Greetings, writerlings! I hope you’ve been working hard!
Because I sure haven’t, and I hope you have so I can mildly bask in your productivity. But in my defence I have been doing a lot of plotting of novels. 5 to be precise. But I hope to put all this (evil) plotting to use in November because… NaNoWriMo is just two months away!!
OR DON’T CALM DOWN. WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY. #LowKeyFreakingOutMyself I hope you have your books planned. Or, equally, if you have no idea what you’re doing, then I hope you have lots of chocolate. ALSO! We’ll be having a special Introduce NaNo edition next month. So BE THERE. I demand it.
For September, we have a delectable assortment of questions and dooooon’t forget: they’re designed to help you get to know your character better. SO BE DETAILED. And if you have any theme / question requests: LET ME KNOW.
Beautiful People is a writing blog meme which I co-host with the marvellous Sky @ Further Up and Further. We post questions at the beginning of each month (generally around the 5th) that you can answer on your own blogs! It’s designed (A) to help you get to know your characters better, and (B) share with us about your writing projects!
OH! And the linkup is open all month. And check out our FAQ page for more details and to see the archives.
DON’T FORGET TO TAKE THE BUTTON!
Or link to this page so anyone can join in!
- How did you come up with this character?
- Have they ever been starving? Why? And what did they eat to break the fast?
- Do they have a talent or skill that they’re proud of?
- List 3 things that would make them lose their temper.
- What is their favourite type of weather? Least favorite?
- What is their Hogwarts house and/or MBTI personality?
- Are they more likely to worry about present problems, or freak out about the unknown future?
- What is their favourite thing to drink?
- What is their favourite color? Least favorite?
- What is a book that changed their life?
NaNoWriMo. Hah. Nope. This is going to be my first time ever and I STILL HAVE NO CLUE WHAT I’M DOING. *dies* 😀
OH OH YAY FOR YOUR FIRST TIME DOING NANO!! I shall be here to smush cake in you hair if you need the encouragement. 😀 #helpful
YES. I’m hoping to maybe decide what I’m doing in October, but at this rate I’m going to wake up one morning and realise that it’s November and I still don’t have a clue. ;P
*takes all the cake and hides it in a secret NaNo stockpile* Just in case. BECAUSE I’M GONNA NEED IT.
Oh that’s the best way to do NaNo! It’s like doing something awesome but painful and the first time you don’t know how painful it is so you don’t end up dreading it the same way if that makes any sense
NANOWRIMO IS DAMN SCARY. I have basically seven novels plotted out, just need to figure out which one to write.😂 Or start plotting a new idea (one of billions) that is living since forever since in my mind?? I cannot figure it out. It isn’t at all terrific, not at all. Btw, these questions are awesome, maybe I will do them😍
YES, YES IT IS. I WON’T EVEN DENY IT.😂 But omg I’m the same with the plotting! Only I have 4 novels plotted and no idea how to make a decision hahaha. And knowing me I’ll come up with something else in like the last week of October. SO YEAH.
Ooooh, I hope you do!
I WILL DO THIS. No more clarification necessary. 😀
How was your day, Cait?
Happy reading! 🙂
Oh great! 😀 I can’t wait to read your post then!
THERE!!! I finished my post for this month Beautiful People. I gotta say some of the question were a bit tough to answer, but I got them all.
And I will also participate in NaNoWriMo for the first time EVER this year! *hides under covers* SCARED!!!!
I hope that’s tough in a good way and not a bad way?!? EEEP. *chews fingernails nervously* But ahhh I will be here with CAKE TO CHEER YOU ON THROUGH NANO!!
Definitely tough in a good way 😀
YAY CAKE!!!! CAKE ALWAYS MAKES THINGS BETTER!!!
Ooh, I am doing this for my post next Tuesday. I’ve already decided which character to do. Or should I do the other one.
Right now, just for the five days of this week I’m trying to write 2223 words per day to see if I can survive NaNoWriMo pace. Monday, one word over, Tuesday, one word under (except I got a bunch of those from swapping versions around). Today, I made it past half way and did some sewing. So right now I’m not sure I can make it through November. But since I’m doing a mixture of rewriting and copying from my handwritten draft the information is mostly irrelevant.
