for those who understand french and spanish and are wondering why i switched between the two, i don't really know.
HELLO HELLO HELLO. It appears to be November. So, it appears to be time for Know the Novel tag part TWO. If you didn't read the first part, or have forgotten, here's a quick description:
Know the Novel is a 3-part linkup series for writers, one for each of these last three months of the year. Each part will feature ten questions you can answer on your own blog (or anywhere else on social media, if you’d like!). The questions will be focusing on different parts of your novel and how the writing is going.
2. What’s been the most fun aspect about writing this novel so far?
4. Has your novel surprised you in any way?
Well, I've already said that several unplotted turns have revealed their mostly glorious selves, but sadly most of those twists are spoilers so I can't exactly tell you what they are... A not as "spoiler-y" surprise was the decision to make a certain character chicken out in the last few chapters. That wasn't really part of the plan, but I felt I needed to humanize said character a bit. I had a similar shift with a different person, because I felt like some of the stuff they would be doing just wasn't as realistic as I wanted.
5. Have you come across any problem areas?
~starts choking violently~ DID ANYONE LISTEN TO MY EARLIER RANTING ABOUT MY STUPID CHROMEBOOK BECAUSE I CAN GO ON A LOT LONGER. ahem. I'm fine. There've been a few sections that are just HARD to write. Some because I'm brain dead, and a few are just emotionally taxing. I've not actually experienced much "I can't write this, I'm just going to sit here and stare and act like a zombie because my book is killing me." Well... I did have a small struggle with one of my chapters in To Die is Gain, but I'm used to smooth sailing. And then I reached Take Up your Cross aaaaaand... I don't know what happened. I actually had to stop writing for a few days because I had created a character that actually disturbed me a little. I guess that's a good thing? Maybe? I realized a little while ago that to make a strong villain in this certain story world, it can get a bit intense. I mean, their whole job is to eliminate Christians, and my villain, Major Archer, just happens to use means other than force and terror. That's been the hardest lately, just trying to write Archer in a convincing way while keeping my heroes strong. I mean, they're KIDS and... OK, I've probably been dumping on this question a bit long. Sorry. MOVING ON.
6. What’s been your biggest victory with writing this novel at this point?
LEARNING THAT MY COMPUTER CAN-
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?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... Well, I really love Lyra, but I don't know if I'd become her, because she is an emotional wreck at this moment, along with a wounded leg. So, I'd probably become Sienna, because she's basically me. Would I take any different action? Yes, I'd probably leave keith behind to rot but that isn't important. I'd no way be as brave as she is.
8. Give us the first sentence or paragraph then 2 (or 3!) more favorite snippets!
Oh, now you want some snippets. Ah, okay, just because I'm nice.
Sienna pressed her back against a thick oak tree, eyes wide from terror and heart thumping loud enough for the soldiers to hear.
The smuggling run had been going so well, what had gone wrong this time?
“Do you see her?” The harsh voice barked out close to her tree, taking all of her willpower to not react. Another voice responded, not as near and distinct. The first soldier swore loudly. “Find her! Archer will have my head if we lose her.”
Sienna shuddered. She hated remembering these soldiers were just as human as she was. Fierce and cruel, yes, but terrified just the same. It was easier to think of them as animals or aliens.
So, that's my opening bit. Favorite snippets... let's see...
Cody grasped her arm and they sprinted back across the field. “Enna, that was an officer.”
“I know.”
“An actual, ranking officer.”
“I know.”
“You can’t trick an officer.”
“I know.”
“That’s why they’re top of the class.”
“Cody.”
“Super smart.”
“Cody.”
“You could have gotten killed. You could have gotten me killed too.”
“Cody! I know.” Sienna glanced back over her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I made a mistake on the way back. I’m sorry.”
“You apologized twice.”
“I’m sorry!”
“Quit apologizing.” Cody led her to a barn behind the safe house and heaved a dramatic sigh. “I bet if you killed someone, you’d apologize to the corpse.”
Sienna stopped just inside the door and crossed her arms. “Maybe it’s because my conscience still works.”
~
Wilson pursed his lips. “I vote for Lyra and Sienna taking the newbies somewhere safe while Packer and I sniff out anymore survivors.”
“I vote we don’t.” Lyra put her hands on her hips. “I thought I was the one who punched people for you.”
Wilson lowered his head. “I don’t want to endanger anyone else.”
“Well, you’re willing to endanger Ethan.”
“He was a soldier! And I need him.”
“I thought you needed me.”
“Will you please stop arguing?” Sienna stomped her foot. “I vote we all go.”
Felicity crossed her arms. “I vote for someone to explain to us what on earth is going on.”
~
She glanced down and noticed Wilson was trembling, shaking the branches he had bent to make a shield. She copied Keith’s movements, holding onto a smaller limb while bending over to whisper, “Are you okay?”
He shrugged without turning. “Feels almost the same as Ebony, just we’re hiding in a tree rather than behind a shrub. One of our friends is out there, willing to die for us.”
Sienna squeezed his shoulder. “Trust him. He’s got this.”
Lyra joined in on their huddle and added, “He didn’t say he’ll be right behind us. That’s a good sign.”
Sienna gave her a grateful nod and chuckled in Wilson’s ear. “Yeah, they always die or get captured when they say that in stories. We’ll be fine.”
Wilson finally turned to push her back, grinning a little. “Alright, I’m reassured. Now, hide, or they’ll see you in a minute. Also, you’re tickling my ear.”
Sienna laughed and pulled a few more boughs in front of her, wishing she hadn’t noticed the single tear making its way down her friend’s cheek.
~
Archer smirked at them. “After several other adventures, shall we call them, we thought it would be prudent to search out the rat’s hole before we squash the actual rats to cut off their escape.”
Lyra’s jaw was so tightly set, Keith didn’t know how it didn’t crack into pieces. “You call us rats when you’re the actual vermin.”
Archer gave her a once over, her smirk widening briefly at her injured leg. “Well, what do rats do best? Creep around in the dark and cause trouble. How is that any different than what you smugglers do?”
“We don’t cause the trouble.” Sienna kept wiping her hands on her pant legs, eyeing one of the soldiers’ guns. “That’s on you.”
I hope it's okay I did four snippets... these were the ones I enjoyed writing the most.
9. Share an interesting tidbit about the writing process so far! (For example: Have you made any hilarious typos? Derailed from your outline? Killed off a character? Changed projects entirely? Anything you want to share!)
Erm. If I killed a character, I'm not planning on talking about it at the moment... IF is the keyword.
<--- Mother Dearest