#novel prep

Main Characters

6.) Who is your protagonist?

Swae - Mage

Rafe - Wolf Shifter

7.) Who is their closest ally?

Rafe’s Friends: James, Declan and Reese

8.) Who is their enemy?

Cryptozoology Research Corp (CRC)

Dr. Gerald Guyse - Lead Scientist

9.) What do they want more than anything?

Freedom. Security. Revenge.

10.) Why can’t they have it?

The CRC is targeting supernatural creatures and they are being hunted by CRC as subjects of unique significance and importance to Dr. Gerald Guyse. 

11.) What do they wrongly believe about themselves?

Rafe sees his shifter nature as a weakness when it is actually his greatest strength. Swae believes she is better off on her own not understanding the benefits of having friends and especially not love.

12.) Draw your protagonist!

Nope. I can't draw... like AT ALL!

Plot Points

13.) What is the worst thing that could happen to your protag?

Recapture by the CRC

14.) What secret will be revealed that changes the course of the story?

Wouldn't you like to know!

15.) Do you know how it ends?

Yes indeed I do.

16.) What is the theme?

Survival, Perseverance, Love and Sacrifice, Reunion, Self-realization, Trust, Friendship, Loyalty

17.) What is a recurring symbol?

Burning/Fire as a symbol of rebirth and renewal - Rise from the ashes

18.) Where is the story set?

Present day New England - Bridgewater Triangle, Massachusetts (hot spot of Paranormal activity); Boston, MA; White Mountains, NH

19.) Do you have images and scenes in mind already?

Several - I will share excerpts as they are written

20.) What excited you about this story?

Fire, Magic, Shifters, Love story, Strong Female Protagonist and most importantly its MINE

21.) What is your usual writing method?

Plot point outline - summary outline - Write

Presently my goal is to write 500 words a day.

FIRST LOOK

1. Describe your novel in 1-2 sentences (elevator pitch).

Five years ago, Alinora learned that Fate had betrayed Eldora, and that she was the only one who could stop her. Now, the only person who knows how Fate can be stopped has lost her memory, and Fate’s Champion is wreaking havoc. Alinora must once again rise to the occasion… but this time, things are going to be a little more difficult.

2. How long do you plan for your novel to be? (Is it a novella, single book, book series, etc.?)

It’s the second in a seven book series! At least, as of the current planning—that number could change. I’m hoping that this one will be about 85k words!

3. What is your novel’s aesthetic?

Choppy seas; rocky shores; lightning arcing through the sky; a stone fortress overlooking a port village.  Winding roads; tall mountains; ancient ruins; foggy forests. Blackened finger tips; glowing swords; whispers on the edge of your mind; secrets that could change the world. Shadows like mist around legs; ghosts from myriad centuries; old bones; ravens crying overhead.

4. What other stories inspire your novel?

I think the biggest influences would be Lord of the Rings; the Hobbit; Avatar: the Last Airbender; and the Dragon Age series. Each feature large casts; epic adventures; lots of travel; and found family. There’s also major motifs of hope & love in LOTR and ATLA which I would like to recapture as well!

5. Share 3+ images that give a feel for your novel.

Here’s my pinterest board, + 3 images off of it:

MAIN CHARACTER.

6. Who is your protagonist?

Alinora Mynerva is the main protagonist, but she has a group of friends (though she would categorize them as such at the moment) that I would also place in the protagonist column.

7. Who is their closest ally?

Currently, Elaena—Death’s eldest daughter and Eldora’s first reaper.

8. Who is their enemy?

Kaltain Inerra, Fate’s Champion; the goddess of Fate; the spirit possessing Talitha Jade; and ???

9. What do they want more than anything?

If you asked her that, she would tell you that she just wants to defeat Fate so that she can rest in peace. The truth is a little more complicated. She wants to make up for failing her people; to earn forgiveness for the lives that were lost because of her inattention and cowardice.

10. Why can’t they have it?

Because the only person who knows how to defeat Fate is currently amnesiac. And as for the rest—well. It’s her own forgiveness that she has to seek, and that’s something she doesn’t understand yet.

11. What do they wrongly believe about themselves?

That she’s somehow at fault for Mynera’s fall 15 years ago. That if she gets close to people, they’ll get hurt, or they’ll die. That loving people makes her vulnerable, that it’s somehow a weakness she can’t let people exploit. That by keeping people at arm’s length she’s protecting herself.

12. Draw your protagonist! (Or share a description)

How ‘bout a picrew?

PLOT POINTS

13. What is the internal conflict?

Alinora vs her insecurities / self-loathing.

14. What is the external conflict?

Alinora & co vs Kaltain; Alinora & co vs Fate; Alinora & co vs Tali; Alinora & co vs ???

15. What is the worst thing that could happen to your protagonist?

Someone dying. Failing.

16. What secret will be revealed that changes the course of the story?

Sometimes one is actually three. Disappearing doesn’t always mean dead.

17. Do you know how it ends?

Yep ;)

BITS AND BOBS

18. What is the theme?

Not everything is as it seems. Caring about people isn’t a weakness. Sometimes the power was within you the whole time. It isn’t weak to ask for help; everyone needs to lean on someone sometimes. No one is an island; you can’t do everything alone.

19. What is a recurring symbol?

Corvids (ravens & crows); shadows; lightning; crowns; secrets.

20. Where is the story set? (Share a description!)

The world of Eldora is full of magic. It flows through the very veins of the world; and (almost) anyone can use it.

21. Do you have any images or scenes in your mind already?

Absolutely!

22. What excited you about this story?

Aishlynn and Talitha’s roles; getting to see Alinora as Champion; getting to reveal some big secrets; getting to experience Asa and Viviana as more than just background characters.

23. Tell us about your usual writing method!