Any way I need to finish this draft so I know enough to plot the sequel.. That’s my plan for NaNoWriMo. But What will probably happen is that I’ll plan out a few chapters, try to wing it from there and give up after a week. But then I don’t tend to quit books. I did put one on hold so I could re-write the first one, but it keeps begging me to come back. It’s going to be a tragic story and I’m really looking forward to breaking everyone’s hearts to bits. Well not quite, but it is sad, though I didn’t intend it that way.
oh that’s such a good idea to train for NaNo!! I kind of did that last year when I wrote a book in October…although in retrospect it was a BAD idea because I was kind of creatively drained by the time November rolled round and my book didn’t turn out that great.😂 But ah well. We live and learn, right?! Or just live and collapse into blobs on the floor. WHATEVER WORKS.
Good luck plotting this draft though!! I hope you don’t have to quit on it! And I actually looove those books that keep begging for attention…it’s really awesome right? And breaking readers’ hearts is like my #1 goal in life. *hi fives* We have the best priorities.
No idea if I will attempt the November challenge. The idea of having one of my novels completed in a month is very tempting – since at present I have plans for a series of 4, and I’m only about…32% of the way through. Especially since I’d really like to release the first at the start of the new year. (2016 was a productive year for blogging – not so much for fiction for me, with the exception of spurts in spring and summer. Fall will be my season!!!!)
But at least you’ve been bloggishly productive! So that’s great! 🙂 We can’t have everything anyway, right?!?😂 I hope you join us with NaNo though because YES it’s so great to just really get busy and have something finished by the end of it! PRODUCTIVITY YAY.
Yeah, it would be cool to have all that production accomplished!!
I really need to do Beautiful People this month! Maybe I’ll combine it with Snazzy smippets. 😱. Anyway, the great thing is that right now I have three classes that require me to do creative writing. The not so great thing is that the lines between my school writing and fun writing are very blurred. But I did maybe possible just start a novel? About a girl who loves doing lights but is still figuring everything else out, and goes to an international school (don’t get too excited, I’ve only written the prologue so far) So hopefully that’s something I can keep working on.
*pauses in the midst of excitement* Dangit I WANTED TO GET EXCITED, C’MON NOW, DON’T CRUSH MY WILD ENTHUSIASM. *flails tentatively in the background* It sounds glorious, anyway. 😉 And ohhh, I do understand that weirdness of the lines crossing for school vs self writing. I actually always HATED writing for school. Which is weird because it’s my favourite thing!! But I guess I just want to do whatever I want and not have to fit into prompts and requirements. #rebel 😂
I’ve gone back to my rewrite and, yesterday, I got over 600 words written and I was so proud of myself that it was pathetic. :’) I’m thinking that I’ll just continue with this during NaNo – 50,000 words is 50,000 words, right?
I’M PROUD OF YOU TOO!! IT’S NOT PATHETIC!! Any progress is good progress *nods* And pfft, 50K is nothing. You can do it. :’)
I’m sort of doing NaNo this year. I’m going to be adding 50,000 to my WIP. I don’t exactly have a detailed outline. More a list of plot points and a bunch of chapter titles like “In Which Eugene is Branded a Wanted Criminal and Rescues a Queen from a Howling Mob”.
Okay but if those are our chapter titles THEN I ALREADY LOVE YOUR BOOK I THINK. *shrieks* That’s brilliance.😂
YAY BP IS HERE! 😀
Oh oh, I had an idea for a BP theme: emotions. As in: How does your character show (and/or what causes them to feel) fear/love/hate/happiness/sadness/disgust/etc., etc. I thought it would be fun. 🙂
Don’t worry, I haven’t been productive lately either. 😛 YOU’RE NOT ALONE. Like… this whole year I’ve been basically writer’s-blocked. -_-
I still haven’t quite decided what to write for NaNo? BUT I’M EXCITED THERE WILL BE A BP NANO INTRO EDITION. YUS. So if/when I DO figure out what I’m going to write, at least that will be there to help me. ^_^
Have you decided what you’re doing for NaNo? Or are you going to write all 5 books during the month?? XD I betcha you could… >:D
AHHH WE ARE BRAIN TWINS!! 😂 I have some emotion-themed questions all ready to go for a different month! *hi fives for our genius* So that will TOTALLY happen. *nods*
But ugh, the whole year with writer’s block!? That is NOT FUN. I was really productive up until June…I wrote 2 books and edited 2 and then it was like my brain is all “Oh goodie, we’re done our goals. Time for HOLIDAY MODE”. Which is not very helpful. -_-
Oh suuuure. I’ll just write 5 books in the month. WHAT COULD GO WRONG. IT’LL BE FINE.😂 (I am thinking of doing a NaNo warm up tho…because REASONS. heheh.)
