Autumn? I Think You Mean Red (taylor’s Version) Season

About My Side WIP

Intro

By now, most of you have probably know that that I’ve been planning a new book, and I’m happy to finally introduce it to everyone as my side WIP! It explores a lot of themes and topics that are very close to my heart. I hope to be more open about this WIP, and I’m very excited to share it!

Putting this much info about my WIP online is a huge admission and gesture of trust, but I trust you guys. I hope you’ll continue to prove that my trust is not unfounded.

Basics

Title: Pawn

Main character: Alice Lee

Age group: Middle-Grade/YA

Genre: Fairy-tale retelling of Alice In Wonderland / Alice Through the Looking Glass, fantasy

Elevator pitch: The Chronicles of Narnia meets Legendborn in this Asian Alice retelling

Synopsis:

As children, Alice Lee and her older sister Evie created Meer, an imaginary world where they would finally belong. But as the two sisters grew older, they grew apart--in both emotion and imagination.

Four years after she first abandoned the fantasy land of Meer, Alice’s life forever changes in a horrible accident that leaves her injured and Evie dead. She has no memory of what happened that night, and she fears that there’s something more to the truth. Now, one month after the incident, she still doesn't remember her past.

But her past hasn't forgotten her. When she encounters an old friend from Meer, Alice discovers that the imaginary world of her childhood is very real—and in trouble. The Red Queen and the White Queen who ruled the land all those years ago are suddenly and brutally enforcing their reign. Her old friend is part of the rebellion that fights back against them--and he suspects that Evie’s death was no accident.

Hoping to find answers about her sister’s death and her own scars, Alice soon finds herself involved in a deadly game where the Red Queen and the White Queen control the chess pieces. One wrong move will cost Alice the board and any chance at reclaiming Meer. Will she ever be more than a pawn in a game? Or will she play straight into her enemy’s hands?

Inspiration

I’ve always wanted to write a retelling, but there were so many stories to choose from. In the end, though, there was really only one I could begin with, and that was Alice in Wonderland.

Lewis Carroll's Alice consistently expresses a confusion about her own identity and a stubborn adherence to logic, despite her travels being distinctly illogical. She clings to her old self in a world where she's someone new--someone other. I often write Asian heroines, and it wasn’t too hard for me to make the connection between that and identity of the self. 

How do others define us, how do we break free of those definitions, and how do we define ourselves? Those are some of the big questions in my WIP. It’s set both in the real world and in a fantasy world, so it gives me more room to explore modern issues.

That’s not the only thing I want to do in this book, though. Alice just appeals to me as a stubborn, practical heroine who’s very set in her ways until her circumstances change completely. I found myself asking questions of the original story: What if Alice’s sister had found Wonderland first and introduced it to her? What if Alice rejected it? What if it changed, completely and irrevocably? And what if Alice was then forced to return and face her past?

This is a very personal WIP, due to the topics and questions it incorporates. Honestly, it’s a very indulgent story, but it’s one that I enjoy a lot. I hope to share more about it and my process in the future. Thank you for reading!

this is it. this is writing

what people think is hard about writing: describing the joy, love, beauty, grief, loss and hope that form the richness of human experience

what is actually hard about writing: describing basic actions such as turning, leaning over, reclining, gesturing, saying something in a quiet voice, breathing, getting up from chairs, and walking across rooms

A deity has had enough and is ready to die, however one tiny human still calls their name in prayer, forcing this deity to exist. The deity now attempts to help the tiny human in order to finally fade away.

Rating the Books I Read in January

The Secret History by Donna Tartt - 3/5 stars

Technically I started this one in December, but I finished it in January, so I’m going to count it as a January read. I was a bit conflicted on how to feel about this book. On one hand, I love the prose, the twists, the exploration of morality, and the influence of literary classics.This book is a near-perfect blend of literary classic and thriller, and the best one that I've come across so far. However, I disliked the frequent, careless slurs, microaggressions, and stereotypes that were thrown around so casually in this book. On a related note, I would advise looking up trigger warnings before reading this book, for more reasons than just the ones mentioned. Finally, the ending seemed rushed and I wish I had been given more time to process the last chapter of the book before the epilogue.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson - 3/5 stars

I had really high expectations for this book because I’d heard so much about it on social media, but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. It wasn't terrible, but it was definitely not great. I related to Pip in some ways, most of them academic. However, I never saw Pip's non-academic personality, and she didn't feel real enough to me. I liked Ravi but I couldn't really connect to him or any of the other characters for that matter. Also I know this book is just fiction, but some of the events just bothered me and/or were highly unrealistic. I ended up rounding the original review of two stars up to three stars because I truly liked the friend and family dynamics and banter throughout this book. I'm disappointed that it didn't live up to my high expectations, but I suppose it’s my fault for reading books solely for the hype.

