Well hello there.
It is time.
For.
Part 3 of Know the Novel!!!!!!
CHECK OUT MY OTHER TWO KNOW THE NOVEL POSTS FOR THE FULL EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!
okay we're gonna be really chill for this post.... maybe... probably not...
ANYWAYS
Know the Novel is a 3-part tag for writers, one for each of these last three months of the year. Each part features ten questions you can answer on your own blog (or anywhere else on social media!). The questions focus on different parts of your novel and how the writing is progressing.
Check out Christine Smith's blog to learn more about this tag and to read other (better) bloggers/writers' posts!
ALRIGHT DIGHTY
ze questions
1. How did writing this novel go all around?
The war's not done...
It's slowed down a good deal as school progresses, but still trekking along. It's been fairly smooth sailing.
2. Did it turn out as you expected or completely different? How do you feel about the outcome?
So far, it has derailed a good bit from where I was expecting it to go, but I'm really liking how it's going.
3. What aspect of the story did you love writing about the most? (Characters, plot, setting, prose, etc.)
Well, I'll always adore my characters. I have been screaming at the plot to pick up its insanely slow pace so I can actually get to the interesting part, but it will not listen. I've really enjoyed working on side things to do with this story that I'll probably never tell anyone (at least not in this draft or story).
4. What was your least favorite part?
ze plot
it has slaughtered me so many times
also the timeline
ack
5. What do you feel needs the most work?
the plot?
JK
I probably need to work on cutting down POV's. Last time I counted, it was getting close to 10 or 11 POV's, and I'm not too opposed with that since I have a large cast, but not the whole cast has a POV... and then it feels like I'm emphasizing the other characters as more important, which they really aren't... so I'll definitely be playing with that in the second draft.
6. How do you feel about your characters now? Who’s your favorite? Least favorite? Anyone surprise you? Give us all the details!
No. No no no nononononononononono. NOT THE CHARACTERS.
Believe me, I love my characters to high heaven, but they are killing each other literally in one case and they need to stop but they WILL. NOT. STOP.
However, my favorite is probably either Ryder (because he's such a pure lil' cinnamon roll) or Garrin (because he's an overworked, clueless, #1 needs-a-hug/needs-to-be-punched, sugar plum who will smack the snot from you), although I have been surprised by really liking Elly. She's... erm... not dead yet. WHY DID I SAY YET SHES NOT THE ONE WHOS DYING. or is she ANYWHOO
My least favorite is probably Alith, but not by a lot. I really like my characters, and I really like Alith, but she's just the same as most of my other female leads in other stories, which is definitely something else I need to work on. I do like her, she's just not unique like the others.
7. What’s your next plan of action with this novel?
I need to finish it, first and foremost! Then... probably sit on it for a while. It'll be a rather large stack of papers and could be a nice cushion.
8. If you could have your greatest dream realized for this novel, what would it be?
Getting it published, of course. That is the ultimate goal, but it will have to take a few thousand years before that's the case.
9. Share some of your favorite snippets!
nO, you want mOrE snippets? I gave you like thirty last Know the Novel? greedy greedy greedy.
fine
because im nice
Certain he was alone, he tilted his face upward. Through breaks in tree branches, the sky was shifting from the peaceful saphire of the midday to the vibrant hues of tangerine and coral. Out of sight because of the dense tree trunks, the horizon would be dyed a pale indigo.
They’d be looking for him by now. He’d been gone for most of the day. Left during breakfast, returned for lunch before departing again. It wasn’t unusual for him to be out for hours, but if he didn’t return before the stars were out, they’d worry.
But he still had a few minutes to himself. A few minutes to be himself.
_____________________________
The flames in her eyes dimmed again as she stared back at him. Her tone was icy as she whispered, “Ask Jaun again. Ask him what his orders were.” Her voice rose in volume. “Ask him why he didn’t keep them.”
Jaun took a step toward her. “I did nothing to--” Andre’s lumo-gat was up and aiming at him instantly, and he retreated back a pace. “I did not do anything to {REDACTED}.”
“Then where is he?” Hakkyn hissed.
“He’s gone.” Dabernell’s voice was low and angry. He let go of his sister and stepped toward Hakkyn. “He’s gone, you monsters, your loyal lap dogs killed him. I hope you’re happy, you killer--"
Hakkyn’s hand flashed out, catching Dabernell’s cheek and sending him flailing back. “Shut your mouth, boy, or I’ll shut it for you.”
___________________________________
He let out a laugh of his own, although his probably sounded super strained since he was not amused in any sense. “So you’re actually trying to kill me now?”
“Not me. And no one else yet, I don’t think.” Jaun paused for a second before grinning, his eyes sharp and narrow. “Did you say bye to your friends?”
Ryder’s heart froze. “What?”
“I got you right where I wanted you.” Jaun’s grin grew as his gaze shifted to a point just beyond Ryder’s head.
__________________________________
He interrupted. “Where are they?”
“Garrin?”
He turned again to face her. “Alith.”
Alith stared at him, her eyes tired but less hard and threatening than he’d seen in the past. She didn’t speak; she simply watched him.
He stared back before realizing they were losing precious time. “We need to get you out of here.”
“Why?” Jordi asked, her voice tight.
He turned to her. “Hakkyn found out.”
“What?” Alith gasped.
“Hakkyn did what?” a new voice butted in.
Garrin found himself rotating yet again to face the speaker. It was the blond boy, the Trellish boy. He stood just behind Alith, his hand resting on the hilt of a knife. His brow was puckered as he stepped forward. “I heard you say Hakkyn. Please tell me you’re saying you’ve killed him.”
10. Did you glean any new writing and/or life lessons from writing this novel?
Errrrrm.
I mean, not really?
I've been working for a while on building up my former writing style, since there was a period of time (aka this time last year...) that my style was just not mine, and I didn't really like any of my writing. I've always prided myself on writing really vivid descriptions, and I'm not sure how I lost that exactly, but for like three or four stories, it was just nonexistent. So I feel like I finally managed to get it back, so I was really working on just fine-tuning that more in this draft, but I don't think that's really a new writing skill.
Just improving what I once had.
Anyways, thanks for reading today! I hope you've enjoyed getting to learn more about A Word Unbroken throughout the Know the Novel tags, and I'm so excited to share more with you at a later point!
If you liked the characters, stay tuned for the Christmas Funsies coming out later this week! ;) ;)
byyeeee y'all!