Under The Book Cover: urban fantasy

The NaNoWriMo 20 Questions Tag!

aesthetic 8:00:00 AM

Hi hello and welcome to the NaNoWriMo 20 Questions Tag! First of all, Happy NaNoWriMo oh my goodness. I can’t believe it’s here again somehow?! But anyway, this tag was created by Sophie @ Sophie’s Corner and it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like. If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, it stands for National Novel Writing Month, where you aim to write 50,000 words towards a novel during the month of November. I've tried to participate several times but I’ve never actually completed a novel, sadly. I have a few great ideas this year so I’m hoping to get some words done towards one or both projects this month, so I’m doing this tag to get even more inspired and share a bit of insight into my projects! Let’s get started!
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1. Tell me about your NaNoWriMo project this year! Give me a blurb!

Oh boy, this is always the hardest part for me. Well, I have two projects that I’m really vibing with lately (and by vibing with, I mean I’m adding a ton of images to my Pinterest inspiration boards that I’ve created for them and that’s about it) and I haven’t really written a blurb for either of them until now.

Project EA is about a villain that falls for the hero, eventually betraying them to complete their goal of bringing about the end of the world (of course the villain believes they’re in the right) and this causes the hero to lose themselves and become a villain. This is inspired by my favorite video game villain, Emet Selch from Final Fantasy 14, and my love for heroes becoming the villain and villains who believe that they are the hero of the story.

Project RSR Inspired is even more vague of a concept and I got inspired by a film I saw recently called Run Sweetheart Run! I love the idea of taking the female main character and turning her into a villain and making their game something of a contest? Like I said, it’s very vague and I don’t think I even have a super solid idea of what this is going to be about, to be completely honest.

2. What’s the genre?

I’m thinking Project EA is going to be Urban Fantasy which I’ve never written but absolutely love as a genre! I’m drawing inspiration from series like The Nightside by Simon R. Green, The Hollows by Kim Harrison, Anita Blake Vampire Hunter by Laurell K. Hamilton, Women of the Otherworld by Kelley Armstrong, and Signs of the Zodiac by Vicki Pettersson. I know that’s a lot but I really do love the genre and want to have as many things to pull from as I can!

As for Project RSR Inspired, I feel like it can go Spicy Romance/Horror? I want it bloody, gore-filled, scary, and spicy! If you’ve seen the film I talked about, then you’ll see where it can go as far as genre. I loved the film (hence why I’m wanting to write something inspired by it!) and there were so many moments that had my spicy romance book-loving side going “Okay but what if they explored that comment and instead of her running away, she leaned into it?”

3. Describe your main character in three words

Project EA: Naive, Determined, Betrayed

Project RSR: Flirtatious, Monsterous, Cunning

4. Without spoilers, describe your villain in three words

Project EA: Arrogant (but not in a bad way, if that makes sense?), Tenacious, Infallible

Project RSR: Headstrong, Hungry, Flippant

5. What is your goal? (The traditional 50k? 20k? 5k? or…100k?)

Honestly? I just want to get started. I’m already massively behind and probably won’t be able to reach 50k, so I’d like to have full outlines for both projects along with things like character profiles and scene cards/breakdowns, to name some extra things I enjoy doing. I use notecards and have a full three-act structure breakdown that I’ve pieced together from various writing methods, and I want to have one (preferably both) fully notecard plotted by the end of the month!

6. Is this your first draft? Second? Third?

First draft for both projects and that is terrifying. I have a problem where I feel like my first draft cannot be horrible no matter what, and that causes me to struggle to even start the first draft. I know, first drafts are supposed to suck and it’s just a way to get words on the page. But something in my brain won’t accept that. I think I need a writing partner to help keep me going when I start to struggle.

7. Are you starting a new project (or draft) or continuing an existing one?

Two entirely new projects. I know that sounds daunting, and I think it would be if I were trying to write an entire first draft with 50k for both. But I’m just wanting to plot everything which isn’t that hard…right?

8. What is your favorite time to write in the day?

Whenever I get inspired because I absolutely do not want to waste motivation when it hits! My sleep schedule is all over the place constantly so I never have a concrete time I like to write, but I guess nighttime is usually a good time for me. I like the night because where I live (in the middle of nowhere out in the country) it gets very quiet once the sun goes down. Whether that’s because I live in a town of farmers who go to bed early or everyone is scared of the moon, I don’t know, but I love going outside with Sora at night and just taking in the silence. Nighttime is definitely an inspiring time of the day for me!

9. Where are you going to write?

I tend to write at my computer desk but I also sometimes find myself using apps on my iPad to write while I’m in bed. I like to be comfortable when I’m writing but I also like to have the ability to write whenever inspiration strikes! I think most of my writing will be done while I’m sitting at my desk, simply because it’s easier to navigate things on my computer versus using my iPad for stray notes or just random things that may pop into my head while reading before I go to sleep.