In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens - 3/5 stars

If you like queer, romance-centric fantasy books, this is the book for you. I, however, being a high fantasy snob, found it slightly too shallow (sorry for the pun) for my taste: the politics, government, and magic system felt extremely underdeveloped. And yes, I understand that the romance is the main part of this book and it’s not fair to rate it like a high fantasy book. However, even if I’m just rating it according to my entertainment level, I don’t feel particularly strongly about it one way or the other. The romance was easily the best part of the book; it was both sweet and shippable. I really liked the main character, Tal, and his character arc. Other than that, I don’t have too much else to say except that it was a decent read.

Fable by Adrienne Young - 4/5 stars

The second pirate-y book I read this month! If there’s one word I would use to describe this book, it would be “atmospheric.” Adrienne Young excels at bringing settings to life, as I learned in Fable. The descriptions were absolutely amazing and the worldbuilding had genuine depth (get it? okay I’ll see myself out now-). I liked how Fable was tough and resourceful, but she also had a softer personality and wasn’t afraid to show her vulnerable side sometimes. I also feel as though the crew of the Marigold was genuinely a found family instead of a bunch of friends, unlike so many other YA novels. The romance was sweet, although I wish Young had delved into West’s character more. I was a little disappointed at the ending, which I think could’ve been foreshadowed better. However, I'm excited to read the sequel soon. Thanks to @queenie.the.writer and @twoscomplemented_ for bringing this book to my attention!

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao - 4.5/5 stars

I actually knew about the author before I knew about the book! I followed their YouTube channel and TikTok page (they’re hilarious and well-informed, so I highly recommend checking them out!). The book itself did not disappoint. Zetian’s internal monologue had me laughing out loud and I loved her depth as a character. Don’t even get me started on her arc, because I could go on about it all day! In contrast, however Shimin and Yizhi seemed slightly shallower and could have been fleshed out more. I really liked their collective relationship and dynamic, but I wish it had been given more time to develop. The uniqueness of the mecha/Chinese dynasty-inspired setting and worldbuilding really appealed to me as well--I only wish that I had learned more about the history of the world itself. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys female corruption arcs, feminism, and fast-paced action!

Daughter of the Deep by Rick Riordan - 5/5 stars

I was deliberating between 4.5 or 5 stars on this one, but I decided to just round up and rate it by how much I enjoyed it--which was a lot! It’s quite interesting seeing how Riordan’s writing matured from Percy Jackson. I also thought the entire main cast was fleshed out really well, which is a compliment coming from me--if you haven’t noticed from the previous reviews, I always pay close attention to the personalities of the characters I read. In this case, I found myself appreciating and relating to all of them in some way! The only fault I found with this book was the unrealistic ages of the characters. If they had been aged up a year or two, I think it would've been more realistic. Some of the worldbuilding also seemed like a large stretch. However, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the book. Reading this book reminded me of why I list Riordan as one of my inspirations. Humor, pacing, action scenes, worldbuilding--reading his books is like watching a master at work! I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a fun but high-stakes middle-grade sci-fi!

Scythe by Neal Shusterman - 5/5 stars

I was initially reluctant to read this book because I thought the premise was outlandish, but I decided to suspend my expectations, and I’m so glad I did! This book explores the best--and worst--of human nature. The worldbuilding is intricate, imaginative, and best of all, interesting! Usually in books I see worldbuilding as a good backdrop. Scythe, however, puts its worldbuilding at the forefront of the book, and that makes it so much stronger! The format of this book is engaging, with both journal entries and present-tense narratives, and the pacing flows quite well. Rowan and Citra were so intriguing and I thoroughly enjoyed following their journeys throughout the book. Thanks to @the-demi-jedi for recommending this book to me!

The willow woman.

Photo taken by The Henge Shop, Avebury.

writing a satisfying slow-burn romance

"There is such a gravity in your words that the entire world falls silent to your call" - excerpt from a book ill never write

We all slow-burn romances - but how do you write one so it isn't boring? or worse, one that doesn't feel completely satisfying when the characters *finally* come together. You don't get that feeling of happiness and relief when they do - so how do you prevent that?

#1. The common ground

What do they have in common? What really spurs on their chemistry? There should be something that binds them together, and shows the readers that oh yeah these two would be awesome together. Make use of 'opposites attract' or maybe they dislike each other at first, but bond over something in their past! They don't have to be very close very fast - but slowly, slowly, their chemistry should build up!

