exploring my nanowrimo novel || where shadows lie

In which I become brave and talk about my novel even though that is a Very Scary Thing with capital letters. :P

(Also, enjoy a random Tuesday post because apparently blog posts are easy to write when I'm sick and I felt like spreading the excitement of my soon to be WIP. :D)

Where Shadows Lie was originally supposed to be a standalone, until it decided that it wanted to be a little rebel and demand a prequel. *headdesks repeatedly* (I'll get over it, but right now I'm moping because a prequel means all the more work and THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A LITTLE STANDALONE. Oh well.)

I'm linking up with the beautiful books linkup hosted by Sky and Cait, though I'm cheating because I'm skipping some of the questions. Even though I'm plotting this novel, I'm a pantser at heart and must leave some things undecided. :P

My brain is weird, guys. I get ideas in the most random ways and I'm not sure how my mind even works.

I first got this idea in April, when I was traveling to a youth retreat with my friends. On the way to the retreat, we drove on a road with birch trees scattered on the side.

It's so weird how clearly I remember that moment. How I remember what song was playing (Got that Fire by Royal Tailor -- has absolutely nothing to do with my story xD) when I thought to myself, I need to write a story that takes place in a birch tree forest.

So I made it happen. I jotted a few sentences in my notebook for sermon notes (which has now become half sermon notes, one fourth doodles, and one forth story scribbles) -- something along the lines of, birch tree forest, mysterious feel, creeping shadows, and it has been stuck in my head ever since.

Well would you look at this? I have a handy dandy little blurb that took forever to write for you all to read.

We can't leave, because the shadows won't let us. 

Eerie is tired of hiding from the monsters in the birchwood forest. Tired of spending her days inside with her parents, tired of having a little red fox as her only friend, and tired of living on an island surrounded by an endless silver sea. But no matter how desperately she longs to escape, she can't, and all because of the shadows. 

As she continually wishes for change, her wish is granted. Darkness invades the light of the sun, and Eerie is helpless in the middle of the forest. When the cloud of shadows finally pass, she finds herself utterly alone -- her parents, her fox, her shadow... gone. 

Her shadow is on the hunt for her soul and will stop at nothing for it, willing to twist and deceive her mind to snatch what it desires. Eerie sets on a journey to find her parents, stretching her courage and strength. But to save them, she has to discover where the heart of shadows truly lies. Will she be able to conquer the darkness before it conquers her?

tangled branches. glittering sea. speckled light. pale skin. little red fox. bare feet pounding on the forest floor. scribbled notes on faded paper. soft beat of a lonely heart. twisted shadows. dark, crashing waves. scratched birchwood. a silver-tipped arrow.

WELL. Normally I prepare by doing nothing and then smacking my keyboard hoping for somewhat coherent words.

This year is a bit different. I tried this weird method called plotting. And... it worked? I kind of have a plot? I HAVE AN ENDING? (no beginning, but I can worry about that later. NaNo isn't quite like NaNo without stress.)

Also, catching up on sleep while I can, because I know I will hardly get any when NaNo comes. xD

THE CLIMAX. There's this one scene. This one scene that makes me actually squeal every time I plot it out. I cannot wait to put that scene into words. I'm flailing just thinking about it. Maybe I'm the only one who gets this excited about a scene? Please tell me I'm not. :P

I'm excited about the general feel of my novel. It's the type of story I would want to read -- mysterious, lyrical, character based... I cannot wait to write this thing GAH.

*really just wishes this novel was already written and rewritten and edited so you all can read it and share in my flailing*

1. A SILVER, GLITTERING SEA.

The island itself is surrounded by a sea. A silver sea, that glitters, almost sparkles, when you set your eye on it. There is no end -- at least not one that has been found -- and no bottom. It is endless, but not a weight to look upon, as it is a very pretty sight.

Until, you know, it turns deathly black later in the book. Mwahaha.

2. SPEARGOLD BUSHES.

Since this takes place on a mysterious island, there are lots of mysterious plants and creatures. Like the speargold (lame name but I tried) bushes -- thin, razor sharp bushes made out of white branches and golden leaves. Do not touch. The leaves may bite and the branches may spear you.

In the words I wrote in my plotting notebook: basically, it can kill you. so. danger.

3. EMPTY, ABANDONED HOUSES.

Throughout the book, Eerie discovers more and more of these empty houses in the birchwood forest. Unmade beds and messy rooms reveals that the inhabitants left unprepared. This raises questions -- But why? Where did they go? Have there been others living on the island all along?

Eerie wants change, and she believes that will only happen by leaving the island. But very quickly things happen and her goal is no longer to leave the island, but to save what the island has taken from her. Thus the journey and the danger begin and poor little Eerie is given more than her heart can probably handle.

Sorry, Eerie. *winces*

hope. friendship. conquering the darkness. overcoming fears. to never give up.

Those are some of the themes that I know will appear, but it's surprising how easy it is for a book to take its own path. Different themes turn up, and readers may draw different themes from my writing. I hope that's what will happen -- that they can take what they need to hear for themselves.

I want readers to feel something. Good or bad. Maybe a bit of both. I want them to feel inspired and unstoppable and wish to read the thing all over again.

Or, if I'm being really honest: I want my readers to feel like they just finished a slice of pizza. Sad that the book is over, but happy that the journey was epic.

// katie grace

What's your one sentence pitch for your NaNo novel/WIP?

or if that's too hard and you just want to link me to your beautiful books post, DO THE THING.

(cause I reallllyyyy want to hear about everyone's genius ideas)