Without further ado, let's get on with it.
How’s the writing going overall?
I actually think it's been going pretty well! I often struggle with the middle of my novels during these kinds of challenges, but my goal of writing an actually short novel this year means that I actually passed that miserable middle quite quickly, so I didn't get slowed down as much as I usually do.
I've been putting emphasis on writing every day (except Sundays, which I take off from writing, except for writing like one (1) word to keep my streak on the NaNo website haha) instead of having any big 5k days. If I get super into my writing, I cut myself short at about 3k, instead of pushing on, and just carry on with the momentum the next day instead of burning myself out.
I've just hit 40k for November:
And 45k overall.
So we're definitely in the finishing stretch now. Lots of revelations and action happening in this climax right now.
I'm also having so much fun with these characters, guys. They're so much fun. I love them very much.
What’s been the most fun aspect about writing this novel so far?
I'm really enjoying my two main characters, like I said, they're a lot of fun to write. I'm also enjoying getting to write a proper mystery, with seeding all the clues and all that. It's very fun. There've also been some very unsettling moments, so that's lovely.
What do you think of your characters at this point? Who’s your favorite to write about?
They're ridiculous and they like to argue with each other, but also kind of get on better generally than I thought they were going to? It's wild.
My favourite? That'd be hard to say. I love both Eugene and Guinevere in very different ways. Eugene has been really fun to explore as a character, since he's my point-of-view character. It's been really interesting discovering more about how he thinks and operates. Guinevere....brings a certain something to every scene she's in. I'm not sure what it is, but it is definitely something.
Has your novel surprised you in any way?
Like I said, my characters have surprised me by getting along better than I thought they would - though they still argue so much, never fear. Other than that, the whole story has filled itself out so much more as I've written it. I had my two main characters beforehand, but none of the others really. I just had vague Roles in mind for the plot like the Sheriff, the Deputy Sheriff, the victims, and so on. As I've written, I've named and developed them and I actually. Kind of accidentally made myself really sad. So that's fun.
Have you come across any problem areas?
I think the plot needs work. It makes a decent amount of sense, I think, but there's definitely holes I've noticed and things I need to think about more carefully. There's also probably bits I need to flesh out a little more. Also! Research. I need to do more research; historical, scientific, just all the research. I did some beforehand, but I need to do so much more when I go back to edit.
What’s been your biggest victory with writing this novel at this point?
Keeping it to a short length, haha. After Project Wales ballooned to a truly behemothic 144k, I was definitely worried. That's why I put so much work into planning the story ahead of time, so I didn't let it get out of hand. The fact that it's actually looking like it'll finish at around 50k is a big, big victory for me.
If you were transported into your novel and became any one of the characters, which one do you think you’d be? Would you take any different actions than they have?
I mean, I think I'd probably actually be just. A random citzen. But, of my actual characters, I think I'd probably be Eugene. He's a fun guy and makes generally somewhat alright choices. Guinevere's too scary to be me. I mean, since I know the whole plot then I would probably solve the mystery quicker, but I have a bit of an unfair advantage haha.
Give us the first sentence or paragraph then 2 (or 3!) more favorite snippets!
Ah yes. Snippets. It's so hard finding snippets that don't give away any spoilers for a mystery. Well, here's the very first sentence I wrote on this project ever, from the prologue:
Eugene had not the faintest idea where it’d all gone so wrong.
This is, generally speaking, a continual Mood for him throughout this entire novel.
Here is the first paragraph I wrote during November:
The first stop Eugene made was to the Agency library, which, among other things, held the Agency’s most up-to-date maps. He slid out the rolled-up New Mexico Territory map and the Colorado map, spreading them both out on the table in the centre so he could check out the route.
And here is Snippet #1: starring Guinevere being herself, and Eugene trying to keep the peace, which is a very normal situation for them to be in.
‘So where are the bodies?’ Guinevere jumped in once again.
‘The bodies have been buried, of course,’ Sheriff Lovey said.
‘Buried?’ Guinevere repeated, as though this was the most bizarre concept she’d ever heard of and not a perfectly normal thing to do with dead bodies.
‘Yes?’ Sheriff Lovey said, eyeing her.
