Nanowrimo Update!

So, I know it's been a while... November has been a pretty busy month for me with classes and getting several colds within a series of a few weeks. But, after a three-day headache, I am finally feeling better and am feeling very, very happy because my first ever children's book is almost ready to be published!! I know this is supposed to be a nanowrimo update, but I just have to say a small thing about this cute little book. My mom came to me one day saying how it would be cool to write a story about my little brother's stuffed red panda who he calls Firespot. At first, I wasn't so sure about the idea... I thought it would be fun to write something just for him for Christmas because I know he would really love a story about his little red panda, but... I've never written a children's book, especially not a fictional one about missionaries where there's no fantastical or magical element. It took me a few days of really thinking it over, reading over a few of the kid's books we have at home and researching children's books in general before finally coming up with an actual idea. Once I had the idea and had the plot sorted out, it took me about two days to write this book. It's been fun to challenge myself on this and I realized that, though it's very different writing a children's book, it's also a lot of fun and is actually kind of easy once you get into the swing of things. If you want to learn more about this book click HERE.Anyways here's the cover and a little synopsis:

Thomas moved to Myanmar with his parents. When he and his parents go for a hike in the jungle, Thomas finds an injured baby red panda. Can Thomas and his family find a way to help this hurt orphan?

As for Nanowrimo, I decided to completely rewrite my Peter Pan retelling. It was a decision that I thought about and prayed about and decided it was the best thing for this story. When I sat down to dig into revisions... it just wasn't happening. The first draft was too much of a mess. There was potential, but it was buried under too much plot and too many cardboard characters. At first the thought of rewriting Second Star was daunting, but then I got into it and now I am so glad I decided to do this. It's been so fun rewriting it and it gave me a whole other idea and concept that I just love and has enabled me to stretch my creative muscles so much! Second Star to the Right (the title will probably change later) is now a Peter Pan/The Tempest retelling. I had to read The Tempest for a literature class a year or so ago and ever since it’s been one of my favorite Shakespearean stories (second only to A Midsummer Night's Dream). Plus, it too, has a magical island on it and I thought, hey, Prospero sounds like a cool name for a bad guy. And so, Prospero and his crew are now a part of Neverland (whether the residents of the island like it or not). It's been so fun. Seriously, bringing in the Shakespearean cast of characters has brought a whole other element to the story. Since The Tempest is a bit more adult and is more on the dramatic side with characters seeking revenge and finding love, it's brought a new depth to the story. Now not only do I get to play with the themes and innocence and good fun of the Neverland crew, but now I also get to throw in a bunch of manipulative, selfish characters who all have very different motives for very different reasons. They clash and get into fights and cause trouble amongst the assortment of characters and it's just... fun. I don't know if I've ever had this much fun with a cast of characters before, this much fun getting to create characters.

 I just have to say, I think the two characters I've had the most fun creating, is Caliban and Ariel. I think those two were the ones who made me love The Tempest in the first place. They brought a mysterious, magical element to the island Prospero and Miranda (his daughter) were living on. In The Tempest, Caliban is supposedly the son of the devil. In other words, he's not seen as a good person, but he is a servant to Prospero. Being the complete opposite of Caliban, though also a servant of Prospero, Ariel is a spirit that serves Prospero and in the Shakespearean story stops Caliban from betraying Prospero. In Second Star, Caliban isn't the son of the devil (though Hook doesn't mind calling him that). He is, however, an antagonistic character and of course, since it’s me and none of the bad guys that I love can be evil to the core, has a semi-noble goal and motivations. Well, one of his goals is semi-noble. His other goal is revenge against Prospero. Ariel is very different. The complete opposite actually. He is motivated by devotion, loyalty and unrequited love. So, while The Tempest characters are all causing drama amongst themselves, manipulating and keeping secrets and overall, wreaking havoc on Neverland, the island's natives are just trying to survive and find a way to kick Prospero out once and for all. Easier said than done.

