When Plans Change (Beautiful Books #1.5?)
I've already solidified my plans for NaNo. You saw it. You know this. I knew it. I'd been planning on this for six months.
Today, things might've changed.
"Tell me why all the best laid plans / Fall apart in your hands..." - James Blunt
I feel ya, James Blunt.
My brain: Hey. So. You've been planning what to write for NaNo for six months.
My brain: You may have a book cover, a cast, and a loose plot.
My brain: But... What if you wrote the novel you came up with two seconds ago?
My brain: Just think about it.
I got a new novel idea today, and I can't stop thinking about it. So, to weigh the pros and cons, I'm answering the Beautiful Books questions again. I know, I know. But bear with me here. I have a great need to make this decision... the success of my NaNo novel depends on it.
Here we go.
1. How did you come up with the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea?
I came up with the book at about 2:15 this afternoon.
I was thinking about how I was hot in the outfit I was wearing and how I wished I could change my clothes with only a thought (magically, like Regina in Once Upon a Time). I then realized that if I did have magic, I'd probably use it for the most ridiculous things. A bunch of characters--rascals, really--popped into my brain, and the rest is history.
2. Why are you excited to write this novel?
I really enjoy humor, so that's one reason to write this book. I've had Metal and Bone (candidate for NaNo #1) for so long that I've gotten used to the idea and it isn't as new to me. For this new idea, I like the idea of starting completely from scratch and writing a new story.
3. What is your novel about, and what is the title?
A bunch of immature young people are gifted with magic and the ability to do (almost) anything. What could possibly go wrong?
The title is Leo Andromedus Saves the World. Don't ask me where I got that. It's so opposite of my normally poetic titles, but it sounded catchy.
4. Sum up your characters in one word each. (Feel free to add pictures!)
Leo: Enigmatic
Emilie: Alive
Allan: Charismatic
Raven: Ethereal
5. Which character(s) do you think will be your favourite to write? Tell us about them!
Obviously Leo will be fun, since he's the main character (I've barely ever written from the POV of a guy before). My favorites so far, though, are Allan and Emilie. Allan is Leo's best friend and he's the leader in their friendship, while Leo is his sidekick, so it'll be interesting to view Allan from the perspective of his sidekick. Emilie is just really cool and probably funny and kick-butt. Allan and Emilie are the fun-loving partners-in-crime, whereas Leo and Raven are very thoughtful about life, the universe, and everything. They'll probably get in many predicaments and all the dynamics will be so fun to write.
6. What is your protagonist’s goal, and what stands in the way?
Leo's goal is to have a normal life. Drastic, horrible things (like saving the world) keep getting in the way.
Emilie's goal is to have fun and relax. Drastic, horrible things (like saving the world) keep getting in the way.
Allan's goal is to become ruler of the world. Drastic, horrible things (like saving the world) keep getting in the way.
Raven's goal is to write poetry all day long and get her lit degree. Drastic, horrible things (like saving the world) keep getting in the way.
7. Where is your novel set? (Show us pictures if you have them!)
ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE.
(But seriously. Probably at a boarding school and then all over America. Or the world.)
8. What is the most important relationship your character has?
The bond and relationships between my main four are the most important thing.
9. How does your protagonist change by the end of the novel?
Maybe Leo embraces his magic as a good thing?
10. What themes are in your book? How do you want your readers to feel when the story is over?My goal with this book is to enjoy the heck out of writing it... but much like Metal and Bone, the theme is friendship. And lots of laughter.
NaNoWriMo BONUS: Tell us your 3 best pieces of advice for others trying to write a book in a month.
NaNoWriMo BONUS: Tell us your 3 best pieces of advice for others trying to write a book in a month.
OKAY, I HAVE MORE TIPS.
1. You can always get caught up.
The first year I did NaNo, I did the Young Writers' Program and wrote 30k. In the second year, I decided halfway through the month that I wanted to make it to 50k. I wrote 25k in about a week. The point is, you are never too far behind. (I mean... people have written 50,000 words in a day before.) So just remember that there is always a way.
2. If you get stuck... MAKE SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPEN.
When I was trying to write 25k in a week, I made my main character go to a knitting party with a bunch of old ladies. True story.
I've also killed people, had people bring out weapons, and done all sorts of unexpected things. It's NaNo, so have fun with it!
3. Word wars!
These are a godsend. You can find my post about them here.
4. Chocolate. Lots of it.
Okay, that's it from me. How do you decide what novel to write for NaNo?! Tell me everything.
4 comments
I love that part about "make something weird happen." :D Go write this story! If you feel like this is a story your heart, mind and gut are telling you to write, then go for it. It also seems like a fun story to write AND read about. Best of luck to NaNoWriMo! :)
ReplyDeleteI love this! Those plot bunnies do love to attack the most during NaNo season, don't they?
ReplyDeleteBut this story! I hardly know a thing about it and I'm already in love. It sounds so hilarious and fun and all the drastic, horrible things getting in the way. So great. XD Plus the character just seem delightful.
GAH! Why must you come up with such good story ideas? I want you to write ALL the things!!!
I say, write whatever excites you most. You want to write a book that thrills you during NaNo after all. And hey, if you start one and it's just not clicking, you could always try the other. Hope you're able to decide soon and have the bestest NaNo!
Hey, this sounds awesome too! And DAREDEVIL gifs (excuse me while I'm distracted here).
ReplyDeleteYou could always work on both? I did that one year (hey, I didn't finish my 50k words by December, but I DID finish both novels' first drafts!)
I really love this idea. I know that if I had magic, I'd probably do really mundane/silly things. Because why would you take over the world when you could always magically fix your car instead? Or change your hair color at will. Or make tons of doubles of yourself and prank people, or you know, useful stuff like that?
And, honestly, I had the same thing happen to me the other day. No sooner had I pushed "post" on my Beautiful Books post, than I came up with an equally attention-grabbing idea. So I scribbled down every detail, and filed it away to hide until NaNo is over. So you could always do that (and make a relevant Pinterest board to go with it, which is another thing I do when I get these intruding ideas).
Regardless, best of luck!
Ah, plot bunnies...
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like it will be extremely fun to write (and love that title, by the way). :)