Ahhh I love these questions so much! Although is it just me, but whenever I read the questions for each month, I find myself trying to answer them about ME?! Like what three things would make me lose my temper?! Beautiful People is a great way to get to know yourself 😂 Also, just putting it out there, but whenever I’m feeling a bit meh about writing, I choose one of my characters and force them to answer the questions from past months. I love it! ❤
Omg don’t worry I do that too!!😂 And when we’re working on them I also think abut which character would be fun to answer them for hhaha. BUT YES! GET TO KNOW YOU TOO, EXCELLENT. (Also that’s so encouraging that you really love this linkup. <3 )
Cait–por favor, sil vous plaît, pleasseeeee can you do some sort of post on how to plot a novel. My characters are brillant….but my plot is foggy. Quite foggy. Even if you do nothing but ramble incoherently and stick in lots of gifs it will help!!!!
YOUR WISH HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED. 😂 Well, sort of? I wrote a post here on how I plot my novels. It might be vaguely helpful? *fingers crossed*
THIS WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL. I am definitely going to try that synopsis thing. Thank you so much!!!!!
I AM ENDLESSLY GLAD. 😀
One of these days, I’m going to do a Beautiful People. I’ve been thinking about doing one for a while! They’re so ingenius! And do not feel bad about not being productive I HAVEN’T BEEN WRITING/EDITING ALL STINKIN’ MONTH. I TOOK A BREAK AFTER JULY TWENTIETH AND HAVE BARELY TOUCHED IT SINCE SO … XP We gotta keep our fingers preserved till Nano, right? XP
OH GOODIE. WE ARE UNPRODUCTIVE TOGETHER.😂 *unproductive hi five* hahhah. I took a break after June. Whoops. But like a 2 month break is totally called for on occasion, right? :’)
ahh nano. I have been in the blogging community for 3 years now (well 2 years and 11 months but pshhh) and every year everyone else does nano and I say I will but I give up on November 2nd. BUT. i AM doing Nano this year for the first and that’s for certain, I have my novel which is (not) planned out and the show must go on.
I may do these questions yay except I don’t even have the name of my main character yet soo….
I will be here to cheer you on, Lexie!! *flings cake crumbs of gloriousness in the air* IT IS REALLY FUN. I just love knowing there are hundreds (or, like thousands maybe?!) of people writing at the same time…it’s just inspiring somehow.😂 But those novels can be disagreeable beasts, eeek, I know that feel. BUT WE CAN DO THIS. NAME YOUR CHARACTER “BOB” AND ALL WILL BE WELL!! (I’m super good at naming things, yes? :’)
First of all, for the record. I have been VERY productive *side glance*. I HAVE. Also, NANOWRIMO is THE BEST. If it weren’t for NaNo, I would not have already finished one novel, and started the second one (draft 1 is ALMOST done EEK). And I have made it my goal (very stupidly, probably) to finish the draft BEFORE NaNo, so I can USE NaNo for my world domination plans. Just kidding. Just for the third installment of my trilogy. Clever, eh?
Oh, and I’ve had an eye on BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE (your thing, not actual people. Well, that, too. Ahem). I am simply ZEROOOO disciplined, so there is no telling whether I’ll get around to it or not D:
WELL THAT’S GOOD NEWS. At least someone around here is being productive since, spoiler: it isn’t me.😂 Zomg I TOTALLY AGREE!! This will be my 3rd NaNo year and I just loved both the other years so it’s going to be marvellous. AND CONGRATS ON YOUR BOOK THAT YOU FINISHED AND ALSO ON THIS SECOND DRAFT. This is amazing news!! All the cake for you!! Well, wait, you get all the cake when you join in BP. Mwahaha. Yes I will bribe you.
Productivity for the win (maybe)! YOU GOT ME OMG. I did it. NOW I GET CAKE!
Sadly I will not be doing NaNo this year as I have exams in November :'( but I have been working on something when I can which I am really excited about! Although when I say working on I mean that I have been looking at it occasionally and from time to time adding a few words here and there. I know nothing about my characters though really and the plot is an even bigger mystery to me, but I am hoping that something will click soon, I really want to get into it already!
Ugh noooooo. Exams like to spoil all the fun things don’t they? *wails* (BUT ALL THE SAME: GOOD LUCK WITH THE EXAMS!!) But hey, every word counts right?!? A few words a day is better than nothing!! And I hope you find your plot.😂 They can be pesky little elusive things right?!
Thank you! They do! And I need all the luck haha! They are the peskiest aren’t they?! I definitely agree that every word counts! I just hope I can get some down soon! I hope you can make a decision between your books to write for NaNo! And Good luck yourself!
