Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo is Over! So what's next...

Congratulations to everyone who finished NaNoWriMo 2015! Even if you didn't get to 50,000 words you still worked your butt off and wrote. So that's a huge achievement. I think we all deserve presents!

So, I've done NaNoWriMo for 3 years now. And there's always that feeling after you're done of "What comes next?" Well, I don't know about you guys, but I always want to do something with my writing. So I look into contests, competitions, and querying. And it's ALWAYS TOO SOON.

I think that it's great to be proud of our work. It's our brainchild, something we've worked on whether it was a month or a year. However, I also know by now that if it's going to be put out in the world. Then we need to shine it like a beautiful gem!

So, here are a few things I've done in the past to move forward actively while not jumping the gun:

1. Get a Critique Partner and Beta Readers:

I've found good critique partners at:

CPSeek

Publishing Crawl's CP match-up (They also have great resources for beginning writers HERE)

Meet Up

SCBWI

2. Enter for a Mentorship or feedback of my writing:

Today is the last day of the Writing in the Margins Mentorship Program Applications.

The Writing in the Margins Mentor Program pairs an emerging author from a marginalized social group with an experienced editor or published author in order to work closely on preparing a manuscript to submit for publication. All authors and editors work on a completely volunteer basis, and there is no charge to the emerging author. Applications are open twice a year, and necessary applicant qualifications are highlighted prior to the submission period.

Go HERE to apply

You can enter first line or first page critiques on great writing blogs such as:

Miss Snark's First Victim

First Five Pages Workshop

3. Sign up for Conferences

The Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) is having their Winter Conference in New York in February. It is a great chance to go to workshops, get critiques and advice, and network. It is for writers and illustrators of children's books only (Picture Books, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Young Adult)

Go HERE to register.

OR

If you're more patient you can go to the Writer's Digest Conference in August 2016.

It is for writers of all age ranges and genres.

Go HERE to register.

Feature Follow Friday: If I had $100 for Books

Every Friday Parajunkee and Alison Can Read hosts Feature Follow Friday. It's a great way to get to know the blogging community and they ask fun questions!

This week's Question is:

Black Friday Eve! You have $100 (or pounds or whatever your currency is) to spend on books. What are you going to buy? - Suggested by Alison Can Read.

Okay, so this just seems like a wonderful chance to list books I'm really looking forward to reading but don't own yet:

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)

by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff 

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

Walk on Earth a Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1)

by Rae Carson

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

Dreamstrider

by Lindsay Smith

A high-concept, fantastical espionage novel set in a world where dreams are the ultimate form of political intelligence.

Livia is a dreamstrider. She can inhabit a subject's body while they are sleeping and, for a short time, move around in their skin. She uses her talent to work as a spy for the Barstadt Empire. But her partner, Brandt, has lately become distant, and when Marez comes to join their team from a neighborhing kingdom, he offers Livia the option of a life she had never dared to imagine. Livia knows of no other dreamstriders who have survived the pull of Nightmare. So only she understands the stakes when a plot against the Empire emerges that threatens to consume both the dreaming world and the waking one with misery and rage.

A richly conceived world full of political intrigue and fantastical dream sequences, at its heart Dreamstrider is about a girl who is struggling to live up to the potential before her.

Thicker Than Water

by Brigid Kemmerer 

On his own

Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.

Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years. 

The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her best friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers.

Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…

Inherit the Stars (Inherit the Stars #1)

by Tessa Elwood

Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.

Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.

But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?

Author Tessa Elwood's debut series is an epic romance at heart, set against a mine field of political machinations, space adventure, and deep-seeded family loyalties.

Not If I See You First

by Eric Lindstrom

The Rules: 

Don't deceive me. Ever. Especially using my blindness. Especially in public.

Don't help me unless I ask. Otherwise you're just getting in my way or bothering me.

Don't be weird. Seriously, other than having my eyes closed all the time, I'm just like you only smarter. 

Parker Grant doesn't need 20/20 vision to see right through you. That's why she created the Rules: Don't treat her any differently just because she's blind, and never take advantage. There will be no second chances. Just ask Scott Kilpatrick, the boy who broke her heart.

