So... I might be doing Naowrimo this year. *insert never-ending screaming here* I'm still deciding, but I'm pretty sure I'll be signing myself up for writing craziness in 2.5 seconds.... I'll keep y'all updated. xD In the meantime, here's a lovely Beautiful Books link-up  about my newest story idea, Second Star To The Right (temporary title). Ready? =)
UPDATE: I've decided not to do Nano because my November is going to be quite busy, with a family reunion, school, Christmas prep, etc. One year, one year..... 

What inspired the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea?

It all started when my family was sitting around the fire drinking cocoa and munching s'mores a couple days ago. Music was playing softly in the background, and then all the sudden I hear this song... 

Neverland is home to lost boys like me

And lost boys like me are free.

-"Lost Boy"sung by Ruth B.

And then a Peter Pan story idea smacks me in the face like BAM!!! And thus this story was inspired.

Describe what your novel is about!

WELLLLLLL...... I don't exactly have the whole plot together but here's a makeshift blurb:

Jane has spent her whole life as "the girl in the window." Watching the world go by in London in the wake of World War II and the disappearance of her older brother, James, she is scarcely brave enough to go out her front door. Then she meets Peter, the boy across the street. 

He's cocky. Outgoing. Brave. Loud. Everything she's not. Their differences become even more stark when she realizes that he really lives in the world of her wildest dreams. And he flies. Oh, and then there's a fairy named Tinkerbell and his arch nemesis, a pirate of all people...  

When he asks her to come to Neverland with him to care for his band of Lost Boys, she agrees, but on one condition: he in turn must help her locate her missing brother. A deal is made, and then Jane must do the bravest thing she's ever done. Step outside her window and fly to a land of mystery and certain adventure, where nothing is as it seems... 

What is your book’s aesthetic? Use words or photos or whatever you like!

Here's the link to an aesthetic that totally describes my story. 

Girl in a window//Panpipes//Pixie dust//Thimbles//Lost Boys//A house underground//London

Wings//Mermaids//Tiger Lily//Stars//Mothers//Arrows//Acorn Button//Sparrow

Introduce us to each of your characters!

I shall be copying my friend Savannah in describing each of my main characters with a gif..... =)

My MC, Jane (temporary name), is sweet, kind, and full of wonder, despite all of that's happened to her, but she's very wary of others and a bit scared of the real world. 

Peter Pan, in my novel, is cocky and brave on the outside, but on the inside, he's slightly insecure and has a pretty big heart. He kinda reminds me of the new Spider-Man.  

How do you prepare to write? (Outline, research, stocking up on chocolate, howling, etc.?)

Once I get a story idea I like to stock up on inspiration. For me, this usually includes making a playlist to listen to while I write and saving some aesthetics to a makeshift story board. For this Peter Pan story, I'm reading J.M. Barrie's Peter and Wendy. I'm also going to be researching post-WWII in London, England, which is where my MC lives at the beginning of the story.
Meanwhile, I'm juggling making a list of major plot points in the novel, as well as little nuances that I can carry into my character's personalities, dialogue, etc. This is also the point where I like to start making a rough outline.
Then I stock up on cocoa, sugar, and adorable notebooks. You know, to prepare for the draft to come. And there's also just a little bit of screaming involved....

What are you most looking forward to about this novel?

Playing around with a classic story and making it my own-and need I mention that I'm in love with my characters whom I still haven't come up with permanent names yet? 

List 3 things about your novel’s setting.

magical and a bit ridiculous//no one grows up//second star to the right and straight on till morning

What’s your character’s goal and who (or what) stands in the way?

Jane's goal is to find a place where she belongs. She's always been the girl watching the world from her window, making no difference, living but not really living. And when she gets the chance to go to Neverland and be a sort of "mother" for Peter's band of Lost Boys, she jumps at the chance to do so, and also maybe find her missing brother, James.  

How does your protagonist change by the end of the novel?

*SPOILERS* Also still figuring that part out.

What are your book’s themes? How do you want readers to feel when the story is over?

My story is going to be about growing up and saying goodbye, finding where you belong, and getting enough courage to step out into the real world, because sometimes, the most dangerous thing you'll ever have to do is step outside your front door. Or your bedroom window, like in Jane's case....
I want my readers to feel like they stepped out of Neverland and to be a little braver because of it when they finish reading my story.

What is your favorite version of Peter Pan? Who's your favorite character? Are you doing Nanowrimo? Come join me in the comments and let's chat about faith, trust, and pixie dust! =D 

5 Things That Excite Writers

There are lots of things that make me excited. Nice weather, American Eagle jeans, chocolate cake.... The list goes on. As I've wandered around the blogosphere, I've noticed that there are quite a few things that excite us writers. Things that make us throw confetti and jump up and down and stuff our faces with ice cream. Here are just five of those things that make us excited. =) 

Finished Drafts

Be it a first draft, second draft clean-up, or seventh draft touch-up, we writers can't help but get a little excited. Okay, maybe more than a little excited. Crazy excited. Can you remember the first time you looked at a finished draft, the victory you felt, the feeling you had when you typed the end? Then it's time for chocolate and balloons. =D 

Plot Bunnies

Plot bunnies either send us running away screaming or squealing and throwing around funfetti cupcakes. We have a love-hate relationship with these little guys, They smack us in the face randomly and sometimes never stop coming. But hey, how can you hate a bunny, be it a plot bunny or real bunny? 

Aesthetic Anything

You know you've seen them. All of those beautiful photo collages writers make with pictures they've stumbled across that pair perfectly with their beloved stories, or maybe just the stand alone images or Pinterest boards.... WE LOVE THEM. Take for example, the only aesthetic collage I've ever made, the following collage I made for a plot bunny I had.  

DO YOU FEEL THE INSPIRATION EMANATING FROM IT?!?!?! Writers totally dig it. 

Notebooks

Leather ones. Ones with puppies on them. Sparkly ones. Floral ones. Ones with locks. Old ones. New ones. Just show a writer almost any notebook and that writer's next two words will be LOVE IT.

We collect them. We squeal over them. We display them. We scribble our words in them. And once all of their pretty pages are full.... We probably won't part with them. xD That is, until we realize we need more closet space*...

*But I kept some pages from them and photographed them before I did that dark deed okay?!?! 

Hot Drinks

Tea. Coffee. Apple cider. And the queen of them all, HOT CHOCOLATE. *confetti and cocoa for all*  Nearly every writer has an affinity for a certain hot drink that stimulates our writerly senses. I personally prefer hot chocolate*, but coffee is popular with us writers as well. And an adorable mug doesn't hurt either.... 

*I'm too weak for coffee, and who can turn down chocolate anything? Add caramel and salt and I am IN LOVE. =D

Okay, writers, what did I miss on my list (I'm sure I missed a lot xD)? What are some other things that excite you? Does anything I listed especially excite you? What did the prettiest notebook you've ever owned look like? What's your favorite hot drink? DO YOU NOT LOVE GIFS OR WHAT?!?!?! C'mon and chat with me!