Know The Novel – Part Three: WORDS WRITTEN (2022 edition…but late)!

Once upon a November, an unsuspecting girl posted Part 2 of a writer’s linkup. She smiled to herself and patted her binder of outlines and character profiles, excited to continue soldiering through The Game-Changing Midpoint of her WIP. Fully prepared to do the third and final part of the writer’s linkup that December.

But then a media break happened. And Christmas happened. And New Year’s Day happened. And January and February and March and April happened.

One would think this girl would call it a lost cause, forget about it, and move on.

Only she didn’t.

She asked her followers if she should do that final Part Three, and the general consensus was yes.

So here we are.

*clears throat* For a more simple introduction: I’m doing an overdue Part Three of Christine Smith‘s 2022 “Know the Novel” linkup, where we writers got to share all about our current WIPs (work-in-progress) and let you in on the behind-the-scenes process. *mysterious wink*

You can find Part One and Part Two by following those lovely little links! (If you have no idea what Project Gillory is, I highly suggest checking out those posts, or you’ll feel a little lost.) Now, let us not waste a single more second. *nervous laugh*

the questions

1. How did writing this novel go all around?

Overall, it’s been slow. Frustratingly slow at times. But I’ve gotten past the midpoint and am now about 3/5 of the way through. The biggest benefit (for me) of not rushing the writing process has been the connection I have to the characters. The longer the time I spend in their heads, the better I know them and the better the grasp I have on their voices. This will pay off in the end because I’ll have a cleaner “first” draft.

2. Did it turn out as you expected or completely different? How do you feel about the outcome?

*peeks over spectacles at the above gif* Yes, that quite about sums up how I feel about it.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit misleading, because of course I wish I’d finished it last year. Or last month. Or yesterday. 🤷‍♀️

But if I’m doing my best, there’s no reason to swim around in that pit of disappointment. I love this story. I’m especially hyped about it because this morning I had an amazing writing session where the words simply flowed onto the page. Heartbreaking scenes will do that to ya, I guess. These characters have such complex internal conflict, which keeps the writing process from becoming boring. 😂

And to more specifically answer the question, the story has definitely turned out different from how I’m imagined it. The core and the major plot points are the same, but there are many details I never saw coming. And I’m very happy with those curveballs. 😏

3. What aspect of the story did you love writing about the most? (Characters, plot, setting, prose, etc.)

Characters. ✨

THEY ARE REAL AND YOU CANNOT CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE.

4. What was your least favorite part?

*chortles* Plot.

Not that I don’t like the plot, but there are so many knots to untangle. That’s what slows me down the most.

The setting is also difficult because of the research involved.

5. What do you feel needs the most work?

Oh, you want a more specific answer than that?

Well then. 😜 I’ll choose three things:

• 🎶 The prose. Line-edit kind of stuff. Why? Because that is where my perfectionism manifests itself the most in writing.
• 📜 Next up would be the historical side of it; I need to go through and make everything as historically accurate as possible.
• 🧭 The plot. It has undergone a mini revolution (or more accurately, a reformation) and I need to make sure all the events line up and maintain continuity.

6. How do you feel about your characters now? Who’s your favorite? Least favorite? Anyone surprise you? Give us all the details!

They are my darlings, that’s how I feel about them. The two main POV characters, Gillory and Ean, both tie for favorite. Gillory, because her personality is so fun to write. She’s the musician heroine I never knew I needed to write about. *hugs her* And Ean, because he’s just a broken hero who needs heaps and heaps of love. 😭

I talked about my least favorite characters in the recent subscriber Q&A; one is a villain and another is an aunt. 🤭 However, when I rework the aunt’s character in edits, I may grow to like her a great deal.

Though Gillory has surprised me a few times, her younger sister Laura’s been giving me the most surprises. You see, naivety could be her middle name. Yet she’s also so perceptive and is known for her sage and heartfelt advice. She knows how to ask the just right questions that draw the truth out of the unsuspecting and can subtly figure out someone’s emotional wounds with one good talk. Her naivety manifests itself in how she believes the best of everyone, at the cost of overlooking any…well, I shouldn’t say too much. 😛 All that is to say I can’t wait to explore her character even more deeply in the next book!

7. What’s your next plan of action with this novel?

• I plan to finish the “first” draft. (That’s in quotations because I’ve already done some…unofficial edits on it.)
• Try to forget about it for a few months.
• Then begin the first official round of edits. (Which will involve combing the book through to find all developmental problem areas. I’ll also get a few alpha readers to give me an outside opinion before I make any drastic and potentially deadly changes. And then I’ll work on rewriting those areas.)

8. If you could have your greatest dream realized for this novel, what would it be?

My greatest dream is for a reader to need the message of the story. I’m not making it my goal to change someone’s life, but to be a part of a reader’s healing journey, in some small way, that would make the whole thing worth it.

On the tangible side of things, it would be SO COOL to see my book on a library shelf. *squeals* Am I right or am I right?

I could also do with a million sales or so. Nothing too big.

9. Share some of your favorite snippets!

Disclaimer: the following snippets come from the first draft and and thus are subject to change.

***

He supposed he looked a royal mess from the way her eyes had cataloged every detail of his unkempt appearance.

***

“You’re infuriating.”

“Merely pointing out the obvious.”

“Exactly.”

***

She slipped on her dressing gown then pattered across the cold hallway floor to the sitting room. The piano stood there in the darkness, calling to her, begging to be played, to be perfected.

***

“Have you ever heard of something called a mistake?” 

Ean pushed to his feet and shoved aside the curtain. Stared out into the grey street. “Believe me, I’m all too familiar with the word.”

***

“There’s nothing else I can say. Go find a pastor or someone wiser, and for heaven’s sake, clean yourself up. You can’t go to church like that.“

***

The melancholy that washed over her poured into the music, until it was just her and the piano for a long, beautifully undying moment. No pressure, no need to impress.

10. Did you glean any new writing and/or life lessons from writing this novel?

Yes. I did. Here are a few of them…

• Write before anything else. Otherwise, you will procrastinate.
• Your sister WILL NOT BE HAPPY if you don’t let her read the last several chapters you wrote. Try not to let more than three months go by without showing her those chapters.
• It doesn’t have to be perfect. 😊

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Was that worth the wait? Maybe? What have you learned from writing your WIP? Which snippet made you raise an eyebrow? How is your WIP coming along? Can you remember what gave you the first flash of inspiration for whatever project you’re working on right now? (Really, I must know.) Share all in the comments!