Know The Novel part 3

Hi guys! 
It’s time for the last installment of Know the Novel, hosted by Christine.

This set of questions focuses on the finished product. 

1.  Firstly, how did writing this novel go all around? 

All around? It went pretty good. It took almost a year to finish Bad Boy since I was interrupted by edits on Red as Blood, but I’ve got a decent first draft. During nano though it went terrible. The ending is a mess. Mad Hatter didn’t go very well. The story is playing out like I want it too. I’m not connecting with the characters or plot, but I’m not quite sure why yet. 

2. Did it turn out like you expected or completely different? And how do you feel about the outcome?

Overall Bad Boy turned out like I expected. I had a rough outline when I started and I kept to it for the most part. Tamille’s relationship to the king, a background villain, and a few world building details were the only things that really changed and I’m generally happy with the direction it’s going. Mad Hatter is nothing like I thought it would be, and it’s driving me crazy. 

3. What aspect of the story did you love writing about the most? (Characters, plot, setting, prose, etc.)

I loved the characters in Bad

Boy. Tamille and Brass are so colorful. 

For Mad Hatter...I don’t even know yet. I haven’t enjoyed it much at all. 

4. How about your least favorite part?

In Bad Boy it was the chapters leading up to the last one. They were so blah, and I had to move a lot of characters into place really fast. 

For Mad Hatter, writing it. 

5. What do you feel like needs the most work?

Bad Boy, smoothing it all out. I have like three separate sections of story. In the first Tamille is a princess, then she turns into a duke’s daughter, then some guy is suddenly the villain. I need to make it all match. 

The plot is definitely the problem with Mad Hatter. The characters right now are just reacting, they’re not acting on their own. 

6. How do you feel about your characters now that the novel is done? Who’s your favorite? Least favorite? Anyone surprise you? Give us all the details!

Brass is still my favorite. Overall I like the characters in Bad Boy and they all behaved relatively like they were supposed to. I can’t stand Prince Rulan. 

For Mad Hatter, Molly is my favorite. Hatter is unfortunately my least favorite at the moment. He’s not turning out at all like I want him, and I can’t find my original notes about his character. 

7. What’s your next plan of action with this novel?

I need to go through and edit Bad Boy a bit so it makes some sense, then send it off to beta readers. 

Reevaluate the plot and such for Mad Hatter and see if I can bring it to life. 

8. If you could have your greatest dream realized for this novel, what would it be?

Bad Boy: Get it cleaned up and published! 

Mad Hatter: At the moment, to get a first draft down that I’m happy with. 

9. Did you glean any new writing and/or life lessons from writing this novel?

If I can survive fixing both of them, I’m sure I’ll have learned a lot writing wise. Both of them present problems I’ve never ran into before and if I can fix it I’ll be happy. 

So, that’s what I’ve got for today. How are things going for you?