Introducing My NaNoWriMo Novel

Posted October 29, 2016 by Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction in Let's Discuss, NaNoWriMo / 30 Comments

nanowrimo2016

Okay, it’s official. I signed up for NaNoWriMo, which starts in (shudders in fear) three days. And I figured that if I wrote about the book here, it would make it even officialer and I wouldn’t be able to back out of it. At least not without a lot of shame.

I did NaNoWriMo in 2014 and technically “won” (wrote my 50,000 words), but I didn’t come anywhere close to finishing my book. And by the time I finished NaNo I was feeling less than confident that I should be finishing the book because I felt pretty stuck.

But I’m not giving up!! I’m back for more torture … fun. I meant fun. I decided to participate in Beautiful Books 2016 (which is hosted by Paper Fury and Further Up and Further In) and I’m answering their questions here! (Though I’m switching the order slightly.)

Describe what your novel is about!

When 11-year-old Annalaine’s two best friends, Owen and Keeley, move away, she’s devastated. But her loneliness doesn’t last long. Annalaine discovers a mysterious door behind the park hedges that leads to a strange but beautiful garden … and Owen and Keeley, even though they live hundreds of miles away.

Of course, Annalaine doesn’t need new friends when she can keep the old, so she’s not particularly interested when Piper moves in next door. And she certainly isn’t going to risk exposing the Meeting Spot to Piper (or anyone else)—not once she learns that doing so will make it disappear forever. But balancing adventures in the Meeting Spot and life in the real world is tougher than Annalaine ever imagined, and she finds that she just might need to make room in her life for new friends after all.

the_meeting_spot

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

I was inspired to write this book by the fact that ALL of my neighborhood friends (five families worth!) moved away the summer before I went into 6th grade. I was devastated and lonely, and how cool would it have been if there had been some sort of magical doorway that allowed me to play with them every day even though they’d moved?!

I’ve also been inspired by my own kids in many ways. 🙂

This book has been percolating in my mind for the past several years. I wrote the outline for it a year or two ago.

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

See my Pinterest board. It’s filled with super fun fantastical garden images!

Introduce us to each of your characters!

Annalaine is a sensitive, cheerful and imaginative eleven-year-old girl. She’s a people-pleaser and the peace-keeper in her little trio of friends. She’s not a fan of change, so when her friends move away, it’s very difficult for her.

Owen is artistic and creative. He sees himself as a performer and likes to be the center of attention.

Keeley is a little spitfire of a girl. She’s courageous, pretty, fun and outlandish and a bit of a tomboy.

Matthew is Annalaine’s seven-year-old brother. He’s adorable, and Annalaine loves him to pieces, but he can be a little bit of a pest, as little brothers are known for. He is obsessed with bugs and can spout off LOTS of facts about them!

Piper is a bit … quirky. She’s incredibly intelligent, but she talks loud and fast and doesn’t always pick up on social cues, so she can be a little overwhelming at times. Piper gets made fun of sometimes, and Annalaine wants to stand up for her, but she finds it hard to be brave and step into conflict.

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

For my last NaNo project, I had a vague idea of the story and that was about it. It didn’t go so well. This time, I have a much more solid plan, including an actual outline of each of the chapters. I’m sure this plan will change somewhat, but I’ve got a really strong basis to start with.

What are you most looking forward to about this novel?

The Meeting Spot itself!

List 3 things about your novel’s setting.

The novel will take place in Annalaine’s neighborhood (and sometimes at her school) and in the magical world of The Meeting Spot.

The Meeting Spot itself (as a place) is somewhat inspired by The Secret Garden. I picture it as a somewhat more fantastical version of that garden, with lots of color and fancy hedges and such, even though there’s no one (obvious) there to upkeep it).

Both the “real” world and The Meeting Spot will have some elements of danger.

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

Annalaine’s goal is to avoid losing her two best friends! The distance between them (after Own and Keeley both move) stands in her way.

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

Annalaine learns to stand up for herself and her friends more. She also learns the value of letting new people into her life.

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

I actually haven’t completely decided how the book is going to end yet. I have a couple of different possible endings planned. But, in the end, I want to show that sometimes we need to move on and accept loss—but that doesn’t mean forgetting the people you’ve left behind.