My word, NaNoWriMo is so close. I am beginning to panic!! I have too many books to edit, so I don’t know if I will be able to do NaNo, but I REALLY WANT TO. I have so many things to write that my little brain is gong to go to mush. THIS IS A CRY FOR HELP. I require an intervention ASAP.
That’s how my brain constnatly feels too!! I have a RIDICULOUS amount of books planned out and no! time! to! writ! everything! *screams* Pfft, you don’t need an intervention. You just need more cake. This is definitely fact.
Uh, NaNo….? *gives hysterical laugh* I am doing it. I may be half-insane, but I’m doing it (okay, maybe a slight over half). 😐 I am slightly panicking a little itsy bitsy bit? I am doing this BP for my fav character from my NaNo project, Vic Vance (from book Beyond The Stars). And uh, I don’t know what I’m doing. A bit prepared, a lot scared, and totally a first timer. I’m just diving in like it’s chocolate cake. Hehehehehehe……. I’m not crazy or anything, right…..? Right, Cait….?
COME BE INSANE WITH THE REST OF US. You’re in excellent company. *laughs manically* 😂 All the good writers are crazy, don’t worry now. *pats shoulder super reassuringly*
Heeheehee. All the good writers are crazy….. (I’ll just have to keep telling myself that). 😉
Unfortunately, my first semester ends in December, so November is ALWAYS the busiest month of school for me. (The same is true with April, as my school year ends in May.) Therefore, it’s almost impossible for me to do NaNo – BUT I WILL BE CHEERING YOU ALL ON.
I’m currently working on the second book in my fantasy series – which makes quite a bit of sense, actually, as I’m nowhere near finished with the first. *bangs head on table* To be fair, though, writing the second book has helped me with my writer’s block pertaining to the first. As I plan out the events of the second book, I’m able to say, “Okay, if this happens now, then _____ must have happened in the first book.”
Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality
Ugh that is unfortunate. *sniffles sadly* I will appreciate the cheering though!!
ohhh, those pesky sequels that demand attention before the first book is finished.😂 I KNOW THEM VERY WELL. I’m currently outlining a sequel for a book I haven’t written. But #noregrets heheh
First time w/ Nano! Thx so much 4 ur questions. They really help?
I am exceptionally glad. 😀 🎉
I spent waaaaaay to long answering all of these questions for like five of my characters. >.<
Thanks so much for these awesome questions! I find them really thought provoking and helpful. They really test whether I know my characters as well as I think I do. 🙂
THIS IS LITERALLY THE BEST NEWS OF EVER!! *flings confetti over both of us* That’s exactly what we hope the questions will do for we writers! 🙂 I’m so happy. :’)
I read the beginning of this post and almost screeched right then because I had no clue what I was writing for NaNoWriMo!! Three coffee-induced hours later, I’m pretty sure I’m either going to do a Snow White retelling where she and her team of seven dysfunctional men are part of this secret agent mission to take down a company run by her manipulative stepmother. A poisoned appletini will be involved.
Either that or some vague story about a huge, extended family that runs an unusual business. Like dragon breeders or assassins for hire or dream makers. It’s still a work in progress. xD
Omg “three coffee induced hours later” <--- 😂 YOU ARE A GLORIOUS WRITERLY BEAN, KATE. THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY. Heheh But omg your retelling of Snow White sounds amazing and seriously unique. I LOVE IT. But then....I am also slightly partial to dragons. *nods* WRITE BOTH OF THEM.
Good Lord, you’re right. NaNo WriMo IS almost here. *heavy breathing*
PANIC STATIONS EVERYBODY.
I’m okay. I’m okay. *whimpers*
I am so excited for NaNo this year (and about the NaNo edition of BP too)!
I’ve had my NaNo project picked out since…February? Which is the complete opposite problem I had last year, but I’m really excited to start writing it. I’ve been researching stuff for it for a while, but I won’t start the outlining-type stuff officially until October.
Oh WOW since February?!? THAT IS SERIOUSLY AWESOME!! I would’ve gotten too excited if I had to wait that long to write it.😂 I’m even thinking of writing my NaNo book this september haha because #impatient (I have so many book ideas tho, so I’ll still do NaNo with just a different one!) Good luck with the upcoming outlining!
Thanks for hosting, Cait!