10. Computer or paper?

Both! I like writing by hand when I plot as I tend to use notecards, and writing by hand makes me feel more grounded and involved if that makes sense? I love the way I feel when I write by hand and having notecards, pieces of paper, and even post-it notes that I can look back on just makes me happy. But I much prefer typing if I’m doing things like sprints, simply because I can type faster than writing by hand, and keeping the flow of ideas and words going once I get started is important!

11. NaNoWriMo is a huge commitment! How are you going to make time to write?

I don’t really have a plan, to be honest. I’m a stay-at-home corgi mom (my more fun way of saying I’m legally disabled and unable to work because that’s a downer) and my days basically revolve around Sora, so planning out time to write isn’t something I really do. I tend to just write when I feel inspired and hope I get something out of whatever I write down at the time. I know that’s kind of a boring answer, but I really do struggle with making a set writing schedule, unfortunately. I’d love to try and change that this month and maybe develop more of a concrete writing routine for the future!

12. Are you going to participate in any local or online NaNoWriMo events?

Oh gracious, probably not. I’m not a very social person and the thought of someone, especially a stranger, being near enough to maybe see what I’m writing or, god forbid, ask to read my writing, terrifies me. I wish I had a writing buddy and I could probably make some at an event, but being a homebody and also perpetually horrified at the thought of someone reading my writing makes me want to seclude myself forever. Now a virtual event? Maybe, if I can find one. But that’s still kinda scary.

13. Do you write from beginning to end or skip around?

I’m not structured enough to write from beginning to end. I enjoy just writing whatever scene pops into my head at the time and eventually blending that into the rest of the story! Although, I say that I can’t even remember the last time I fully completed a story. Oops.

14. Planner or pantser? Or plantser?

Absolutely a planner! I love plotting out my ideas with things like post-it notes, index cards, and notebooks. I joke that with all of the time I spend planning things out, I could just write the book I’m planning. But what if I don’t plan it out enough?! Too risky.

15. What will be your go-to NaNoWriMo snack?

I don't really have specific things I like to snack on when I write, sadly. I tend to hop around with foods I enjoy. I like things like cheese crackers, applesauce, and peanut butter toast. And sometimes I'm really craving sweets and at that point, I'll look for pretty much anything sour and gummy!

16. Choice of caffeine? (Or no caffeine?)

Oh, caffeine, for sure. I always have a Coke with me (I get grumpy if I don't have one) at my desk so that's just a normal thing for me. If I'm able to go out to, say, Starbucks? I'm obsessed with Vanilla Sweet Cream Coldbrew with extra vanilla, sweet cream, and caramel sauce drizzle. In fact, I could really go for one right now!

17. Any rewards for milestone achievements? For finishing NaNoWriMo?

My reward will be having a fully plotted novel. That's a reward, right? I think I'll make a reward for doing most (if not all) of my plotting will be getting myself some more yarn. I've been getting back into crocheting lately and am dying to get some cool yarns to make stuff with! I'm in the middle of making two cardigans so why not make a few more, right?

18. Share a tip for other NaNo-ers!

Not hitting 50,000 words does not make you a failure. I've always felt like not hitting that ultimate goal made me a failure as a writer because if other people can do it, why can't I, you know? But any words are good words, any progress is good progress. Even if you're like me and you're just trying to plot out a book and you're not actually writing it, it's still progress and you've still done well.

19. How are you feeling about NaNoWriMo? (Excited? Nervous? Terrified?)

All of the above? I'm excited to put in some work on a book I'm excited about. Nervous that I won't make any progress. Terrified that any progress I make is going to be awful. But I keep reminding myself that any progress is good progress as I said above! I'm just happy that I'm inspired and have ideas that I want to put onto paper and try to get into a full story one day.

20. Share an aesthetic for your NaNoWriMo novel!

This is one of many mood boards I could make for Project EA and I'm obsessed. Like, I know I created it, and I picked out the photos to fit the aesthetic, but wow these all work together so well! I don't have much for Project RSR, but I'm okay with that because I'm really happy with how this one turned out. It just captures everything I want to include in the plot in just a few images in such a great way.

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And that's it for the NaNoWriMo 20 Questions Tag! This was so much fun to do and share some of my ideas for my works in progress. It has definitely encouraged me to work more on plotting out the ideas that I have floating around in my head and I'm so excited to actually try and get these things onto paper. I'd love to know what you're working on for NaNoWriMo so let me know in the comments how you're doing with your word count so far and maybe even a little bit about what you're writing! Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in the next chapter!

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Summer Biannual Bibliothon 2017- Day Two: Write a Book Review

biannual bibliothon 7:54:00 AM

Hi hello and welcome to day two of the Summer Biannual Bibliothon 2017! For those that don't know, the Biannual Bibliothon is held twice a year and is hosted by some pretty amazing ladies from the BookTube community: Kelly, Brittni, Emma, Catriona, Momo, Kassie, and Red! Be sure to go and check out all of their channels as well as the Biannual Bibliothon channel for more information and the video/reading challenges. Today, the blogger challenge is being hosted by Kassie from Miss Sassy Kassy and it is to post a book review! Be sure to visit Kassie's blog for more about today's challenge if you're interested in participating. Let's get started!

