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The highest word count I have for a project is 20,068 words. Unfortunately that project has been long abandoned, but I hope to exceed that word count with a new story! What about you?
The highest I have is 17.5k. Also a long-abandoned project 🙂
Out of curiosity, what is your favorite book/movie of LotR? I’m a Two Towers girl myself 😁
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
That is about what happens to me 😂 I often will think up like movie characters that seem to fit the one I’m trying to write and then base a lot of stuff of that as far as appearance goes. Once I took a character, based them off of Han Solo, and then called him Harrison. I was feeling really creative. 🤣
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Thank you so much!! I actually really like that 10 milestone framework! I have heard of the 5 milestone framework and have attempted using it before, however I then realized that it absolutely destroys my plot when I have to fill in gaps by pantsing 😅 I will definitely try this!
Is it possible that the structure isn’t the issue, but that it’s incredibly difficult to think of actual content? For example, do you get stuck at the “fun and games” because you don’t know what you want to put there?
Yup! I honestly think it’s both. I know I need to get my characters from the “doorway of no return” to the midpoint, but I have exactly ZERO clue how to do it… That leads to continual head-banging and never finishing drafts.
*mouth drops in shock*
You literally just answered the question I’ve been asking myself: why have I never finished first drafts? It’s because the middle of my book always feels forced!!! I can’t come up with stuff so I shove stuff that I feel like might fit and then roll with it. New flash: that does NOT work! So thank you for that!! (I know it seems obvious, but I literally had never thought of that before 😱😅)
So then my question becomes, how do I figure out what needs to go there? Is there a logical way to figure that out, before starting to write, that doesn’t feel like shoving random plot points in to see what clicks?
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Hello and welcome!!! I am Liska Boyce, aspiring YA fantasy author! It’s wonderful to meet you!
Some Questions to Ponder:
Are you a cat, dog, or dragon person?
If you got to pick four fictional people to create a crew to go on adventure with, who would you choose and why?
What genres of books/movies are your favorites?
What show/movie could you watch over and over again without getting tired of it (at least for a little bit 😁)?
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
What inspired your story?
So this is actually a culmination of several of my other creative projects. I am working on a short story collection as well, and this novel is set in the same world. It is fun to have characters that can reappear to tell a new story, as well as creating new ones to get to know! I also have a story that exists only in my head (😁) about a bunch of brothers who basically take in a girl. I am a HUGE fan of big casts of characters, and that was really what motivated this project!
Do you have a favorite Bible story?
I love all of the Bible, but Paul’s conversion story has a special place in my heart. I also like Steven’s story. Both are very inspiring and I have done a lot with them as far as rewriting them into stories 🙂
Since Ellette already asked about books, what are some of your favorite films?
I love the Lord of the Rings movies, Pride and Prejudice (Kiera Knightley, Matthew McFayden version), live action Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Stars Wars (episodes 4-6), and Little Women (the older version).
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Thank you very much for the advice!! I appreciate it! That’s one of the beautiful things about there being so many writers out there: everyone has different ways of doing things.
I am definitely a character-first writer, it’s just translating who my characters are and how they interact with the world into plot beats is…difficult to say the least. I have a hard time with making my plot WORK instead of feeling like it’s all disconnected. And shockingly enough I feel like the more POV characters I have, the better off it turns out 😂
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Thank you! That actually helps a ton!!!
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
I found KP by accident, believe or not! I read tons of blogs and stuff, so in all my searching for resources for young writers, I happened upon KP. The blog has been a HUGE help to me throughout my writing journey!
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Yeah I totally get that. I have a cast of about 6 main characters and they all decided to rotate favorites in my head until I figured out who they actually all are 😅 How do you come up with character ideas? Do they just come to you or do you have to sit down and go through a process to figure them out?
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
The House: *emo hair flip* “Bro, you just don’t get me.”
This house is actually such a fun idea. That was just my first thought for some reason when I read that part 😂😭
Actually though, I love that so much!!!! 🤣 That is lowkey House for sure!
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
I seriously am already in love with your characters!! That is the kind of blurb that causes me to pause while scrolling through endless stories on my library’s app. I would so read that!
Now I have to ask: Of the four you mentioned, who is your favorite? Who is your least favorite? And, if you don’t mind sharing, why?
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Sure why not?! I’m in!
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Thanks for the advice! I have spent the past five years learning as much as possible about plot structure. I’ve tried (among other things) the snowflake method, the 3-act story structure, numerous authors’ plotting structures, and pantsing. Sarra Cannon has been a recent follow for me, but her methods all use color coding and notecards and stuff. All the fluff doesn’t really work for me…. I am having INSANE trouble coming up with Act 2 pt. 1 plot points. Fun and Games should be “In which the author bangs their head against their keyboard repeatedly, types something stupid, deletes it, and starts over” 😒😅 That’s typically where my first drafts give up or fall apart. But no matter how many videos I watch or articles/books I read, NOTHING helps me come up with that stuff better, and pantsing it does NOT work.
Any tips?
Sorry for the rant… 😄
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
How would you describe House’s personality? 😛
House is normally pretty fun-loving and friendly. Right now it is depressed and angry (think stereotypical teenage angst type thing) which leads to it’s lashing out towards the other characters. One morning, for example, my characters woke up to find the kitchen totally flooded overnight. Just the kitchen, not a drop of water to be found anywhere. And I mean not a DROP. House had blocked all the water from the faucets and tubs and rerouted everything to the kitchen. Then it burst the pipe. Yeah, needless to say that was NOT a fun day for any of them 😂
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
Naturally. All in the name of research. *grins thinking of all the things that could be considered “research”* So I could visit Middle-Earth for at least a century or so for research then, lol 🙂
"Legend-makers are echoers of the Truth, though they may look askance and tell a lie." ~ J.R.R. To
