Know the Novel - Part Two: Within the WIP {A Writers Linkup}

Wow, I didn't noticed that I had been writing "Know Your Novel" instead of "Know the Novel". Cool.

I also have been absent longer than I had planned for. It looks like there will be only one post this month. It's funny. I wasn't even that busy or anything. I tried to write a post that was a monster to write, but then I burnt out and gave up for a week or two. Then I wrote another post that won't be out until early December.

Hence why one post this month.

But, the one post here is the amazing part 2 of the Writers Linkup! I'm sure that you guys have been eager for this one to appear. 😉

So let's jump into this!

1. How's the writing going overall?

It is going slow, but it's also going good. Most days sitting down and writing it have been fulfilling. It's just that I haven't been writing this story consistently (skipping many days) so that's why it is going slow. 

2. What's been the most fun aspect about writing this novel so far?

Smoke's voice. He was originally written in third person past tense, but in this story he is written in first person past tense. And let me tell you that he is just so much fun and full of surprises in this style of POV. I am so glad of the idea that dropped into my mind one day cause he is so much better that way. I am really getting the feel of his thinking and it's so crazy. How can you be even more personal with a character? Cause we were close before this story but now... so much more. 

3. What do you think of your characters at this point? Who's your favourite to write?

I haven't met all of the characters yet (introductions I have forgotten to do), but so far the ones I have met are just awesome! It's been great to see them on page and think about them off scene too!

   And my favourites (yes, I can't choose) are Smoke, Blossom, Kayo and Lon. Smoke is more sarcastic than I thought he was so that's fun! Blossom is just brilliant cause she's so cute and caring around Smoke! Plus her wisdom/logic. Ahh, love that about her! (Seriously, Smoke would be dead or at least would have done something stupid without her). Kayo is just great to write because of his antagonistic force. And Lon, oh boy, he just shines every time he's on scene. His brilliance makes me happy.

Also I enjoyed writing Gum, a secondary character of mine. I just finished writing her first appearance today (yesterday)!     

4. Has your novel surprised you in any way?

It has surprised me in every way 😂. It has not gone to plan, from plot to character to scene to chapter. My original thoughts do not align with the path it has taken. Maybe a few pieces here and there, but really nothing in the grand scheme of things.

5. Have you come across any problems areas?

Oh, yes, definitely, 100%. Worldbuilding does not exist at present, characters need tweaking with how they are showed on screen (as in better show who they are and how they act/react base on that) and scenes need revising (for both reasons mentioned above). Basically it needs to be fleshed out, which the job of second draft 😀. (Brain will die if it had to worry about these things in first draft.)

Also, I need fix how Smoke is being vague about being a cyborg even though everyone already knows that. 

6. What's been your biggest victory with writing this novel at this point?

You know that thing mentioned in the blurb, the one about a dead sister being not dead? Well, I wrote a scene that helped me figured out why that moment was so important for not just the protagonist, or for book 1, but the whole series! Like, it is so important, and now I know why. I always knew it was, but I didn't know why.  

7. If you were transported into your novel and became any one of the characters, which one do you think you'd be? Would you take any different actions than they have?

I would be Blossom, and, yes, I would take different actions than her for sure. All of the ones I am thinking of right now are spoilers.

8. Give us the first sentence or paragraph then 2 (or 3!) more favourite snippets!

I crept into the room, even though I knew the guards wouldn't lay a hand on me. They would just stare at me as usual. But still. This place was meant to be silent. I made sure it was quiet as possible.

 

Well, that was kinda of boring. I mean, if I was reading this with the huge possibility to continue, this would be intriguing. But since it is one sad little paragraph, it is boring I think (an author is always harsh about their writing 😂).

But I didn't have the ability to cry. So, I buried my face into my hands and trembled.

"Was it so bad?" Blossom asked as she kneeled beside me. She placed her hand slightly on my back.

"I could lose my father... forever. And it can't be stopped by anyone."

She inhaled, her breath getting stuck in her throat.

"I can't lose anyone else."

"I know."

"But what I can do? He's "government property". He's not seen as human. And I doubt that the presence of a son makes a difference. It didn't with my grandfather."

She was silent, probably thinking of a good answer. "I know that you'll hate this answer, but... treat your time with him as if he's dying and you know that he will be gone soon."

I lifted my head and glared at her. "That is not helpful or comforting."

Her arms fell limp before she crossed them loosely over her chest. She shifted to sit directly on the ground. "I'm sorry."

I softened my expression. Though it could have been an apology for her choice of words, I knew it wasn't about what she said. It was about losing my father in a way that might as well be death. He would never be seen again once they come for him.

Haha, there is so much here that you don't understand about. I only understand cause I've been in his head for way too long. The only problem is getting him to reveal his secrets and stuff (it's a bit difficult when he has the reins, oops). 

You know how I mentioned that he was being vague about being a cyborg? Well, he is being vague about everything at the moment 😂.

Also, I keep on thinking that Blossom is sitting in the snow, but it is actually summer, almost autumn. Originally it was set in winter and my brain hasn't accepted the fact yet.

"Do you mind?" I asked, keeping my eyes closed. "I'm trying to sleep here." Without any success. It's a good thing that I don't need sleep.

Yeahh, he is an insomniac, but that last line was funny to me at the time cause I didn't expect it. His thoughts, his dialogue and his general voice has this sort of sarcasm that I'm like, "Where is this coming from?!" But really he was always like this. I just didn't noticed it in third person.

We just didn't believe it would end this way.

 

I don't think I need to say anything for this one. 😉 

9. Share an interesting tidbit about the writing process so far! (For example: Have you made any hilarious typos? Derailed from your outline? Kill off a character? Changed projects entirely? Anything you want to share!)

I don't know... Oh, here's something interesting. A lot of characters introduced in this book don't play a big role until book 2 or 3. So you will meet a lot of characters and then might not see them again for the rest of the story. This is because my protagonist takes a direction that is apart from their directions for a while. 

10. Take us on a tour on what a normal writing day for this novel looks like. Where do you write? What time of day? Alone or with others? Is a lot of coffee (or some other drink) consumed? Do you light candles? Play music? Get distracted by social media (*cough, cough*)? Tell all!

When I write? 😂 Well, it is so inconsistent right now. When I first started writing this novel, I started at about 8 and wrote about for an hour (until 9). Then I moved it to about 9 to 10. Then I wrote whenever I had time in the morning or the afternoon/evening. Now, recently, I've been following writing sprints (still at random times) on YouTube and Discord. (YouTube were live-streams but I missed them so I've just been doing them on replay.)

Also when I first started, I wrote every day except for the weekends. Now I write at random days. Sometimes I write in a row, sometimes I skip many days, or I write every second day. I still don't write on weekends (too busy then).

Again, when I first wrote it, I wrote in the lounge room because it was too cold in my room. But now that summer is approaching, it is now quite warm to write in my room, at my desk. 

Most of the time I listen to music while writing (only instrumental ones) but sometimes I find it so distracting that I go without. And I definitely get distracted by blog posts (that is a form of social media, right?)

I don't really eat or drink while writing. I am more focused on eating if I do. And I just don't drink while writing. I think it is better for my brain to do nothing but writing to be the most productive at it.

 Well, that's it. Enough about me, Smoke and my little project (it isn't little, but I want to call it that). How about you, fellow writers reading this post? How is your WIP project going?