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@gracie-j Heh, it’s honestly been so long that I frankly can’t remember how I ever came up with the idea. Though if I had to guess, it’s probably a result of me watching Megamind and absolutely loving it.
I’d love to be on the list of potential betas for TMNL! And props to you for writing a mystery–do you know how it ends yet, or are you still in the process of figuring that out? (I ask because the one time I tried to write a mystery, I did not know how it ended and kept surprising myself. No need to give spoilers, however.) And wow, early congratulations on your book’s anniversary (or, shall I say, bookiversary :P)! I like the idea of having both Rina and her husband’s POVs–that sounds like it would give quite a well-rounded view of their relationship. 😀
The idea of a Regency I Love Lucy is just such a lovely mental image–thank you for that 😀 Do you typically work on several projects at a time, then, or just stick to one? (It sounds like you’re a quick writer either way)
As for The Drakesbanes…heh. I wrote the first version back in, like, 2013 I believe? Though it had a completely different plot than it does now (Tinumali was the only POV character, for example–the other two weren’t even created yet), and was quite cliche at the time. I just love my dear characters so much that I couldn’t ever bring myself to let them go.
“Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it?”
@seekjustice Heh, thanks! I’m pretty happy with it myself. And yes, poor Arvi suffers quite a bit. Though he spends most of the novel complaining about everyone and everything around him, so I can’t say he doesn’t deserve at least a little bit of it. 😛
And thank you for your kind words about ABGTV! I’ve also met many a student who would do such desperate things for their grade, and by many a student I mean myself. 😛 I like to think that this song describes my dear villain’s attitude to his predicament.
I love the idea of your novel series! That’s such a unique concept–I’d love to read them sometime 😀 Do you have a favorite retelling out of them? And nice–I do love a well-grounded fantasy with fantastical elements peppered in. What sort of magical stuff do you include?
“Seven seconds till the end. Time enough for you. Perhaps. But what will you do with it?”
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@lewilliams Megamind–ah, a classic and a wellspring of inspiration. Truly a perfect place to glean insight! 😆 Seriously, though, terrific idea!
You are on the list! And, yes, I do know how it ends. In fact, even before TMNL was going to be a book, I knew who/why/how Mr. Cannon was murdered. (I took the characters from another series and revamped their stories and what have you, to get TMNL–and, hopefully, several more novels after.) So the mystery part isn’t a difficulty at all. It’s merely going back to square one, where Detective Billingham is and trying to decipher how he would decipher this case. I have to think like a detective and, frankly, knowing everything about the situation makes that extremely difficul
Thank you for the congrats! 😊 I do like having both Rina and Xavier’s POVs. What’s difficult at the moment is that they’re separated from each other, so it’s like I’m writing two separate stories at once. I do like taking a deeper look into their relationship dynamics and how a woman like Rina (a tough-as-nails pirate captain) is compatible with a husband in general. (Thankfully, Rina’s not a feminist, and she’s not unaccustomed to submitting to higher–or male–authority, especially since she’d make some very stupid decisions sometimes
It depends. When I first started out with Bound and Determined, I was bouncing around between projects. In between the books in my Daughters of the Seven Seas series, I’ve worked on other projects before inspiration struck and I was able to write solely the one novel. Usually, I try to focus on writing one at a time, but I’ll outline other ideas or even draft a first chapter, if I can’t resist a good story. Because of that, I’ve managed to get 27,000-ish words in TMNL in between Prisoner at Heart and Bound and Determined, which will make jumping into that one much easier once I’ve finished BAD.
I guess I’m a relatively quick writer. Held Captive and Prisoner at Heart (75,000 and 99,000 words, respectively) both took six months to write, but I don’t outline, draft, and edit like most authors do. I have a weird process, but it’s worked so far. (Admittedly, BAD has take nine months, and I’m only halfway through, so…)
I totally understand about not letting go of characters! That’s how it’s been for most of my projects–from Rina and Xavier to Tell Me No Lies. Of course, it’s always better the second time around, so I never regret coming up with a cliched story or bland characters, since they have such redeeming qualities and are worth it in the end!
