RTW: WiP - Oh, How I Love You!
Wednesday, August 22, 2012 at 12:00AM 
Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.
And today's topic:
Inspired by Stephanie Perkins' post on Natalie Whipple's blog, what is your novel's "Love List"?
Stephanie Perkin's just happens to be one of my favorite YA authors, and for good reason too! After all, she did write the amazing ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS. I mean, Etienne St. Clair? Come. On.
And I just loved the post Natalie Whipple had up earlier this year, interviewing Ms. Perkins on how she begins working on a new story idea and what helps her to keep it going. The idea was simple:
"Whenever I begin a new project, I also begin a list called “What I Love About This Story.” I start by writing down those first ideas that sparked the fires of my mind, and then I add more ideas to it as I discover them during my push through early drafts."
What a fantastic idea! Not only does it keep the creativity going, but it also keeps you in love with your writing when you're not so in love with your writing. Which we all know, happens far too often!
So with that, here's my list of love's for my current project, THE LUCKY FEW:
- Secret invitations
- Impromptu ball gowns
- Strong-minded girl
- Unforgotten Mom
- Debonair boy
- Déjà vu
- Secret Societies
- New school / Old school
- Brooding boy
- Starting over
- Best friends
- Practical jokes
- Quick-witted
- Journal entries
- French speaking strangers
- Motorcycle chases
- BRICK HOUSE by the Commodores
- Halloween masquerade party
- Secrets from the past
- Puzzle pieces
- Seven
A few quick thoughts that keep me going, but the list could go on and on!
So, what keeps YOU in love with your WiP, when you're not so in love with your WiP?
RTW, THE LUCKY FEW, WiP in RTW
Reader Comments (14)
I love your list! From top to bottom everything on it piques my interest. It sounds exactly like something I'd love to read! :)
I love ball gowns and masquerade parties!
Love your list! Especially Motorcycle chases and Halloween masquerade party!
That would be awesome to read ;)
I love this list! I'm a big fan of books with secret societies. They're so fun to read!
Déjà vu? Hmmm... that gets my interest. Is it just a feeling, or is there more to it than that? Interesting list, Erin. :)
I LOVE this list. There are so many things that intrigue me here. I especially like a Debonair boy.
Impromptu ball gowns is my favorite on this list. I love this whole list. Thanks for sharing. :D
I love that motorcycle chases and impromptou ballgowns are in the same book!
Ooh, I'm totally sucked in by this list! When does your story take place? I'm so intrigued!
Awesome list! I had a hard time narrowing mine down too. :)
Who doesn't love a brooding boy?! Great list, Erin! I absolutely want to read this!
Jaime - Thank you - loved your list as well! :)
Melanie - What could be better than ball gowns and masquerade parties? And this coming from the biggest tomboy ever!
Juliana - I love motorcycles. Always have...even though, just like my MC, I'm too dang short to ride one!
Tracey - I love everything about secret societies, too - and the premise of the one in my story dates back hundreds of years. Think the Order of Skull and Bones, the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, and the Illuminati. It was so much fun to research those, to get ideas for my book!
Colin - Déjà vu is a big part of the opening chapters. I'll leave it up to your imagination if it's just a feeling, or perhaps a bit more. :) I will say it was fun to learn all about how it works, to write this!
Rebekah - Oh, I'm a huge fan of debonair boys...loved me some James Bond as a kid, and still do!
Leslie - Boy would I love to fit in an impromptu ball gown. However at 4'11" on a good day, I'm afraid there'd be nothing impromptu about it! :)
Stephanie - Huh...wonder if I could somehow factor in a ball gown on the back of bike? Maybe for the sequel. :)
Sara - It takes place current day, but does reflect on the past quite a bit. And unfortunately no reference to the Spice Girls like in your MS! Will you settle for BRICK HOUSE by the Commodores? :)
Adrianne - Oh, this could've gone on forever! This was so much fun, right?
Alison - I dunno. Brooding boy's have nothing on the fact you have Crisco in your MS. I'm still laughing at all the crazy scenes I'm imagining in my head on that one!
Thanks to everyone who stopped by!!!
Yes! What a great list! I'm partial to boys with foreign accents myself *coughs* so that jumped out at me, but there is a lot to love here. Sounds like a really fun WIP!
That is a list to be in LOVE WITH! And because you have Halloween Masquerade on your list, it means you get LOVE too!