UPDATE: If you’re participating in NaNoWriMo as well, feel free to add me as a writing buddy! My username is nmhewitt.

So, what do you think of my NaNoWriMo 2016 book idea? Are you planning to participate in NaNo this year? I want to know!

 

beautiful-books

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30 responses to “Introducing My NaNoWriMo Novel

  1. Oh, I like the sound of this one! I didn’t officially sign up for Nano, but I’m thinking of “unofficially” trying to do it anyway. I have the VERY beginning of a new book written, and some ideas of where I want it to go, so even if I didn’t hit the 50k by the end of November, it would still be a really good motivator to get writing more!

    -Lauren

  2. I love this idea! It sounds like an awesome book! I remember as a kid I always like those kinds of books that start in the normal world, but then you get to go through some kind of magic portal to somewhere else (Narnia, for example, or those Enid Blyton books about the Faraway Tree) 🙂
    Best of luck with NaNo! This is my first shot at it since 2014 as well, so I really hope with both hit the 50,000 word target! 🙂

    Laura recently posted: My Top 10 Book Friendships
  3. This sounds like a fun read! And I like that you haven’t decided how it ends yet. I always feels like I have to plan down to the tiniest detail when I write something, so I don’t get to have that feeling of discovering the ending as I write very often. But when I DO get to, it’s lots of fun! 🙂

  4. You’ve reminded me that NaNo is starting in two days nnnngh. I participated last year and I wrote like 20k before I realized I have no idea where my story is going. 😀 I may continue it this year, but I don’t think I’ll be writing 50k. And I’d like to have a meeting spot like that in my backyard, because my friends live all over the place and it would be fantastic to be able to see them! Good luck with your novel!!!

  5. Al

    Your book sounds great! I’m doing NaNo this year too, for the first time. I’m not afraid at all… hahah…. ah….
    Good luck anyway!

  6. I love the idea of this! I don’t read MG primarily anymore, but I used to write for a MG book blog, and I would’ve loved to pick up something like The Meeting Spot. Best of luck with your NaNo novel!

    #commenting365

  7. I don’t read MG (nothing snobbish about it, it’s just a matter of personal preference), but I’m intrigued by your story. I hope I’ll be able to read it one day. Good luck with Nano and – most of all – have fun!

  8. This sounds like a wonderful idea! I would read it!! I like the themes of loss and having to also be open to new people and experiences. Sounds like you’ve thought it through quite a bit. And I like a bit of magic or fantasy so the idea of the garden is a great one. I’m also curious how (or if) the garden is kept up- that part caught my interest. 🙂

    Greg recently posted: Sunday Post #166
  9. Sounds great! Can’t wait to hear how it goes. Are we writing buddies on the NaNoWriMo site yet? We need to be, if not. My name on the site is Buffywnabe. I love this post! If I had time I’d do it myself! I’m kind of the same with the ending of my story. Haven’t quite figured it all out yet.

  10. Okay, I got a chance to read everything! You’re so brave to put down in words what you want to write about! I have this superstition that saying what I want to write out loud (or in a blog post) somehow makes it not happen. So I never talk about what I’m writing before I actually write it. 🙂 Looks like you have a good foundation! I’m going into NaNoWriMo totally unprepared but I’ve pantsed books before and I’ll outline along the way as ideas come to me.

    S. J. Pajonas recently posted: Sunday Update – October 30, 2016
  11. Rowena

    Ooh, your story sounds awesome! Good luck writing it (yikes, does it really start tomorrow?), I’m sure you’ll do great!

  12. Best of luck! I am so in awe of all of you NaNoWriMo writers. I love writing, but not fiction. But I love to read fiction, so it makes me a little sad that I am idea-less. But what I really wanted to say is that I think your story sounds terrific, and I am (oddly?) proud of you for committing to writing this month. Have fun!

  13. Yay for NaNoWriMo! Your book sounds like a great mg book! This is my second year doing NaNoWriMo and I completed last one in like 2013 I think. I am really excited! My book title is: “The Luna’s Destiny” A Moon Goddess Novel by Drea Shane. It’s my first book under my new pen name and my first shifter book! Good luck on reaching your goal! ???
    New bloglovin follower. ?

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