When I introduced my #NaNoWriMo novel in the first part of this link-up, I did not realise there would be follow up questions. But what better time to answer these than halfway through the month when I am literally a ball of stress!?
Beautiful Books is a link-up, hosted by Sky @ Further Up and Further In and Cait @ Paper Fury, where beautiful writers all over the world can come together to cry talk about their work(s) in progress, with or without the added stress of #NaNoWriMo!
If you’re late to the party, the first set of questions can be found here. Part two is all about the dreaded writing process. You can find both the questions and the link-up here. Don’t forget to grab the button!
1. OVERALL, HOW IS YOUR MENTAL STATE, AND HOW IS YOUR NOVEL GOING?
Like I already mentioned, I am literally a ball of stress right now so I’m no longer doing #NaNoWriMo to win. Instead, I’m taking it easy to focus more on the essays I have due next month. But I have been averaging around five hundred words a day, which isn’t much but way more than I started with!
2. WHAT’S YOUR FIRST SENTENCE (OR PARAGRAPH)?
I actually wrote the first chapter of the novel before I added a prologue and I really love the opening lines for both!
Prologue: The gigantic beast landed on the thatched roof of the cottage as the family slept below the clasp of its great white wings.
Chapter One: Tal couldn’t remember the last time she had heard the language spoken by anyone other than her mother.
3. WHO’S YOUR CURRENT FAVOURITE CHARACTER IN YOUR NOVEL?
I’ve never written a non-human character before so I’m really enjoying exploring the persona of my protagonist’s pet dragon. Nil is a loyal and trusted companion but also mischievous when he wants to be.
Quote: Nil attempted to conceal himself under Tal’s shawl but his red wings stuck out at awkward angles.
4. WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR NOVEL SO FAR?
I don’t think I’ve written enough to really comment on this but I’m loving that I get to incorporate three different languages. I am bilingual and I study the English language so it’s really exciting to apply my knowledge and experience of multilingualism.
I’m also loving this aesthetic Lia @ Lost In A Story made!
5. HAVE YOU MADE ANY HILARIOUS TYPOS OR OTHER MISTAKES?
To expand on my previous point, I only know one of the three languages that exist in my novel so I have to Google translate whenever I code switch. The accuracy of translation doesn’t matter right now because it’s only the first draft but I did hilariously mistranslate you are cursed, a crucial revelation in the book, as you’re tired. That pretty much sums up my National Novel Writing Mood.
6. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TO WRITE: BEGINNING, MIDDLE, OR END — AND WHY?
Good question! I love writing openings, especially first lines. To me, they’re like first impressions so you have to make them count. Middles are the most difficult because I don’t know how to maintain the momentum of the plot and I never make it to the end so no comment.
7. WHAT ARE YOUR WRITING HABITS? IS THERE A SPECIFIC SNACK YOU EAT? DO YOU LISTEN TO MUSIC? WHAT TIME OF DAY DO YOU WRITE BEST? FEEL FREE TO SHOW US A PICTURE OF YOUR WRITING SPACE!
My writing habits are more or less the same as my studying habits. Tea is my fuel and silence is my enemy. I love having some kind of background noise, but not music. I also do most of my writing in the evening, or only when it’s dark. That is precisely why my winter months are more productive than my summer months.
8. HOW PRIVATE ARE YOU ABOUT YOUR NOVEL WHILE YOU’RE WRITING? DO YOU NEED A CHEER SQUAD OR DO YOU WORK ALONE (LIKE, AHEM, BATMAN)?
I am my own cheer squad. Literally. You can tweet me as many motivational penguins as you want but it won’t encourage me to get words written. I keep it on the down low and tend not to tell people I’m writing a novel because I’ll probably never finish it.
9. WHAT KEEPS YOU WRITING EVEN WHEN IT’S HARD?
Success stories! It really helps to see people I admire getting book deals or a literary agent. Because if they can do it, I can do it too.
10. WHAT ARE YOUR TOP 3 PIECES OF WRITING ADVICE?
Your story matters. Always remember: the worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
Never force yourself to write. Self care is just as important as getting words written.
Don’t do #NaNoWriMo because you will get pregnant with a book baby and die.
Share your first lines with me! How is #NaNoWriMo, or November, going for you? What advice would you give to other writers? What is the best writing advice someone else has given you?
headscarves & hardbacks 
I have never attempted NaNoWriMo but am planning to this year! Great post 🤗
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I envy your bilingual-ness as I am learning Spanish in order to become bilingual.
Your story sounds awesome so far!
I am fairly behind on my novel but I have been the most productive this month so that has to count for something!
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Don’t do #NaNoWriMo because you will get pregnant with a book baby and die. – Lol, great post
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Nadia,
You’re doing so great just by trying to write. I haven’t written novels in years. And, like, now I try to write poetry. Still, I haven’t been able to actually get myself to write and finish a single poem. Just snippets. I really like your story’s premise, because I am also bilingual and bi-cultural, so it has taken me many years to fully come to terms with my identity and faith.
“You are tired” instead of “you are cursed” is a fantastic mis-translation. It is kind of accurate, is it not? You can be cursed with tiredness forever and more.
Best of luck on your novel!
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