When Scott suddenly reappears in her life after being gone for years, Parker knows there's only one way to react-shun him so hard it hurts. She has enough on her mind already, like trying out for the track team (that's right, her eyes don't work but her legs still do), doling out tough-love advice to her painfully naive classmates, and giving herself gold stars for every day she hasn't cried since her dad's death three months ago. But avoiding her past quickly proves impossible, and the more Parker learns about what really happened--both with Scott, and her dad--the more she starts to question if things are always as they seem. Maybe, just maybe, some Rules are meant to be broken.

Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4)

by Marissa Meyer

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

Passenger (Passenger #1)

by Alexandra Bracken 

Expected publication: January 5th 2016 by Disney-Hyperion

passage, n.

i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.

ii. A journey by water; a voyage.

iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . . forever.

This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1)

by Victoria Schwab

Expected publication: June 7th 2016 by Greenwillow Books

The city of Verity has been overrun with monsters, born from the worst of human evil. In North Verity, the Corsai and the Malchai run free. Under the rule of Callum Harker, the monsters kill any human who has not paid for protection. In the South, Henry Flynn hunts the monsters who cross the border into his territory, aided by the most dangerous and darkest monsters of them all—the Sunai, dark creatures who use music to steal their victim’s souls.

As one of only three Sunai in existence, August Flynn has always wanted to play a bigger role in the war between the north and the south. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of North Verity, August jumps on it.

When Kate discovers August’s secret, the pair find themselves running for their lives and battling monsters from both sides of the wall. As the city dissolves into chaos, it’s up to them to foster a peace between monsters and humans.

A unique, fast-paced adventure that looks at the monsters we face every day—including the monster within.

Monday Musings: NaNoWriMo 2015 is almost over

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

That's the only thing going through my head right now as I realize that NaNoWriMo 2015 is almost over. I mean, it's not the ONLY sound, but it's the main one. Because I am an emotional rollercoaster! 

Beware all normal humans who've never heard of NaNoWriMo, you are in for "Last-Week-Of-NaNo-Which-Is-Also-Thanksgiving-Kat." She is a terror. She will make you listen to her latest idea of a plot twist in the hopes that you will talk her out of it, but SHE WILL INCLUDE IT ANYWAY SO WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING RIGHT NOW?

She will also come to your house and eat all of the carbs on your Thanksgiving table leaving only the dry disgusting turkey that this whole holiday is inexplicably centered on. Why can't we just have more mashed potatoes? I'll mold them into a turkey shape if that's what you need!

Anyway, enough crazy talk people. It's almost over, we should be happy. But also, that means that revisions are around the corner.

Some Unsolicited Advice: As you come close to the end you'll want to do things like enter your WiP in contests and query all the agents that existed ever. BUT DON'T DO THAT. Your books is for suresies not ready. Why you ask. Because it was written in a freaking month. Do you really think you didn't have one typo or hanging participle or really stupid unnecessary character in there? Well, in all likelihood there is. I know for a fact that my whole book is unnecessary characters (but I love them so you can't take them from me!)

Anyway, what was this post about? Oh yea, it's about gifs that express my crazy mental state. And it's also about me cheering everyone on. Happy Last Week of NaNo. I wish you all happiness and rainbows and reaching your goals and mashed potato turkey! 

Now for the Gifs!

You are a NaNoWriMo champ! It doesn't matter if you have 40,000 or 40 words. You're a rockstar.

Your book might not be completely cohesive right now, but keep at it, because it's going to be totally awesome.

Take a moment to appreciate the little things. Like a sweet side character you created yesterday or a sweet panda bear pots filled with deliciousness

Just know there are probably a lot of people out there excited to read your story, even if you haven't met them yet.

Ummm. I don't know what this GIF is supposed to be. I think it means that you're vomiting rainbows into your computer?

You did it! You're almost done with NaNo!

When November is done I'm going to buy myself a million presents.

You all already deserve major props for making it this far.

But there's still a week left. So get back to writing!

This GIF is for Axie.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Book Quotes I Loved

The Broke and the Bookish host a weekly meme of Top Ten Lists.

This week's question is:

Top Ten Quotes I Loved From Books I Read In The Past Year Or So (taken from my post topic from Freebie week)

Okay, I'm going to try to keep to the "past year or so" prompt, but no promises.

“Every hero is the villain of his own story.” 
― Holly Black, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

Kat: So dark, but also very very true. I always say that we're all our own worst critics.

