Book in a Month Pt 10: Creating a Theme

Blogspiration is a new weekly meme hosted by GrowingUpYA and Saz101. The meme was created to help spark inspiration among bloggers, readers and writers alike. 

Now that I started writing, I'm on a roll!

I have to fight off frequent attacks from The Banes of Creativity. There are two in particular that have been aggressive:

The You Suck Duck, who quacks, "This Sucks! What are you thinking? This writing is pure gar-bage!"

The Distractinator, who tells me I should drink coffay, wash the dishes, talk to my roomies, read, pet the cat, pretty much anything besides write.

When The Banes come up, I think the best advice is to just, "keep calm and write something." Don't let them win!

Wishing on Daisies 
Current Progress: 3621 words
Chapter 1, 2 - Complete. 
Chapter 3 - In Progress

Creating a Theme: 

Theme is the message of the book, or the moral of the story. It's basically what you want to share with others. The main plot of the story should connect to the theme. I think with Wishing on Daisies the theme is something like "Believe in yourself, because you are more beautiful and powerful than you think."

What do you think about Theme? Do you try to consciously think of the story's theme, or do you let a theme naturally develop?

Book in a Month Pt 6: Finalizing the Rough Plot

I just completed my rough plot. Phew! I know that it will probably change a lot once I start writing but I will use this as a guide. Yay!

Here is the first three chapters of the finished rough plot:

Wishing on Daisies 

Prologue - Dreaming

Dreams of being a mermaid as a child

Chapter 1 - Moving In

Kora moving in with Dad because mom died. They lived in Midwest

Kora is now in Seattle– mom wanted ashes cast to the sea.

Cute meet: Sebastian is over to help Dad

Sebastian finds a daisy and gives it to Kora, tells her about football/athleticism.

Conflict: Kora is very shy, nerdy, low self esteem

Sebastian invites her to go swimming at the lake

Mom said to never go near the lake or natural water, “unclean” “unsafe” dangerous? Promise me, she said.. (maybe it starts the change? and/or its age that starts it?)

Kora meets Michelle – neighbor, her age. They become fast friends.

Chapter 2 - Day at Eden Lake

Michelle gets Kora out of her shell, gets her clothes etc, makeup, hair cut

Michelle teases, “don’t let Sebastian see you.”
At the lake with Michelle tries to convince Kora to join the swim team, Michelle wants a friend with her

In the water Kora starts changing, greenish/blue skin (thinks she is just seeing things)
Kora thinks she's just imagining it
Sebastian asks what is going on, Kora tells him Michelle's idea for swim team. He really likes the idea
Kora embarrasses herself around Sebastian

Brittney arrives and takes Sebastian away

Kora decides to join the swim team

Chapter 3 - Swimming

School starts
Sebastian starts hanging out with Kora between practices and waiting for bus, in hall. etc.
Conflict: Kora is worst swimmer on the team

Brittney laughs and tries to get the others against her. Elizabeth the coach gets on Kora's case to work harder. They will be facing their rival team in the next meet
Kora starts getting attention at school from other guys but she’s not interested

Brittney: mocks her, talks about going to creative arts school, swimming scholarship?

Britney tells her to stay away from Sebastian

Kora goes to the lake to unwind, she practices swimming, She sees scales but thinks she must be dreaming

Thanks to everyone for your patience and encouragement during the next month during WriMo!

Book in a Month Pt 2, Using A Plot Skeleton

For the last two days I've been working on a basic plot for Wishing on Daisies. At the same time I'm also working on the characters. It seems like plot and characters go hand in hand, doesn't it?

Here is the plot structure I am using, it is a mash of different ones I've found: 

The Three Act Plot Structure for Romance

Act 1

1. Intro/The inciting incident
2. Conflicts introduced
3. Cute meet with the love interest

 Act 2

1. Beginning to fall in love
2. Conflict added/intensified
3. The final confrontation is foreshadowed
4. First love or intimacy scene
5. Stakes are raised for the dark moment

 Act 3

1. Dark moment, they break up or love seems doomed
2. Final confrontation and resolution
3. Happily ever after! Woo Hoo!

What is the overall Mood/Tone?

Is there other sources of inspiration for the story?

• Myths or legends 
• Artwork
• Music

Some Great Books:

The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel

By  Christie Craig and Faye Hughes

Excellent for different plot structures and general advice, this is an all-around great guide for writing romance.

You Can Write A Novel

By James Smith

A simple, quick to read book for turning your dream into a reality. It also has plenty of advice for making your novel more salable.

Do you have any go-to resources or books that you like to use when developing a story?