I Rave Endlessly about my NaNoWriMo Novel ( magical realism, darkness and Germany) // Beautiful Books

SURPRISE! I’m talking about my writing!

Which I hardly ever do. I haven’t talked about my writing…in over a month?  to be fair, I haven’t  been doing much writing. Yeah, I’ve been just frolicking about eating ice cream and climbing trees and eating blueberries whilst cracking eggs and flipping pancakes in the air and phoning up the Loch Ness Monster so we can talk and also catch up with my Komodo dragon so we can read books together and bake muffins.

Okay wow, that was oddly specific.

The point is, I’m hoping November will BE THE MONTH that I get back into writing because 1) everything I currently write sucks 2) I MISS WRITING.

And because I have to be trendy and down with the kids (okay what) I am participating in the Beautiful Books, hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In. Here’s the gorgeous button if you want to participate or find out more.

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

I honestly don’t know?? Really ideas just come to me whenever I’m outside, waiting for stuff. Whenever I have time to think. So this was just another idea in my treasury of crazy thoughts that I really want to write about.

I’ve had the idea for about 2 months now? So I’ve had time to develop it and think things through but I actually haven’t done any of that so send help.

2. Describe what your novel is about

Oh wow. this question SEEMS simple but really…no.

So it’s about this guy who may or may not be immortal and every time it hits midnight he turns into a silhouette/shadow. And he basically goes around the city…just watching people, slithering into pockets or houses and things like that. Really, he won’t admit to himself, he’s looking for his little brother who has been missing for a long time.

And then, he meets this girl (who ends up being a storm inside skin) who has set up this Creativity Centre where children go and paint, writes, makes music etc –> All the arts. It’s for less privileged kids and such and so he checks it out, looking for his brother as a bonus and he discovers magic, love and maybe even his long-lost brother.

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

black. burning. shadows. silhouettes. storms. magic. brothers. love. create. paint. play. notes. clouds. ghost. night. stars. funeral. grave. germany.

4. Introduce us to each of your characters!

Wow, you actually expect me to have character names. WOW. UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS. However, I do have temporary names (that might stick, who knows?) They are super weird names but research okay.

Jackie  –> She’s the girl and she is made from storms and stars. She runs this creative place and teaches the boy about magic. She’s REALLY sassy and bold but also likes to help people. She likes to eat ice cream. She also collects feathers and sews her own amazing dresses. OH AND SHE IS PROUD SLYTHERIN.

Skatten –> He’s the boy and he is made of silhouettes and shadows. He used to get abused when he was younger and he has lost his brother (or twin?) He likes to write stories and poems. He is very quiet and likes to eat chocolate. He’s in Ravenclaw.

Suchen –> He’s the long-lost brother and THERE WILL BE CHAPTERS FROM HIS POV. #exciting #hufflepuff

Morde –> She’s this little orphan at the centre and is super cute and likes to build castles and pretend she is the queen of them. HUFFLEPUFF TOO.

Alt –> He’s this man who’s very ominous and #spoilers. I will say no more. Literally all the houses.

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

So…

I STILL HAVEN’T STARTED MY OUTLINE.

But I’m part of TWO NaNo Group Chats on Twitter and they are definitely helping! Also, chocolate and ice cream are much needed, thank you <3. I’ve been doing research for German culture and things BECAUSE I AM OBSESSED WITH GERMANY OKAY.

6. What are you most looking forward to about this novel?

THE MAGICAL REALISM ASPECT. ASDFGHJKL. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I am to write storms and stars and lost brothers and OMGGG THIS IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN. There are some HUGE plot twists PLUS AN EVIL HEARTBREAKING ENDING

Anyways MAGIC. So excited for the magic. It’s going to come out the creativity of music, painting and words and it’s going to be so SO perfect when I write about it. Wow, I can’t wait to look back on how confident I was.

7. List 3 things about your novel’s setting.

GERMANY –> So I am just really obsessed with Germany? And like hopefully it will be set here. if anyone knows anyone or websites that could help me out please let me know! (OOH LOOK JACKIE)

AUTUMN –> SO this is the opposite of a summer novel. There will be storms and falling leaves and rain and drizzle and it’ going to be thunder clapping dark novel okay.

BIG CITY –> I was going to go for the village, smol cottage sort of vibe but…I think I want to go for a big city with dark alleyways and broken glass and massive buildings.

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

So Skatten wants to find his brother, that’s his main goal but he doesn’t know where to look or where his brother is. He can’t remember anything about what happened but he does have lots of flashbacks. Really it is his MIND stopping him from finding out more about his brother.

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

I’m really not too sure about this one and mainly because of spoilers, I can’t say much. I can say though that Skatten learns how to move on, he learns that magic can’t solve everything and that sometimes you need to reach out to other people, it’s not always good to be alone.

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

MAIN THEMES:

Self-acceptance –> Okay this is GOING TO BE DARK, but I really want to add in themes of the characters coming to terms with who they are and loving themselves for it.

Darkness –> IT IS GOING TO BE REALLY DARK AT SOME POINTS like really gory and bloody and stabby. I’m also including a little baby dragon BUT I SHALL SAY NO MORE.

Love –> This is going to tackle all kinds of love like toxic love, self-love, and romantic love. And which is more important and such.

HOW I WANT YOU TO FEEL –> A SLOBBERING MESS ON THE FLOOR WHO’S HEART HAS BEEN TRAMPLED ALL OVER ON. Also a little confused and messed up and stunned because that’s what I am here for. :))))))))))

Are you participating this year? Stocking up on stationery and chocolate? Are you a plotter or panster? How are you preparing? What Writing have you been up to? ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH GERMANY, okay, no, just me then. Scared, Nervous, Excited? Tell me about your NaNo Novel!