As you may or may not be aware (depending on whether you follow me on Twitter or not), I took part in this month’s #WIPjoy challenge, which was great fun! ^_^
I really enjoyed sharing all my answers to the prompts in one handy spot, here on my blog, when I did it last October for The Siren and the Skyship, so I’d like to do that again!
This month I featured The Other Half of Everything, and I thought y’all might enjoy another glance at that work-in-progress of mine, so here you go…
WEEK 1: INTRO
Day 1: Introduce your MC & their story
Meridian: 17, no-nonsense, unreliable narrator. <3’s music. Zero patience for Teague.
Teague: the other MC; writer, bookworm, Hero.
Their story: Fantasy world(s), unexpected romance, Teague’s broken/quirky family. Humor, snark, DWJ-esque.
Day 2: About you! List 5 things you value
- Fantasy
- Heroism
- Truth
- Humor
- Happy endings
About me: Fantasy writer, reader, blogger, punctuation enthusiast (freelance copyeditor/proofreader), Tolkienite, Diana Wynne Jones fan, avid bookshelf organizer, secretly an otter. ^_^
Day 3: A line that’s attention-grabbing
But, I reasoned, it wasn’t the end of the world. It could be worse. Teague could have been an axe-murderer instead of just a writer. I’d live with it. I’d have to.
Day 4: Your main writing goal this year
I’m more doing Dreams than Goals, but some of the main ones are: finish another novel, expand writing platform (newsletter/social media/website), and maybe go to Realm Makers. Here’s a list of my 2018 writing dreams.
Day 5: Your MC’s greatest yearning
Meridian yearns to change the world with music.
Teague… well… who knows what he wants, vague man of mystery that he is…
(Okay, you never heard this from him, but he wants to fix his estranged family relationships and save a couple worlds…)
Day 6: An aesthetic/visual for the WIP
WEEK 2: PRIDE AND JOY
Day 7: Your writing victories of 2017
Wrote 86K (30K in short stories), 5 whole short stories, started a new novel I love, won NaNo for 8th time, NEW PLOTBUNNIES, wrote in my writing journal every week, 116 blog posts.
Day 8: Your strengths as a writer
I have strengths? O.o (JK… *cough* >.>)
I like to think a dash of humor, elegant writing, fun characters, and snappy dialog, are my strengths.
Anyone who’s read anything I’ve written: What do you think my strengths are? I’d love to know!
Day 9: A line that makes you grin
[How about THE WHOLE THING?? Ahem.]
“Pardon me, Miss Meridian, but did you live under a rock your whole life?”
“No, I lived under you,” I shot back. “Which is clearly the same thing.”
Day 10: A character friendship you love
Teague and Meridian. I LOVE their dynamic/snark (but pleasant too… kinda). He annoys her. XD And they’ll fall in love. OBViously. Especially since they don’t know it. Both will deny EVERYTHING if you ask ’em. 😉 *evil author is evil*
Day 11: Has this WIP made you cry?
Not yet. *cue ominous music* I’m writing snippets out of order, so I haven’t been in the mode/emotional. Anytime I think about Teague & his family problems I cry a little inside though. (And then I laugh/smirk/fangirl because I love them.)
Day 12: 5 things you like about this WIP
- TEAGUE. Can’t describe him
- Involves a writer (see above) + bookishness
- Fun + banter (love writing/re-reading!)
- ALL THE FANTASY. (Spoilers, sweetie. But fantasy worlds…)
- The “feel” (Diana Wynne Jones-ish but not) + characters/relationships
Day 13: A magical moment in the story
“What happened?” I asked Teague, meaning: “how did you end up locked in an invisible enchanted prison-thing?”
“I made a Wind Chaser angry.”
“And how on earth did you go about doing that?”
“It must have been my charming personality.”
WEEK 3: BOLD CREATIVITY
Day 14: A poem about/from your WIP
No poetry in it as yet; anything serious would be spoilers.
Random/silly thing:
It horrified (or slightly bothered) Teague
To find Meridian and Lulin in league
About his lack of a good memory
But he quickly forgot and went back to his tea
Day 15: Your best tip for writer’s block
Turn on a timer and try writing just until it goes off, and see if you don’t find that you’re writing after all…
Day 16: (1) A line that feels daring
[Drawing a blank, so have this one.]
