Know the Novel (Part Two): Within The Dorian Gray Trilogy

It is time for Part Two of Know the Novel, I had a lot of fun answering the first part. 

 1. How’s the writing going overall?

My writing has been going well. I have been feeling much more motivated, than I was previously. Aspects of both novels have come out more clearly than they did before-- there are still things I need to fix, but the stories in both novels have become much apparent to me. 

2. What’s been the most fun aspect of writing this novel so far?

I said this in the previous post, but I think the world-building. Whether it be more "realistic" world-building (such as using knowledge of history to construct a historical place) or more fantastical world-building (such as creating a spell or exploring how the characters' magic in general works), I like getting immersed in this new world and allowing the characters to guide me through the story. 

3. What do you think of your characters at this point? Who’s your favorite to write about?

I know them a lot better than I did when I first began writing, so the characters are like old friends to me. However, I find it difficult to choose a favorite. I like all of the characters for different reasons; they are flawed, but in ways that are endearing to me. So, my answer will be about two different characters that I am having fun writing at the moment...

Genevieve. An important character, but not a main character. I mentioned in a previous post that she looked different than most characters I usually draw. She also has a different perspective on the world, and I learned recently that she performs and composes music. 

Dorian. He always makes the wrong choices. There is something so fun about writing a character who acts on impulse, even when doing so, would hurt him and others around him. 

But I like all of my characters from this project for different reasons. 

4. Has your novel surprised you in any way?

I originally tried writing my character's false memories in the 3rd person. That did not succeed, because it didn't feel like a memory. While most of the story is told in the 3rd person, the false memories felt as though it should be told in the 1st. In this way the memory becomes up close and personal and allows me to create a false memory that no one else but the character can actually see.  

That surprised me, because the only time I ever tried to do a different style of perspective was in the 0 draft, where I tried to write a scene in 2nd person, and doing so felt wrong. So, the fact that alternating styles returned to the novel series surprised me. 

5. Have you come across any problem areas?

There is one continuous plotline I need to figure out. I want to have a particular character retain his goodness even in the morally bad situation in the plot. That is a "problem" I am working on because his actions have to be believable to the reader. 

Illustration from Pamela (public domain) 

I am currently reading Pamela (which is a 18th century novel) that explores a scenario in which its protagonist's virtues are threatened. While my series is different, I think reading the novel is useful. 

For book 2, I am doing research into certain historical settings and customs, because sometimes I feel as though I am having difficulty with writing scenes. I want to create immersive detailed descriptions. I try to remind myself as I am writing that if I do enough research I can fill in those blanks later. But, that is a problem I am actively working on overcoming. 

6. What’s been your biggest victory with writing this novel at this point?

My biggest victory has to be writing the false memories in the way I want them to be. I still have to do edits of course, and these are only first drafts, but I am not constantly going to be rewriting them. (As I was doing previously). 

7. If you were transported into your novel and became any one of the characters, which one do you think you’d be? Would you take any different actions than they have?

I think I would become Reed (maybe Dorian though, if I don't have good luck). I feel like if I was Dorian, I would do the exact opposite of everything he did in my book series. And maybe I would get his painting back much quicker than he does. 

If I were Reed, however, I don't think I would do much...differently. I think maybe I would use his magical art abilities in a slightly different way (I would use illusion magic to make art of my characters), but I wouldn't be trying to undo previous mistakes as much. 

8. Give us the first sentence or paragraph then 2 (or 3!) more favorite snippets!

The first sentence from book 1...

Millions of eyes gazed at the portrait each day. Observing it with curiosity, disgust, or perhaps hoping to see a strange sense of beauty within the textures of the brushstrokes. 

I will share some of my favorites that I have written for the series, a short excerpt from the false memories...

I never paid much heed to the songbird, I simply let it pass, flying away in the trees, being our only onlooker.

I remember he sat among the vines in the trees as if he were a statue framed by the leaves and the branches, one that I was uncovering in coming closer to him. Almost as if he were one in a graveyard—perhaps that comes to mind, for I felt that we swore this was a secret that would be kept until death... His golden hair always stood out in what remaining light there was, as if the setting sun wanted to illuminate his golden curls...

I am not going to share more excerpts at the moment, but, maybe more will come in future blog posts. 

9. Share an interesting tidbit about the writing process so far! (For example: Have you made any hilarious typos? Derailed from your outline? Killed off a character? Changed projects entirely? Anything you want to share!)

I mentioned in the previous post, that I am doing a mixture of a thin outline and of letting the characters guide me. Because of that, I keep making little discoveries about the world or them.
For example, I discovered that in some of the folklore that Medea accidentally influenced, people think her sewing needles are magical. They are not, she is, but the tellers put power into the object instead of the person. 

And while I am working on writing this series, I am planning ahead for the edits I am going to do in Dolls of Wax, Eyes of Glass. I am also developing characters for The Haunted Sketchbook. So, while I am working on writing this series, I am also preparing other writing projects. 

10. Take us on a tour of what a normal writing day for this novel looks like. Where do you write? What time of day? Alone or with others? Is a lot of coffee (or some other drink) consumed? Do you light candles? Play music? Get distracted by social media (*cough, cough*)? Tell all!

It depends on the day, but I try to wake up and after a short walk around a park in our area, make some tea, and begin writing the story. I find that writing in the morning is much easier than writing later in the day. Usually I write a new scene, however, I do not only work on writing scenes. When I feel I am prepared to look at feedback or find a solution to a problem I had, I work on editing scenes.  

And unless, I am doing dictation I usually listen to music. I have specific songs that remind me of this novel series that I return to as I work. Recently, I have been listening to this song: 

So, my routine is a mixture of creating new scenes, editing old ones, and going on walks (allowing my mind to wander).

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How has your writing been going? If you don't do writing, how has your November been?

-Quinley