The June Crusade Tag Questions

Anne-girl over at Scribblings of My Pen and Tappings of My Keyboard is hosting what she has brilliantly called 'The June Crusade,' and I've joined the crusade and will stand strong with them!! : D Hehehe...

It's Les Miz-themed, which I think is a totally great idea, seeing that I'm still all hyped up from going to Les Miserables... : ) It's just like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), except for since NaNo is in November and no one - including me - can do it because of school, Anne-girl has decided to host something exactly like it in June, the first month of my glorious, blissful summer break. : ) Great idea, Anne-girl!!

The idea is to write a novel in one month - at least 50,000 words. It's quite a challenge, but I've accepted it heartily and can't wait to actually start writing!!!

Below are my answers to the tag questions that Anne-girl posted the first day.

What is the name of your novel?
Untitled Work in Progress. (Kidding, Schultz...) I haven't named it yet. I'll figure something out when I actually start writing it. (Yeah, I'm a little behind... SAT on Saturday, then a graduation, then a dinner, then church today... busy, busy, busy. No time to write and I'm sorry for it. I'll have to catch up sometime soon!!)

Are you doing the book in a month challenge?
Oh, yeah! I've been telling people for the past few days. Conversations go something like this...
"So, any big summer plans for you?" someone will ask.
"Oh, not really. I'm writing a novel this month," I'll nonchalantly add, "but other than that..."
"A novel?!"
"Yeah. 50,000 words."
"Whoa!!"
"Yup."

Name your three main characters.
Nikki Scott, age 15, her brother, Alec Scott, 17, and a friend named Unknown Friend, age 17. : P I haven't quite named her yet. I think her name is Haley... Idk.

Give a basic summary of the plot line. Sort of like a back cover blurb.
On the outside, siblings Alec and Nikki seem to have everything together - a blossoming career as ice dancers stands prominent. However, their relationship is far from perfect, to the point where they have absolutely nothing in common besides their love for dancing. Suddenly, right before a big audition, tragedy strikes. When Alec has to start over from square one, Nikki finds that she'd rather things not go back to where they were before. (Rough, yes.... Your point is?)

Which character is your favorite so far?
Definitely Nikki. She's so great... *falls into reverie about said character, then snaps out of it a few minutes later* But I also really like Unknown, too. Very strong girl, and a very good friend to Nikki when she's going through a hard time.

Do you believe in assigned word counts and deadlines, or just writing whenever you feel like it?
I try to get at least a thousand words done whenever I sit down. Sometimes it's more, sometimes it's less. I really can't sit down and write unless I have all of my school done (which, in my case, isn't very often). Now that I have a motivation and everything, I'm really looking forward to sitting down every day and pouring my heart into my story. Can't wait!

What's your books theme song?
Uhh... Something like "If I Never Knew You" from Pocahontas, probably. (Don't know all the words to that song, though... : P) Strangely, for some reason, I can't think of that song without thinking of Anthony Andrews in Ivanhoe.... : P

What inspired you to write this?
I don't remember. I do remember when I got inspired, though. It was about a year ago. Sitting in my grandparents' house, I thought of something and immediately and frantically searched for paper and a pencil. The story shot off from there. I wrote about four pages and went on to other novels and short stories, but I've always wanted to return to Alec and Nikki's story. I'm planning on re-writing the beginning and starting at a totally different time in their lives, but the basic story will stay the same.

Have ever read or seen Les Mis?
Yes. : ) I'm one of the highly blessed few who have seen it live. At the Fox in Atlanta. *sigh* I'm not trying to brag, but... it was really good! And I CANNOT wait to see the movie in December. I'd go to the opening night, but I have a conflict... in the form of a short little hobbit named Bilbo Baggins. : D

What author has inspired you the most?
Ooh, good question! Robert Whitlow and Wayne Thomas Batson are my favorites, and I really can't say which has inspired me the most. Robert Whitlow writes what I write (minus all of his lawyerisms, of course!), but Wayne Thomas Batson frequently puts writing tips on his blog, which helps me tremendously. I can't thank either of them enough for being such good examples of Christian writers! My shelves are full of their books and quite a few of them are present in my Favorite Books of All Time list. : )

Ooh... now I'm inspired to write. Goody-goody-gum-drops! I'll start first thing in the morning! My blog will be full of updates, more than likely. But don't worry - I'll still be writing about Les Miserables! : )

Onward and upward with The June Crusade! (Great... now I'll be humming 'One Day More!' with the new lyrics all night...)

~Eowyn~