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Title: Every Heart a Doorway

Author: Seanan McGuire

Pages: 169

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: 05 April 2016

From Goodreads: "Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere... else.
But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced... they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world. But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of the matter. No matter the cost."

Oh my goodness this book was fantastic. I've been hearing a lot of buzz around this book for quite some time but for some reason just never picked it up. When I decided to participate in two readathons, I knew I needed to pick something short and easy to fulfill at least one challenge and Every Heart a Doorway was the first book that popped into my head. I am so glad I finally picked this one up because I absolutely loved every bit of it.

This was a shorter book at just under 200 pages, but the plot felt and read like a book that could have been twice the length. It was so wonderfully developed and written and I honestly could have easily read another 200+ pages about these characters. There was a magical, creepy vibe that was present all throughout the book that really added to my personal reading experience. I loved that the author really took the time to introduce the reader to the characters and gave them all such unique personalities that allowed you to easily distinguish them from each other. Even the twins, Jack and Jill, were so very different from each other, and I thought that was a really fun twist to make twins almost complete opposites.

"Because hope is a knife that can cut through the foundations of the world..."

The writing of this book is probably some of the most beautiful prose I've ever encountered. I found myself smiling at so many parts throughout this book that were just so lyrical and exquisite and I couldn't believe that such elegant writing existed within the 169 pages of this book. I knew I was in for a treat with Every Heart a Doorway from all of the hype I've seen/heard, but I didn't know it was going to affect me like it has. The descriptions of the worlds were so well-written that I could actually picture each of them almost as if I was standing in their respective doorways myself. It was incredible hearing about the experiences that the children had in their worlds and how different they all were. Some were dark, like Nancy, Christopher, and the twins, and some were bright and colorful like Sumi's. But everyone seemed to have one thing in common and it was that they all wanted to return to their worlds. I found myself drawn in to the world(s) that Seanan McGuire has created and I am so eager to learn more about all of them in the companion novels.

"You shouldn't close doors just because you don't like what's on the other side."

I truly fell in love with the characters in this book and I really didn't expect to have that happen with a novella. It's short so there's no way they can be developed enough for me to have any feelings towards them, positive or negative, right? Wrong, so very wrong. First, I'd like to talk about the fact that the author wrote about a transgender character and an asexual character. The two characters, Kade and Nancy respectively, were so amazing and fun and I loved them dearly. While I cannot speak on the representation for either transgender characters or asexual characters, I thought they were both very well-written. There was an instance of someone insulting Kade regarding the way he chose to identify and pretty much all of the characters around him at that time jumped to his defense and shut the negativity down immediately. I just loved the acceptance, love, and positivity that was shown towards Kade and I really hope to see more diverse characters like this in the companion stories. As for Nancy, I actually learned something about asexuality and how it differs from being aromantic. It was interesting and I really appreciated that the author took the time to explain it to the reader so that we would understand. In general, all of the characters were fantastic and I'm so excited to see who shows up in the future!

"I kissed a girl with hair the color of cabbages and eyes the color of moth-wings, and she kissed me back, and it was wonderful."

There were so many quotes throughout this book that just stuck with me, and I've included a few above but would like the opportunity to share the rest of my favorites below:

"Their love wanted to fix her, and refused to see that she wasn't broken."

"You must be a lot of fun at parties," said Christopher.
Jack smirked. "It depends on the kind of party. If there are shovels involved, I'm the life, death, and resurrection of the place."

"Don't worry about upsetting me, I once removed a man's lungs from his chest while he was still alive, awake, and trying to talk."

"Together, they walked across the property, the girl, the boy, and the dancing skeleton wrapped in rainbows."

"You're nobody's rainbow. You're nobody's princess. You're nobody's doorway but your own, and the only one who gets to tell you how your story ends is you."

I said this above but this honestly was some of the most beautiful writing I've ever read. Nothing felt over the top or silly but rather like it all made sense somehow. The descriptions of everything from the characters to their respective worlds and even the home they all lived in were so vivid I could picture it with no problems. I fell in love with all of the characters almost effortlessly and couldn't get enough of them once I was able to really get into the story. Jack was without a doubt my favorite and I am so excited to get to read Down Among the Sticks and Bones because it's about her and Jill! I genuinely hope there are many more novellas to come in this world because Seanan McGuire has created something truly magnificent and I am so eager to learn more and read whatever she has to write.

Without a doubt, Every Heart a Doorway has stolen my heart and run away with it, and I have gladly given it away without a fight. With magical writing, lovable characters, and a story that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. I highly recommend this book not only to readers that enjoy short stories or the fantasy genre, but anyone and everyone that loves to read. This is one you don't want to miss out on!

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That is it for my review of Every Heart a Doorway for day two of the Summer Biannual Bibliothon! If you made it this far down, leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite short story or fantasy book is, or if you've read Every Heart a Doorway, who your favorite character was.

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you in the next chapter!