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Let us know how it goes, and if you need any more ideas!
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
so basically all the family has found themselves hiding their grief, anger, and anything else, because that’s kind of their dynamic
and this year was no exception, so when Eliana gets back, all the kids are given orders on topic points they aren’t allowed to bring up (basically her leaving and Thomas’s death)
Payton and Jane hold anger over her for leaving without even a goodbye and the fact that it wasn’t like she was the only one grieving over Thomas (since he was basically another member of the family)
Okay! I do have just a few more practical questions 😅 Why is their family dynamic like this? I feel as if they should be naturally united in their grief, because they all felt the same about these two dead characters. Are they just all unhealthy individuals who hate being together? Or is it just Eliana? Why does she not want to be with them and work through the grief together (which is way easier than working through it alone)?
I guess I’m asking, what is the problem that breaks apart the family? Because plenty of families go through heartache and stick together to come out the better.
So one thing to note, is all of the kids are really the main characters, but in this book, Eliana and Colton are the only ones who get POVs (and possibly Payton)
but it’s a series so every book will go through each child and so on and on (basically it’s a never-ending series focusing on the Mckinley family)
Oki-doki, gotcha!
Anyway, I decided to start with Eliana since she’s the one who’s holding all the drama and Colton because he’s also hiding a lot (aka trauma)
Right – because she is the character most connected to your grief idea. Got it.
I guess what I meant was – is there something specific about Eliana’s personality or character that you enjoy writing?
Plus Eliana’s story is about grief, and that’s a subject I’m pretty good at writing
😂 I have noticed grief is your go-to theme. You obviously enjoy writing it lol.
“Everything is a mountain”
Why is their family dynamic like this? I feel as if they should be naturally united in their grief, because they all felt the same about these two dead characters. Are they just all unhealthy individuals who hate being together? Or is it just Eliana? Why does she not want to be with them and work through the grief together (which is way easier than working through it alone)?
Well, for one thing, the family is a proud family, and there’s always a sort of pressure to do good, and in the kids’ minds growing up, that meant hiding your actual pain
But for Eliana, Mason was in all honestly her favorite sibling, they would argue and everything but they were also really close, so when he died, Eliana pushed her other siblings away, feeling like it would be almost a betrayal to Mason
Thomas (since not a sibling but a best friend) Was able to give her hope through the hard times, so when she loses him, it’s an overwhelming amount of grief, and she finds it hard to stick around her small town that holds so many memories of everyone she’s lost, not to mention the pain of seeing his married brother who has children and is basically living the life she always wanted with Thomas
In Coltan’s mind, he’s always grown up almost the glue of the family after Tyler left for college and his older brother Jordan was off being wild
so when he comes back he feels he has to cover up the pain, not to mention that his parents and siblings are already scared enough of losing him, so the idea of opening up about his trauma and his experience seems like a terrible idea
I guess I’m asking, what is the problem that breaks apart the family? Because plenty of families go through heartache and stick together to come out the better.
There is truth in that, but bigger families definitely struggle more since there are so many personalities
not to mention that Mason’s death really changed the way the family operated
I guess what I meant was – is there something specific about Eliana’s personality or character that you enjoy writing?
Because I enjoy writing the aspect of pain in her and also the way she handles her grief (aka ignoring it until it goes away) and also the fact that she blames God for their death
In her mind God basically forgot about her and her connection to the people he took from her
so in a way, she still believes in God, but she’s mad at him
😂 I have noticed grief is your go-to theme. You obviously enjoy writing it lol.
It’s a topic that I really enjoy showing because I know in my life I have people who have all dealt with grief in different ways, I’ve seen what it can do, and I enjoy writing about the hope that can be found in such hard times
Do me a favor…. Tell Cress I meant it
-ThorneWell, for one thing, the family is a proud family, and there’s always a sort of pressure to do good, and in the kids’ minds growing up, that meant hiding your actual pain (…)
Okay, if the parents have some sort of expectation and there’s some more context, it makes more sense 😝 Thank you!
Because I enjoy writing the aspect of pain in her and also the way she handles her grief (aka ignoring it until it goes away) and also the fact that she blames God for their death
That’s certainly something to enjoy writing 😂 The drama, angst, etc.
Although grief isn’t a personality trait, so other than her current emotion, I’m having a hard time picturing Eliana. But maybe personality traits will come with time.
It’s a topic that I really enjoy showing because I know in my life I have people who have all dealt with grief in different ways, I’ve seen what it can do, and I enjoy writing about the hope that can be found in such hard times
You do you 👍 I can see the value in exploring grief as a theme, and obviously it should be explored now and then. Personally I don’t use it as the main theme for all my stories, because variety lol – I’m easily distracted if I don’t have a bunch of different ideas to write about 😂 But if that’s the one theme you’re interested in, then by all means, satisfy your craving.