“Well, what’s wrong with him?” Gran asked.
I grasped about for the right words and couldn’t find them. “…Everything!”
I didn’t know the half of it.
Day 16: (2) Other creative outlets you enjoy
Wait, there’s something other than writing? O.o
Sometimes: graphic/web design, sketch, color, crafty things [origami/knit/crochet], play a line on piano/pennywhistle.
But who has time for that when there’s books to read/write??
Day 17: Your WIP described as a food
A coffee-cake, mildly brownish and demure and coffee-flavored at first, so it’s tasty; but when you cut it open, there’s a whole new world of a hundred different colors and flavors inside…
Day 18: 3 songs that inspire me (for The Other Half of Everything)
Touch the Sky (Brave) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ic1l4JdELDY
Walls (After the Morning – Cara Dillon) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ1F_aAeq4c
Into the Open Air (Brave) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxdbiKxsprI
(First: the wonder of worlds; other two: Teague & Ivan… ‘Scuse me while I go cry.)
Day 19: Doodle an image from the story!
I… er… haven’t drawn anything for this one, so have my very first fan-art, from my dear friend Skye Hoffert, instead. (It’s Meridian and Teague and it makes me happy. ^_^)
Day 20: How is writing this WIP brave?
My first novel in first-person w/ unreliable narrator + nothing like me. Writing out of order. Throwing away all story conventions & doing what I want. Aspiring to be a bit like Diana Wynne Jones. Dealing w/ dark things but a fun story.
WEEK 4: CHARACTER TAKEOVER!
(Character takeover week is my FAVORITE! :D)
Day 21: MC: your favorite holiday
Meridian: Bonfire Night.
Teague: National Read a Book Day.
M: IS there such a thing?
T: I haven’t the faintest notion, but there ought to be.
M: You could look it up.
T: Too much work… *goes back to reading*
Day 22: Antagonist: your side goals
I’m skipping this one since my antagonist(s) are… erm… in the works. >.> Which is to say, I’m having a hard time pinning them down. -_- (Anyone have villain tips? *cough*)
Day 23: A line of dialogue
A series of loud thumps proceeded from the direction of the kitchen. Then silence.
“I don’t want to know what that was!” I called.
“Remarkably wise of you,” Teague called back.
“I still don’t want to know what that was!” I warned.
“That’s probably for the best.”
Day 24: MC: describe your work day
Meridian: I go upstairs & clean house/make food for THIS guy so he won’t burn the house down.
Teague: *blinks absently* Work? What’s that? I don’t work; I ART. *reads/writes/makes money on scribblings*
M: No idea how he gets away with that. -_-
Day 25: Sidekick: a day your life changed
Lulin: Classified. Sorry, sweetie. *smiles*
Me: You could —
L: If I told you, I’d have to kill you. Politely… But you’d still be dead = unpleasant for both of us. So. Classified. ^_^
Me: … The problem with questions like this… -_-
Day 26: Antag: do you relate to the MC?
(I’m using Ivan for this one; he’s slightly antagonistic, though not villainous.)
Ivan: No.
Me: I didn’t mention if said MC is Meridian or Teague —
Ivan: NO.
Me: (He kind of does because — )
Ivan: SHUT UP.
Day 27: Main Character: a memory about family
WEEK 5: VISION
Day 28: How do you hope to publish?
AHAHAHAHA.
…
Ahem.
I have no clue yet. Hence the insane laughter. (Hope you enjoyed that, by the way, because it’s all the answer you’re getting, unfortunately… Come back in a century or two once I know. *tips hat* Good day…)
Day 29: Who do you write for?
Teens, twenty-somethings, and those young at heart, who enjoy a good fantasy tale with a dash of humor and elegance and (I like to think) a unique twist on a thing or two, and don’t want to worry about content or an agenda. Just a good ol’ enjoyable story. 🙂
Day 30: A line about hopes or goals
Teague sighed as if he carried the burden of the world on his shoulders. “My new life goal is to turn you into a bookworm. Preferably of fantasy. Read this.”
“Why would I want to read a book?” I protested.
“Because I am selflessly lending it to you.”
Day 31: Where to find you (link day!)
Still working on that official website; stay tuned. 😂
OH MY GOODNESS THAT WAS AWESOME! I need more about Teague and Meridian…more, more…. This book is going to be epic. And Dianna Wynne Jones is awesome! Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my all-time favorite books. Oh, BTW, have you seen the Ghibli Studio Anime for Howl’s Moving Castle? It’s gorgeous.