Thanks for joining in!! 🙂
Well, I just finished my 100-for-100 challenge with my sci-fi book, and I’ve been working on JUST it since June, so I’m really ready to work on something else– namely, my fantasy book. As much as I totally loveee my sci-fi, I’m excited about getting back to my fantasy. It’s my baby. 😀
I AM doing Nano this year! I did my first one last year (with said sci-fi story) and I guess I’m a little hooked. ;D I don’t have my book planned just yet– but I think I know what I’m writing. Hopefully when I do get around to planning it I can do it a little better than I did last year so I don’t get stuck again. xD
Congrats on the 100×100!! I did one a few years back and absolutely WOAH THAT IS HARD TO DO. So you get all the cake. 😉 And yayyy for getting back into fantasy! I always feel that way when I take a break and work in a different genre. Fantasy is life. <3
And yes, planning is gloriously helpful for avoiding getting stuck. I plan so much it can get a little crazy around here.😂
I’m SO excited for NaNoWriMo! I tried it last year. (Failed miserably, but at least I tried, right?) But I came back strong in April for Camp and wrote a tiny bit over 50k, so I know I can do it if I just reach for the stars.
As for what I’m gonna write, it’s a toss up between pirates, a fantasy thingy, or a psychological type thriller thingy-ma-bobber that I have no clue how I’m going to write. The concept is cool though, so…yeah. I don’t know which one I’m going to do yet…
And as for productivity, I’ve been working endlessly on a short story I started MONTHS ago that will just not end. Seriously, this thing was supposed to be under 10k, and the final chapter is like 9k right now. Short story? More like NOPE.
Btw, I just wanted to tell you that I love your blog so much!!! I found you on Twitter, and your tweets are constantly making me laugh out loud. When I discovered you had a blog, I just had to come over and check it out. Definitely one of my favorite blogs of all time!!!
Trying IS definitely a big deal!! So you still get cake. And omg congrats on winning camp you amazing writerly bean. AND ALSO EXCUSE ME: DID YOU JUST SAY PIRATES??!?! *shrieks with flailing glee* Pirates are. the. best and there seriously aren’t enough piratey books out there!!
Oh I hear you with the “short” story thing.😂 I’ve given up on even trying to write them. It’s like a novel or nothing bahaha.
AWww, Kenzie! YOU ARE SO KIND. I am all the happy right now. <3 *gives you welcome cake*
Oh my word I never got notified of this comment and I nearly missed my welcome cake!! *chomps cake in one huge bite*
And I know! Pirates are amazing!! If I don’t do it for NaNo, I’m definitely have to write it soon…
Noooo, it didn’t notify you!?? GAH. I hope WordPress isn’t being evil to me or I shall be entirely annoyed.😭😂
I’ll look forward to more pirate updates for whenever you do decide to write it!!🎉
I mustn’t forget this time!
YAYYY! *flings confetti*
My university dissertation is due in December so I am not sure if I will be able to do NaNoWriMo yet or not! I really hope I can though! I only have 9 chapters of my book left to edit so I may continue what I started earlier in the summer in November.
I forgot to do last month’s beautiful people so I am glad I remembered this month! Thank you for these posts, they really help me get to know my characters better!
Eeeep, I hope you do get to as well!! Although November can be super busy so agh. I understand. *nods* And I’m SO glad you find the BP linkup helpful!! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HOPE FOR.
OOOH I’m SO not ready for NaNoWriMo! Planning isn’t really happening, so I might just wing it … even if that might not be a good idea for my first year of NaNo XD.
BUT ANYWAYS. I’m working on novella called Killing Snow (retelling of Snow White) and it is currently being read by my beta readers. So it’s out of my hands for now XD.
Eeeep, good luck for which ever way you decide to go! There’s still plenty of time to outline.😂 I’m like a notorious outliner omg but just winging it can e equally good if it’s your comfortable process. GOOD LUCK. And omg I love the title Killing Snow. I hope you get tons of great feedback.🎉
I’m beyond excited for NaNo!! IT’S ALMOST HEREEEEEE!
I’m doing the YWP (one of my last years), and I’m planning to work on several different short stories that I’ve been DYING to write (but my main project has come first, y’know?). I’m excited to have a little change of scenery, so to speak. I am still planning to work on my main project in November, but the short stories are my main goal. 😉
Also, when will the October BP be up?? (Or did I just somehow totally miss it?) I’ve been awaiting it excitedly as it’ll be my first Beautiful People blog post! 😀
Blessings,
Livi Jane
The October BP is already up! 🎉 Here’s a link of you need it.😊 And best of luck with your short stories. That sounds like a lot of fun, eep!