‘Honestly,’ Guinevere said. ‘Have you never solved a murder before? I need access to the bodies, so as to ascertain the cause of death.’
‘Miss,’ Sheriff Lovey began.
‘Agent Arkwright.’
‘Agent Arkwright,’ Sheriff Lovey corrected, clearly fed up with her. ‘The bodies were buried as is respectful to the young people in question. You will simply have to do your job without desecrating the dead.’
Guinevere looked like she wanted to say something more, but Eugene stepped in before she could. ‘Thank you, Sheriff,’ he said. ‘Of course, we understand your decision. We’d appreciate it if you’d share anything you’ve gathered thus far with us.’
Snippet #2: starring 19th century sensibilities vs Guinevere
Once they were done with that, Eugene knocked on Guinevere’s door. She opened it and raised an eyebrow at him.
‘We should probably discuss our plan of action,’ Eugene posited.
Guinevere clicked her tongue irritably and stepped aside to let him in. He immediately stopped, going a little red. ‘I…probably shouldn’t be in your room alone.’
‘Are you serious?’ Guinevere asked him flatly.
‘Well, you are a lady,’ Eugene said.
‘And you’re an idiot,’ said Guinevere. ‘What’s your point?’
‘It’s inappropriate for a man to be alone in a woman’s room with her,’ said Eugene. ‘Your reputation would be….’
Guinevere raised her eyebrow even higher than before, then grabbed his arm and yanked him into the room. ‘There, now you’re in. Alas, my reputation is now tainted forever and we can get on with actually important matters. What did you want to discuss?’
Eugene sighed and gave in, taking a seat on the chaise towards the end of the room, as Guinevere sat on her bed. ‘We need to think about how we’re going to approach this investigation,’ Eugene said.
‘I still can’t believe they buried the bodies,’ said Guinevere grumpily.
‘It’s been five days even since the most recent death,’ Eugene said. ‘Of course they’ve buried them all.’
Guinevere scowled. ‘I need a body to examine.’
And, finally, Snippet #3: starring Guinevere finally getting her hands on a dead body and Eugene being v grossed out.
She grabbed a dangerously sharp scalpel and began to slowly cut along the lines.
Eugene almost threw up, turning away. ‘Guinevere!’
‘Oh, get a grip, Eugene,’ Guinevere said, as a sickeningly wet sound came from behind him. ‘This is really quite simple. Far easier than doing it on a living person, believe me.’
Eugene couldn’t not look at her at that—trying not to see the blood on her hands. ‘I hate that I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.’
Guinevere merely gave an unknowable smile. ‘Pass me that clank,’ she said, as she began to peel back skin and flesh.
Eager to look at just about anything else, Eugene began hunting for the clank, though he didn’t really know what a clank looked like. He found something that he thought might be a clank, but Guinevere only rolled her eyes when he showed it to her. ‘No, it’s right next to it, idiot.’
Share an interesting tidbit about the writing process so far! (For example: Have you made any hilarious typos? Derailed from your outline? Killed off a character? Changed projects entirely? Anything you want to share!)
I've managed to keep to my outline, mostly, but a lot of the in-between bits I've had to come up with on the fly. I've also had to do so much just little bits of worldbuilding to get this story to make sense as I write - things like how the paranormal stuff actually works and the rules of it. It's been kind of wild.
Take us on a tour of what a normal writing day for this novel looks like. Where do you write? What time of day? Alone or with others? Is a lot of coffee (or some other drink) consumed? Do you light candles? Play music? Get distracted by social media (*cough, cough*)? Tell all!
This year, I've found myself writing a lot in the late afternoon to evening, normally starting at about four or later. For some reason, I find it easier to write at those hours. I tend to write in our living room, though I've found myself wandering to other parts of the house to try and get some peace and quiet on a few occasions haha. I've also worked in a couple of coffee shops as well. I have drunk so much tea, just so much. I love my Jam & Toast Yorkshire Tea. It fuels my writing.
I also often have to try and write around this little monster
Who feels the need to take over my lap regardless of it I'm doing something or not.
I always write to my story playlist, which is v large and v spooky.
And that is the end. I'll be back - hopefully - in December with part 3. Please, check out Christine's post, and her blog which is amazing.