#2. Have a conflict that drives them apart, or pits them against each other

This is the part that we all secretly love - the angst. Your main plot should pull these two apart in some way; physically, emotionally, spiritually - however you want it. This adds the 'slow' element - since they're apart, we don't actively see them falling for each other. However far apart you pull them, keep giving your readers a glance at how their relationship will be possible someday. We love those crumbs - like one of them rushing to save the other when they're in danger, or patching up wounds.

#3. Show the cute moments

Show the two of them in a situation where they're awkward with each other - maybe they go ice-skating, and one of them is absolutely amazing at it and the other one keeps falling. These soft interactions and fluff are so KWJRGKJGE <33

#4. Make one of them hurt the other

Whether intentionally or unintentionally, one of them should hurt the other one. This creates a gap and a distance between them, further slowing down their romance. How they resolve it is up to you - maybe they forgive each other, or it's something they fight to solve together. It's absolutely painful, and will make the ending much more satisfying.

#5. Weave in symbolism

Make every interaction of theirs meaningful. Every moment should 'count' and add something to their relationship or character development. One of my favourite kinds of symbolism is when the characters having opposing colour schemes - red and blue, for example. It often adds to their relationship, and is something I personally love!

#6. Tie it all together

In the end, whether they get a happy ending or not, they should have a 'moment' (unless you're really cruel and want them separated without closure/j) where they finally admit to their feelings. It's the moment shippers will wait for - so make it count.

Why do you study history

Writing double agents

masterlist. main navigation.

@bluebxlle_writer on Instagram

1. Motive

Before everything, you need to establish why they became a double agent. The most common reason is probably their leader commanding them to infiltrate the enemy, but there are other reasons why someone can be a double agent :

• They have something to do /someone to see in the enemy organization, but they're forbidden to associate with the enemy, so they volunteered to be a double agent as an excuse to enter the enemy's base.

• They only want to be on the winning side, so they became a double agent so they can switch sides whenever.

• Alternatively, they became a double agent voluntarily to prove their loyalty.

2. Mannerism in enemy organization

How does your character act in the enemy organization? Do they act like their true selves? Or do they mask their true nature and act calmer and kinder in order to avoid suspicion? This point will help with the characterization of your double agent.

3. Relationships in enemy organization

Another way to emphasize your double agent's character is by establishing their relationships with the members of the enemy organization. Do they act cold, not wanting to get attached to anybody there because they view attachment as a weakness and a distraction to their infiltration mission? Or do they try to make lots of friends to build trust among the members of the organization?

4. Loyalty

This is also a very important aspect to consider, because being a double agent can either mean that the character has a strong loyalty to one side, has no loyalty at all, or has a shifting loyalty.

Strong loyalty - self explanatory! It means they will always remain loyal to one side and one side only.

No loyalty - Like emphasized in the previous number, a double agent with no loyalty tends to switch sides easily. A good example of this is Double Trouble from SPOP - they betrayed the Horde and joined the princesses the second they sensed that the princesses had a winning advantage.

5. Writing shifting loyalty

Shifting loyalty is much more complex to write about rather than simply being loyal or unloyal, so I'll have to explain it in another point. There are a few reasons why a double agent can be loyal to one side at first, but then have their loyalty gradually shift to the other side :

They realized that the enemy organization is working for a better cause, and after much battle with their morality, they decided to shift their loyalty from the "bad" side to the "good" side.

Alternatively, they were loyal to the "good side" and had a better moral compass at first, but they underwent a corruption arc and decided to shift to the "bad" side out of selfish means.

They were influenced by friends they made in the enemy organization and decided to change sides.

The leader of the enemy organization treats them better than anyone in their organization did, and they grew to respect the enemy's leader.

Ways to indicate shifting loyalty :

They begin to report to their leader less and less, hiding more info from them.

They start questioning their moral compass, often having an inner struggle on their decisions.

They begin to let their guard down in the enemy organization, establishing more relationships with the people there.

They begin to wonder where they truly belong.

6. The betrayal

When your character is revealed as a double agent to their friends in the other side, there are 2 things to consider :

How the character acts :

Do they feel guilt, apologizing and saying that they had no choice? Or do they act condescending, grinning cruelly and saying "you shouldn't have trusted me"?

How their friends act :

Do their friends look genuinely shocked and hurt, still denying their betrayal? Or do they immediately frown, saying "We knew it was you, you filthy traitor"?

This stage will say a lot about your double agent's character and morality, and their relationship with the people from the enemy organization.

Reblog, click the picture, and prepare for battle.

Bitches rant over cliffhangers in the books they read, and then turn around and cackle with Evil Writer Glee ™ every single time they put one in their own WIP

It's me, I'm bitches