~Sarah
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AAAHH you made my day!! Thank you so much! ^_^ So pleased you liked it; and yes, DWJ is amazing! Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my favorites TOO! Always love meeting fellow fans! 😀 And yesss, I’ve seen the anime and it is precious! ❤
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Your so welcome! And I can’t wait to see more of Teague and Meridian!
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EEP! I loooove having all the wonderfulness in one place! The problem with OHE is, each time you give us something from it, I JUST WANT MOOOOORE!!!!! I literally can’t get enough of it! Just just just– TEAGUE. MERIDIAN. HUMOR. FANTASY. AND DID I MENTION TEAGUE AND MERIDIAN???? BECAUSE EEEEEEEEE!!!!!! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
I’m really glad you chose OHE for #WIPjoy this month. This story just makes me so happyyyyy! ❤ ❤ ❤
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THANK YOU SO MUCH! You make me so happy! ^_^ And I can’t get enough of it either. o.o I need to for realz work on it in order, somehow, but I just keep writing scenes out of order when I’m inspired and it seems tastiest that way? But I really must work on it MORE if I’ll ever get anywhere. O_O AAAHH THANK YOU! I had so much fun with #WIPjoy with them. 😀
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My favorite blog post of 2018! I love these two, and seeing a whole post dedicated to them makes me so happy! They are exactly what I needed today. Thanks for posting my art! I think it’s horrible, but I shall remedy that by making more.
Your strength’s are vivid and hilarious characters coupled with witty dialogue. It’s a beautiful combination. A coffee cake is also a perfect way to describe them.
<3333
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Oh my word, thank you SO MUCH! I love that you love them so much and I’m so grateful! *huggles* I shall endeavor to write more for you! You’re one of my biggest inspirations for this story. 😀 And aww, I LOVE your art! *hugs it*
Asldkfjlskdj I don’t know what to SAY. Thank you so very much! You make my day! ^_^ ❤
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GAAAAAH THIS WAS WONDERFUL. 😀 Teague and Meridian are possibly the most adorable couple of ever. *grins like an idiot*
“Well, what’s wrong with him?” Gran asked.
I grasped about for the right words and couldn’t find them. “…Everything!”
I didn’t know the half of it.” <~ OH MY GOSH IS THAT A REFERENCE TO THE TITLE OR IS THE TITLE BASED ON THIS??
Basically, can I have this story. Please. XD
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ACK, THANK YOU SO MUUUUCH!!! 😀 You’re making me indescribably happy. XD
It’s a reference to the title! 😀 I wrote that bit like last month. *so pleased you caught it*
AND YES. YES YOU CAN. IF I CAN FINISH IT. XD
Thank you, dear! ❤
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I. REALLY. WANT. TO. READ. THIS. These snippets of dialogue are making me fall in love with Teague without even reading the book…if you need beta readers…you know where to find me!
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THANK YOUUUU! 😀 *has all the fuzzy feelings* I’m so happy you like the snippets, and when I get to beta-reader stage I may let you know! Thank you SO much for your interest/encouragement! ^_^
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I enjoyed following these on twitter, and it’s so fun to see them all in one place like this!
Also, I tagged you for the Fantasy What If… tag! No pressure, though! http://jenelleschmidt.com/fantasy-tag-what-if/
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Thank you! And ooh, tag!! 😀 *goes to read it*
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WOW I REALLY REALLY NEED THIS ONE ❤ I love everything about it and I should do this tag as well 😀
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I’m also in love with your title. I admire creative titles 😀
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Eep, thank you so much!! 😀 And YES, do it! It’s super fun! ^_^ (I’m so glad you like the title — thanks! ❤ )
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Pingback: Ishness! (First of 2018!) | The Road of a Writer
This sounds like it was super fun! I liked getting to know more about your story. ^ ^
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
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It was indeed! And thanks! 🙂
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That snippet! I understand the title now! Don’t you love those moments when reading a book where things come together and you know why the authour chose that name? Now I want it to be finished even more.
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Haha, awesome! 😀 And YES, I love those moments when you find out the title! I have a few different meanings for this title, but that one was fun. XD And thank you so much! I must get a-writing…!
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