Friday, November 21, 2014

Writing Tag: White Roses

I know I just posted Thursday morning, so it would shock everyone to high heaven to have my posting again so soon, but I felt like doing a writing tag. I saw this one on Whisperings of the Pen. It is designed for a specific story, and so I am doing it for my latest, White Roses, a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, recently finished.
The original tag was 75 questions long (EEP!) so I shortened it  to 47 for your reading convenience (taking out the ones that obviously didn't apply, such as, "Do your characters watch TV" [being as there's no technology in their world] and all the many ones about the zombie apocalypse).

1. What's your word count? 
16, 947, to be quite precise. My goal was around 8,000 words, so I'm very happy with how it turned out.  :)

2. If you have finished, how long did it take you? 
It took me from early September to November 3rd to finish writing (although in the next few days after that I edited a bit). So, about two months.

3. How many words do you typically write a day? 
Ha. Most days I write nothing at all.

4. What was your greatest word count in one day? 
Probably when I wrote the climax – that was about 1,700 words written all at once.

5. What was your least impressive word count in one day? 
0,000 words.

6. What inspired you to write? 
The Twelve Dancing Princesses story, for one. Flowers, for another. Also, I'm currently planning a Victorian Christmas Ball, so searching for music and learning old-fashioned dances sort of got me in the mood to write a story about dancing.

7. Assign each of your major characters a theme song. 
Rose (and all the sisters): "I could have danced all night"
Malcolm: "I will be brave, I will be strong, I will be right, unless I am wrong".

8. Which character is most like you? 
I'm a lot like Rose, actually. We're both not the oldest but are still sort of motherly. We're both very practical and do-what-needs-to-be-done, but still romantics at heart and lovers of beauty.

9. Which character would you most likely be friends with? 
Aster, Rose or Magnolia.

10. Who is your favorite character in your novel? 
My wonderful Malcolm of Merradras. Malcolm is just awesome.

11. Have your characters ever done something completely unexpected?
To me or to the reader? Not to me. But yesss to second question. (I hope it's unexpected.)

12. Have you based any of your novel directly on personal experiences? 
Well, I did describe some of my favorite foods. And when Rose and her sisters get to drink coconut milk, I went and opened a can of coconut milk and drank some so as to be able to describe it well.

13. Is there magic in your novel/story? 
Yes indeedy.

14. Are any holidays celebrated in your novel/story? 
At least two birthdays and Christmas are celebrated.

15. Does anyone die? 
Yes. The girls' mother dies.

16. How many cups of coffee/tea have you consumed during your writing experience? 
Hm. Not very many.  Maybe one cup of tea. I'm not so much of a coffee drinker.

17. What is the latest you have stayed up writing? 
9:30 or 10:00.

18. Have you dreamed about your novel/story or its characters? 
Sadly not.

19. Summarize your novel/story in under fifteen words. 
Dancing. Pavilion. Roses. Death. Magic.

20. Do you love all your characters? 
Of course!

21. What was the last thing your main character ate? 
Roast goose and champagne.

22. Describe your main character in three words. 
Practical, persevering, loving.

23. What would your antagonist dress up as for Halloween? 
I don't think she would. She'd spend her money and time making costumes for all her little sisters.
UPDATE 6/23/15: I thought this said protagonist!

24. Does anyone in your story go to a place of worship? 
Rose and her sisters go to the church graveyard.

25. How many romantic relationships take place in your novel/story? 
2 1/2.

26. Are there witches, wizards or mythological creatures/figures in your novel/story? 
Enchantresses.

27. Is anyone physically ailed? 
Yes. Rose's mother, and the girls themselves.

28. Is anyone mentally ill? 
What defines mentally ill?

29. Does anyone have swine flu? 
Haha, no.

30. Who has pets in your novel and what are they? 
The nobleman-thief has dogs and horses, but they aren't really pets. Pansy has cats and dogs, but she doesn't own them

31. Are there political figures in your novel? 
Does a king and queen count?

32. Is there incessant drinking? 
Yes. Rose's father is a drunkard.

33. Are there any dream sequences? 
No.

34. Is there humor? 
Yes. *cough cough Larkspur*

35. Is there tragedy? 
Yes. *cough cough Malcolm cough cough mom cough cough*

36. Does anyone have a temper tantrum? 
Larkspur pouts.

37. How many characters end up single at the end of your novel/story? 
Two.

38. Is anyone in your novel/story adopted? 
No, but there are some who are disinherited and then re-inherited.

39. Does anyone in your novel/story wear glasses? 
No. They haven't been invented, silly!

40. Has your novel/story inspired anyone? 
It's inspired me. :)

41. How many people have asked to read your novel/story? 
Two, I think.

42. Have you drawn any of your characters? 
No. Usually I try to find pictures that fit them by browsing certain people's pinterest boards, but I haven't looked or even wanted to look for pictures for this story.

43. What size shoe does your main character wear? 
Size six. She has small feet.

44. How would you react if your novel/story was erased entirely? 
I would cry.

45. Are there any love triangles, squares, hexagons, etc.? 
Sort of…?

46. What advice would you give to a fellow writer? 
Keep writing!

47. Describe your ending in three words. 
Dramatic, romantic, happy.

And with that–
Adieu.

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2 comments:

  1. Hello Awdur. So good to know you through your profile on the blogger. I am also gald to stop by your blog "The Pen Of Awdur".Your questions show your professional skill in wrting. But it is most encouraging to see a young writer in her early age can excel in her writing skill. Hats off to you Awdur. Well I am a stranger from Mumbai, India and it is not an accident that I have come across your profile and the blog post. I am so encouraged to know you as a christian writer but more so because of your love for Jesus which is a connecting thing. I am in the Pastoral ministry for last 35yrs in the great city of Mumbai a city with great contrast whrere richest of rich and the poorest of poor live. We reach out to the poorest of poor with the love of Christ to bring healing to the broken hearted. We also encourage young people as well as adults from the west to come to Mumbai on a short / long term missions trip to work with us in the slums of Mumbai during their vacation time. We would love to have you come to MUMBAI with your friends to work with us in the slums of Mumbai. I am sure you will be so much blessed and have so many live stories for your writing as you will become hands and feet of Jesus to bring healing to the broken hearted. My email id is: dhwankhede(at)gmail(dot)com and my name is Diwakar wankhede. God's richest blessings on you. Lo9oking foward to hear from you.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Diwakar! Thank you for commenting. At this time, since I do not know you, I'm not sure if I should email you. Very sorry, but you know these days there are lots of crazy people on the internet! Thank you very much for the offer. I hope that some day I can contact you – but one way or another, we will meet one day in heaven at the least!
      Love in Christ,
      Awdur

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