Know the Novel: Introduction; in which I participate in a linkup last minute

I’m doing Christine‘s linkup! I’ve been thinking of maybe participating in Nanowrimo after my SAT. I don’t expect to ‘win’ Nano, but it would be nice to have something motivating me to write every day. But whether I participate or not, I really wanted to do Christine’s linkup she hosted! Because the questions looked amazing.

I’m sorry, because I feel like the quality of this post is a bit all over the place, but I’m just dropping this in between study sessions, so that’s why. 🙂

1. What first sparked the idea for this novel?

The idea started with a series that was a childhood favorite. I was rereading it in the car one day, and suddenly I got the idea to do an Arthurian retelling from Mordred’s POV. I cautiously brought the idea of an Arthurian retelling up to my older sister, and since she apparently can read my mind or something, she wanted me to do it from Mordred’s point of view. (She cannot read my mind. We simply have very similar tastes in trashy villains.)

Reactions from my family varied, from my older sister’s “Oh my God, do it,” to my mother and little sister’s “So you’re writing a trashy villain story AGAIN.”

Ideas gotten from stories can be of varying quality–sometimes they’re much too similar to their source–but in this case, it was extremely different. ❤

2. Share a blurb!

NOOOO

Some people make this look so easy. I cannot.

3. Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

Medieval England. It’s kind of more of a High Medieval-ish Arthurian story than a more historical 6th century one. Specifically, it’s kind of 12th century-ish, because I read Chretien de Troyes (you should too) and got influenced. But it’s not very historically accurate at ALL.

My favorite thing about this setting is all the things I learn while researching! (I feel like that’s the same with most of my settings, tbh.) I had kind of a stereotyped idea of what the middle ages were like before researching for this. But it’s actually a very complex time period with a lot of interesting stories, just like other time periods. I feel like kind of an idiot for not guessing that before, but at least now I’ve learned a nice lesson about not believing everything people tell you. 🙂

4. Tell us about your protagonist(s).

And here is where I forget each and every one of my characters’ personality traits. What is a personality trait? What is personality? What is thought?

Okay, we have Mordred, who is really tired and needs a nap. He faints like a Gothic heroine, because apparently too much Emily St. Aubert influence. (I need to finish Udolpho. Somebody make me finish that book.) He’s quiet. He’s pretty stubborn. He’s very loyal to a very few people. He has very bad social skills (which is absolutely NOT a trait I share with him, what are you talking about).

And then there are a bunch of other important characters and stuff, but WRITING THAT ABOVE PARAGRAPH WAS HARD ENOUGH, I TELL YOU.

Incidentally, this is the largest cast I’ve ever written? Usually I can count my cast on one hand. This is so hard. How do you people who always write large casts do it?

5. Who (or what) is the antagonist?

Look, I don’t know anymore, okay? Who is the villain? Is Mordred a villain? Is it Arthur? I don’t know.

I feel like most of my stories don’t have clear-cut villains. There might be characters who are bad, but I’m pretty sure I can count my actual villains on one hand. I honestly find that kind of strange, now that I think about it. Maybe it’s because my stories tend to focus more on internal conflict? Idk.

6. What excites you the most about this novel?

Firstly, this got me into Arthurian legends! I always used to avoid it for some reason, but I got into it as a result of this story, and I love it so much! Arthurian legends are like a soap opera that then got a bunch of fanfic written about it, and then the fanfic got accepted as canon for some reason. It’s such a mess, and I love it.

Secondly, I like a lot of the themes in this, I love the characters, and I love the drama. These morons are so over-dramatic.

7. Is this going to be a series? standalone? something else?

Probably a standalone. Most of my stories are. This venture did spawn several other story ideas, but who even knows.

8. Are you plotting? pantsing? plansting?

I guess plantsing? My notes are spread out and scattered across a dozen different documents. I have a basic outline, but it’s mostly in my head. I think that would be plantsing.

9. Name a few things that makes this story unique.

You accuse me of originality, linkup? Do you know me?

Okay, I’m kidding. I do genuinely feel that this story is at least different from the things I’ve read, but it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what. I asked my sister, and she said that the characters are more comfortable with the family dysfunction than in most stories, and that the family dysfunction isn’t as sensationalized, so there’s that.

10. Share a fun “extra” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

My sister made me a playlist, which aww.

I also made a Pinterest board, of course.

Also, I reread a scene that I’d written a couple months ago, and even though technically I’m not sure if it actually makes sense as far as plot and backstory, it kept me engaged and entertained. Which is really nice.

So, I’m off to go study some more, as I should. My SATs are in a week.

ヽ(ﾟДﾟ)ﾉ