With all that said, n eighteen-year-old Wendy Darling is still my main character. However, the book will now also includes chapters in the POV of Hook and Peter too. Wendy's journey, internal and external is just as important to me as the one she had in the first draft, though her motives and the journey's course has changed slightly. She's lost her memories of her time as Wendy Darling. She doesn't remember anything beyond waking up on the sidewalk six years ago as a twelve-year-old girl. So, when Captain Hook shows up and tells her Neverland is real and that she's the only one who can save the island (and potentially get rid of Prospero) she has a hard time believing it. I liked in the first draft how she was internally strong. She wasn't a challenger or a fighter. Wendy, to me, is soft and motherly and compassionate and I wanted to keep that core self in this draft. Though she has gotten a big outspoken, only because in the first draft she was severely depressed in the beginning, and in this one she isn't, I hope I've still been able to keep the essence of love and kindness that I associate with Wendy Darling. Hook and Peter and the others were what I would all cardboard characters in the first draft. I enjoyed writing them but... they fell flat, so I'm glad that I took this chance to flesh them out and write this draft because they are much more three dimensional and real. Hook (or James as Wendy calls him) has an actual personality. Peter's personality was hard to figure out, but I think I have him pegged now. More or less. Slightly, Smee and Tiger Lily, oddly, were the easiest to figure out and they've been fun to write. Slightly, especially. He's a little bit inspired by Michael Buckley's Puck in his Sisters Grimm series because of his flute and his little fairy spies that keep tabs on everything that goes on in Neverland.

And because, I am particularly excited about this story, here's when Wendy runs into Caliban for the first time and the aesthetic I made for it (excuse any grammar/sentence errors, this is from a very unedited first draft): 

“Caliban,” James said, his voice slow, calculating. His body tensed when Caliban took a step toward him and his hand went to rest on the hilt of his sword.

The creature – Caliban – smirked, side stepping James and his desk. “You know those silly weapons of yours can do nothing against me Captain.” And suddenly, faster than Wendy’s eyes could track, Caliban appeared right in front of her, too close for comfort. She squeaked, jumping. Her eyes found James’ over Caliban’s shoulder and James gave his head a slight shake. Wendy took that as a play it cool or we’re going to die. Caliban cupped her chin in his slender, sharp fingers and cocked his head. The way his eyes roved over her, his gaze devouring her from head to toe made Wendy shiver, but she dared not move, not even breathe with him so close. “Tell me, dear Captain, who is this pretty little creature you have stowed away aboard your ship?”

Wendy tilted her head away from him, squeezing her eyes shut when he leaned in so close their noses nearly touched and she could feel his hot breath on her face.

“Oh, her? She’s no one,” James said, nonchalantly. Though Wendy knew he was lying to protect her, the words still stung more than she could explain. “Merely a mermaid I picked up on my way back to the island. She is pretty, isn’t she?”

“Very much so. A fine catch,” Caliban murmured, and this time Wendy could feel his breath on her ear. She held back a gag, keeping perfectly still until he finally backed off, allowing her some personal space. Only then did she open her eyes again and stare directly ahead. What did mermaids act like? Were they spirited? Fierce? Or quiet, meek and beautiful? Or they could be vain like the ones in the Peter Pan movie… Wendy decided to go for the silently beautiful attitude and hopefully her disinterest in him would disway him from coming any closer again. Though she didn’t look at him directly, she could feel his heavy gaze on her. “I like her. May I borrow her?”

Wendy’s eyes widened a fraction and her breath caught in her throat. How far was James willing to go to keep up this rouse. Surely he wouldn’t let Caliban take her.

But when James spoke she could just make out the barely contained anger in his voice. “I’m afraid not. I’ve recently acquired her. She is mine for now Caliban. Is there a reason you came to pay us an unexpected visit or are you here to simply be a nuisance?”

At last Wendy felt his attention drift from her to James. “Yes, actually. I was sent by Lord Prospero. He requests your presence at the celebration tonight. He is eager to hear of your journey to the other world.”

So, there you have it, a little bit (or too much) about Second Star to the Right, my Peter Pan/The Tempest mash-up retelling. I'm glad that I chose this book to prepare for traditional publication. I feel like it was the right choice. I'm passionate about the story and the characters and even set up the world where I could expand if I wanted to or was asked to, so I'm eager to see where my Nanowrimo 2018 book ends up in the next year. So far, my Nanowrimo word count is 39,005. I had really wanted to get more done in the past week, but this headache hit me hard and math stuff hit me even harder, so I only managed to get a meager 2,000 words written this week. :( But since next week is Thanksgiving Break and I have officially finished all my math homework for the week, I can spend so much more time getting my words in. I am so looking forward to tomorrow and the weekend and next week.

I hope to be more consistent with my posting in the next few weeks. There are a few posts that I wrote, and I completely forgot about, so I'll try and have those ready for next week. Also, as a Project Hellion update... I thought it would be ready by the end of November, but some things have come up and it won't be ready till December. I'm a little bummed about that, but I guess it’s fitting since Weapon Icean came out in December too. And don't forget, stay tuned for info about Firespot The Red Panda!! :D

Have a great week and a great Thanksgiving break! How's your nanowrimo going for you?? :)