me several huge subplots that I can run with for at least two more books, and that excites me. Finding the actual plot of my stories is super fun and I appreciate it more than I can say.
8. Are you plotting? Pantsing? Plansting?
Pantsing. Hardcore pantsing. I have a couple of ideas about where this story is going, but when I've been writing it I've been sitting down to just vomit words and ideas onto the page. (That was graphic, I'm sorry xD) I need to have some vague ideas of where I'm going but...pantsing is my true love.
Technically, I'm pantsing the Pentegreens too, but that story is basically just transferring the epic in my head to paper. So there's a difference there :P
Technically, I'm pantsing the Pentegreens too, but that story is basically just transferring the epic in my head to paper. So there's a difference there :P
9. Name a few things that makes this story unique.
-Christian dystopian
-It's pretty dark
-Purple neon lighting!
-Sibling relationships of all sorts
-Friends
-A jock who's also a nerd
-It's pretty dark
-Purple neon lighting!
-Sibling relationships of all sorts
-Friends
-A jock who's also a nerd
10. Share a fun “extra” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).
Here's the story playlist:
(language warning on the song "What Would You Do") (also I bet you can't tell which album is the aesthetic of this entire story)
And the Pinterest board: (click to find the rest of the board:)
And the Pinterest board: (click to find the rest of the board:)
I hope you enjoyed this post, and learning a little more about my crazy WIP that will probably never see the light of day! How did your NaNo go? Are you amazed that I pulled off the victory I did? (Heaven knows I am.) Chat with me in the comments!
23 comments
Congrats on winning NaNo! :)
ReplyDeleteAnd this story sounds so incredible! I love the aesthetic board!
(Ooo, purple neon lighting.....interesting!)
Thank you! :D
DeleteI love it too ;) It was a lot of fun to make and I'm always adding to it.
(Isn't it? I just found it and thought I wanted to use it. xD)
I'm still so excited for you! two minutes to spare and fifteen words over! That's just exciting haha ;) Love hardcore pantsing, but wow it's hard, isn't? And the series I've been working on rewrites all this last year and is almost done is Christian Dystopian, too! So fun :)
ReplyDeleteketurahskorner.blogspot.com
I know! It's kind of incredible xD I was thrilled.
DeleteAnd pantsing is so hard but so rewarding, at least IMO? That's awesome! I feel like there's no one out there who writes that genre and obviously that needs to change ;)
Mwahaha your story of pasting in twice sounds like something I'd do....my laptop battery died when I had about 200 words left. So yeah, that was annoying. Had to plug it in and wait for a few minutes before I could actually finish.
ReplyDeleteWatched sounds really cool, though! When you say you used some Pentegreen characters, were they literally transported to modern day, or did you take their names/personalities to make modern characters? (If that makes any sense, lol)
OH NO! I feel the pain, though, obviously xD This was a really tight NaNo for a lot of people, it sounds like.
DeleteYeah, I get it! I took the characters who needed to be cut from the original story and gave them their own story in a different world, so they're no longer fantasy characters but still have the same basic personalities and goals of the original series (just in DC XD)
It fascinates me that your main characters were originally from Pentegreens! :D
ReplyDeleteOooh, I see romance on that mock cover. You did mention earlier, right, that the book has a bigger focus on romance than you initially thought?
And that blurb is NOT atrocious, in my opinion. XD
Great post!
Lila @ The Red-Hooded Writer
Yeah, I don't think they'd fit there now...the roles they played kind of got filled by different kiddos *side eyes*
DeleteYes! There's actually a lot of romance in this story which kind of startled me xD
And aww, thanks xD
Thanks for reading it! :D
GIRL. I am still in complete and utter AWE at your amazing feat those last couple of days of NaNo. And winning two minutes before midnight just SKDJFLKSJDL:J:LKJF. O___O YOU ARE AMAZING. I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnd EEEEEEEE! We get to learn more about Watched! :D I'm honored you're using my linkup to tell us about it!
I love how the story came about--taking characters from the Pentegreens and putting them in a dystopian. That's so unique. I love your brain. XD And excuse me, but there is nothing atrocious about that blurb. It caught my interest right away! I just LOVE the idea of a grungy CHRISTIAN dystopian. Like...that is not something you see every day but IT'S SO AWESOME.
I JUST LOVE ALL OF IT!
Congrats again on your NaNo win!!! *throws confetti everywhere*
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW I DID IT! XD I swear my fingers grew wings. THANK YOU!!!!!
DeleteI'm so glad you're excited to learn more about it! Your linkup is just the best thing ever, so...I had to use it again xD
My brain is the WEIRDEST, I'm not gonna lie. Aww, thanks for the sweetness--I'm not crazy about the blurb but I'm glad y'all like it! XD
THANK YOOOOOUUUUU!
*dances in confetti* And congrats to YOU on finishing Kings Bleed Gold!
Congrats Faith!!! You did it!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so good! I love grungy stories!
Thank you and thank you! I love them too ;)
DeleteWay to go, Faith!!!! It's awesome that you finished NaNo! I can't wait to hear more about this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Clare! I appreciate the enthusiasm :D
DeleteCONGRATS!!! YOUR STORY SOUNDS AWESOME!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mem! I appreciate it :D
DeleteThat's an "atrocious" blurb???? What do your good blurbs sound like?!
ReplyDeleteWatched sounds super cool! Christian dystopian is a genre that doesn't get written a lot, but it's awesome to read. :)
Oh gosh...I don't think I ever write good blurbs, but thank you! I HATE trying to write blurbs for my stories :P
DeleteThanks! I definitely think it's a genre that needs more representation. :P
Congrats on NaNo!! I admire you for winning sooo close to the end. xD Also this story sounds amazing. I can't imagine what it would be like if something like this happened, if Christians were suddenly targeted for their beliefs. And the fact that it happens in other places in the world, and I believe will increase here... it's crazy.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I hope your story does see the light of day because I'd love to read it. xD
theonesthatreallymatter.blogspot.com
It was ridiculous, but pretty awesome. I'm glad to be done now, though XD And yeah, it's kind of a crazy concept, and pretty depressing to write...but I believe it needs to be written.
DeleteAwww, thank you! It'll definitely be a while xD
Congrats on winning NaNo!!!! I knew you could make it, you are speed demon writer ;P
ReplyDeleteawww thanks Nicki xD And please, you're a speed demon yourself, lol.
DeleteCongratulations! This story sounds exciting! And I LOVE the idea of a jock who's also a nerd!
ReplyDeleteAlexa
thessalexa.blogspot.com
verbosityreviews.com
Hello, friends! Do make yourselves comfortable and stay for a while--I'd love to chat with you! I simply ask that you keep it clean. :)