“Everything is a mountain”
Although grief isn’t a personality trait, so other than her current emotion, I’m having a hard time picturing Eliana. But maybe personality traits will come with time.
*Gives this way too much thought*
C.S. Lewis had a quote, “Don’t let your happiness depend on something you may lose”
So for Eliana, she was a crazy, kind, ray of sunshine, but most of her joy came from hanging out with Thomas and Mason
So now she’s much more serious, she’s still snarky but she struggles to find the same amount of joy in things, she’s also been and still is very punctual, and she still has an element in her that loves to take a risk
so basically her personality now is… Introverted, clever, career focus, god at reading people, can sell people on almost anything (being a realtor) constantly busy (by choice) and is very stubborn
Do me a favor…. Tell Cress I meant it
-ThorneI really like this idea! I don’t really have any tips for you, but I did like the advice of them renovating a house and the story starting when Eliana receives the invitation to the family get-together!
WE ARE REVIVING THE PROTECTION SQUAD! *steals Joseph, Julian, and Sabina from Ellette*
I really like what you did there!!! I’m sorry I made you overthink ❤ But I’m also so glad you took her personality seriously and gave it some thought! Good luck! ❤
“Everything is a mountain”
Honestly girl I need those questions asked, so thanks 😊
Do me a favor…. Tell Cress I meant it
-Thorne@anyone-and-everyone
hey guys…
I am trying to figure out what I should write about for my NaNoWriMo novel…. but I’m lacking inspiration….. does anyone have some ideas I could build on?
Flaz: *yawns* Did the sun just come up? In the west?
Ummm idk lol
I would look up writing prompts? I know KP has an article with writing prompts.
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333Oh good idea! I’ll look some up. Thanks!
Flaz: *yawns* Did the sun just come up? In the west?
Let me know what you decide to write yours on!
Lukas&Livia
#Lalbert
Sef&Chase
#HOTTOLINE
LEFSE FOREVER!!!!!! <333@euodia-vision @freedomwriter76 @lightoverdarkness6 @mineralizedwritings @savannah_grace2009 @rae @spinner4him @smiley @grcr @hybridlore @whalekeeper @anyone-else-that-might-be-interesed
Ok… I’m so excited because I’m finally sharing my WIP idea for NaNo!!!
I think it’s the only WIP that I’ve actually put a lot of thought into before actually writing it, lol. (But it still needs a lot of work XD)
Anywho, here’s the blurb (which will probably change a few times in the future):
A sheltered, naive, and eager young man.
A secluded, hardened, and secretive old man.
A conspiracy growing more powerful every day.
Rohan Amir al Roshan’s life was changed the day his parents disappeared. They had always been secretive about their work, but he trusted them… After a day without them, Amir finds a paper label, “For Emergencies” and with a man’s name and address on it. Now… if only he can convince the man to help him find his parents.
Arsyn Dabir al Arash lived a life of seclusion, a man of many secrets. But when a young man shows up at his front door asking for help to find his parents, Dabir immediately refuses. When the boy won’t leave, Dabir reluctantly agrees to train Amir and help him find his parents.
But as time goes by, this reveals itself to be more than just a case of kidnapping. Amir’s parents were involved in a much more dangerous secret than he could have ever imagined. And as they get closer to the truth, Dabir seems to become more and more distant. What’s going on? Who else has been keeping secrets from Amir? Amir is determined to find out the truth and save his parents, no matter the cost.
I could delve into this a lot deeper, but I actually wrote out all my ideas for the plot anddd… it’s long, so I won’t bore you. XDXD
Now to introduce the MCs!!
First is Rohan Amir al Roshan. (In their culture, everyone is called by their second name. Unless you’re addressing your elder, then you add on the first name as well.)
Amir was sheltered his whole life because of *spoilers*. He saw the world through the books he had at home, but those were limited and most were out of date. He doesn’t pick up on social cues very well, is pretty naive, and is innocent, stubborn, loyal to a fault, he always sees the good in people no matter who they are, is really just a ray of sunshine to those around him, wears his heart on his sleeve, and can be very honest. (Sometimes his honesty has gotten him in trouble. XD)
Arsyn Dabir al Arash on the other hand, is quite the opposite. He hides many secrets and has lived a life of seclusion for a while now. He’s distant, frank, straight to the point, tough and hardened, loyal to certain people, doesn’t trust easily though, excepts the harshness of reality as it is, and he hides his emotions.
I don’t really know what else to add without giving away too much. 😉
I do need some help though. The distant mentor and eager mentee trope is probably overused, but I really love it. I want to put a fresh twist on it, I’m just not sure how. So any tips or ideas will be welcome!! (I’m not doing the whole cliche of mentor dies and mentee is empowered and all that stuff though. XD)
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
Amir’s moodboard…
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
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