I’m a little late to this game, but here are my WIPs, anyways:
1) Querying: Potentially fatal college entrance exam. Lots of sadness, friendships, and betrayal.
2) Rewriting: Sequel to aforementioned book. College students choosing sides in inevitable war. Much brainwashing, underground bunkers, and people randomly reviving due to science-y things.
3) First Draft is written: Third book in the trilogy. College students plot against the government, fellow teenage sociopath, and blow stuff up in the process. Lots of assassination, fiya, and betrayal being hailed as a good thing when they’re coming over to our side.
4) Plotting: Four teens, lots of espionage, 2nd American Civil War. Okay to be honest I have very little plot right now but IT’S OKAY.
5) Barest idea: Completely unrelated to aforementioned books, teen girl attempts to destroy future world-dictators and ends up becoming their friend, joining their ranks, and possibly dying in the process.
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.com- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
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@e-k-seaver Terrific ideas, girl! I can’t wait to read the sequel to The Reflections! And, wait! What’s this? Random revivals? I make no assumptions…
@gracie-j, I’m planning on sending out beta requests sometime in the spring! You’ll be the first to know when it’s ready to read. 😛 and yes. Random revivals. Mwahaha.
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.com- Rank: Eccentric Mentor
- Total Posts: 1789
@e-k-seaver Yay! Thank you so much!
I guess I can only hope you’re resurrecting the good characters then, right? 😋
@gracie-j Here’s to hoping. ;P
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.comNice ideas! I definitely approve of so much angst.
Also your last idea some absolutely fascinating.
INFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
@seekjustice Thank you, I’m glad you approve. 😀
*nods* It’s a very complicated idea that needs lots of fleshing out before I can start plotting.
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.comHey, so I wanted to kickstart the conversation here again, so….where did the first spark of inspiration for your story come from?
Just tagging a few people who’ve already commented, but anyone is more than welcome to join in!
@e-k-seaver @gracie-j @rochellaine @jenwriter17 @r-m-archer @lewilliams @valtmyINFP Queen of the Kingdom commander of an army of origami cranes and a sabre from Babylon.
I never knowhow to answer that kind of question, because I never really remember what exactly sparked my stories. XD They seems to develop super slowly and then I’m writing it and I don’t remember how it got started.
I'm a Kapeefer 'TIL WE'RE OLD AND GREY!
www.jennaterese.com@seekjustice
Well… Once upon a time, I went to a homeschool conference where I heard N. D. Wilson speak. He said something about writing for your friends. On the way home my mum started talking about the college entrance exams I needed to start studying for and take. I made a comment about wishing that the entrance exams were more than just test-taking skills. Immediately this formed into an idea about a college entrance exam that was more than just a mental test. Long story short, my friends loved the idea and I wrote the first draft for them, including a bunch of inside jokes and funny references.But everyone loved it so much that the first book turned into a second and third book. At that point I had fallen in love with the characters (One of which is named after me– except her name stuck and now can’t really be changed. Oops.) So I went back and rewrote the first book, did a heck of a lot of editing, and then started querying. The End. XD
The pen is mightier than the sword, but in a duel, I'm taking the sword.
ekseaver.wordpress.comI think Daughter of Judas started out when I was reading Acts 1 and came to verse 20 which said “…it is written in the book of Psalms, ‘Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein…'” in speaking of Judas Iscariot, and I suddenly wondered if he had a family which was affected by that prophetic curse.
Once I had some fun visual inspiration for a story when I visited relatives in Florida and saw all the Spanish moss on the trees there, which was so beautiful and fairy-tale-like (and also kind of eerie) that it just had to be a story setting. 😉 Do you have any Spanish moss in Australia?
"Sylvester - Sylvester!"
I got the idea for my story while I was touring London’s West End, specifically while I was watching the musical 42nd Street which is about a small town girl becoming a Broadway star. Since I love humour and parody, the idea was that writing a story set in a theatre would be a good excuse to have very self-aware characters and make fun of all sorts of tropes and cliches. That coupled with my old liking for Korean dramas got me thinking about the psychology of actors and celebrities and the obsession with appearances and plastic surgery in modern Korea… and that’s how QOD was born. 😀
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