“What a lovely display of personhood. He's like a good book cover that grabs your gaze. Read me. I'm fun but smart. You won't be able to put me down.” 

― Laini Taylor, Night of Cake & Puppets

Kat: OMG what a perfect quote about a person and about books. 

“Life doesnt need magic to be magical.” 
― Laini Taylor, Night of Cake & Puppets

Kat: OMG Laini Taylor, you speak to my soul. Write more books quickly please!

“I need to stop fantasizing about running away to some other life and start figuring out the one I have.” 
― Holly Black, The Darkest Part of the Forest

Kat: But whyyyyyy?

“I wanted to be in love like in the storybooks and songs and ballads. Love that hits you like a lightning bolt. And I'm sorry, because yeah, I get that you think I'm ridiculous. I get that you think I'm hilarious. I know, I get that you're mocking me. I get how stupid I am, but at least I know.” 

― Holly Black, The Darkest Part of the Forest

Kat: Me too, Holly Black. Me too.

“The thing is...what they don’t tell you about forgiveness is this—you don’t give it for the other person’s sake, but your own.” 
― Alexandra Bracken, In the Afterlight

Kat: Words of wisdom from my writer-spirit-guru Alexandra Bracken.

“The only way we will survive is by being kind. The only way we can get by in this world is through the help we receive from others. No one can do it alone, no matter how great the machines are.” 

― Amy Poehler, Yes Please

Kat: Yes, Amy Poehler, Yes! This is everything to me. My whole life philosophy. Also if the machines rise against us I sincerely hope they realize I've always treated them with respect.

“If we are talking about choice and regret, what has happened cannot be undone. And dwelling on the past changes nothing. You will only drive yourself to insanity if you do.” 
― Julie Kagawa, The Forever Song

Kat: I really should say this to myself every morning as I get ready for the day.

“Maybe there isn’t such a thing as fate. Maybe it’s just the opportunities we’re given, and what we do with them. I’m beginning to think that maybe great, epic romances don’t just happen. We have to make them ourselves.” 
― Marissa Meyer, Cress

Kat: At first I thought this quote was a bit sad, but then I realized it's actually pretty hopeful.

“Laugh. Laugh as much as you can. Laugh until you cry. Cry until you laugh. Keep doing it even if people are passing you on the street saying, "I can't tell if that person is laughing or crying, but either way they seem crazy, let's walk faster." Emote. It's okay. It shows you are thinking and feeling.” 
― Ellen DeGeneres, Seriously... I'm Kidding

Kat:  I honestly don't understand why Ellen DeGeneres is not my best friend yet.

Feature Follow Friday: Funniest Books I've ever read

Every Friday Parajunkee and Alison Can Read hosts Feature Follow Friday. It's a great way to get to know the blogging community and they ask fun questions!

This week's Question is:

What are the funniest books you've ever read? - Suggested byAlison Can Read

I'll split this into categories because there are a few:

Young Adult:

Warm Bodies

By Isaac Marion

R is having a no-life crisis--he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.

And then he meets a girl.

First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn't want to eat this girl--although she looks delicious--he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.

If you want to read my review on the book and film, go HERE

Adult:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

By: Douglas Adams

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.
Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox--the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

I wrote a review on why it's the best ever HERE

Non-Fiction:

Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puff

by Chuck Klosterman

Countless writers and artists have spoken for a generation, but no one has done it quite like Chuck Klosterman. With an exhaustive knowledge of popular culture and an almost effortless ability to spin brilliant prose out of unlikely subject matter, Klosterman attacks the entire spectrum of postmodern America: reality TV, Internet porn, Pamela Anderson, literary Jesus freaks, and the real difference between apples and oranges (of which there is none). And don't even get him started on his love life and the whole Harry-Met-Sally situation.

Whether deconstructing Saved by the Bell episodes or the artistic legacy of Billy Joel, the symbolic importance of The Empire Strikes Back or the Celtics/Lakers rivalry, Chuck will make you think, he'll make you laugh, and he'll drive you insane -- usually all at once. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs is ostensibly about art, entertainment, infotainment, sports, politics, and kittens, but -- really -- it's about us. All of us. As Klosterman realizes late at night, in the moment before he falls asleep, "In and of itself, nothing really matters. What matters is that nothing is ever 'in and of itself.'" Read to believe.

Seriously...I'm Kidding

by Ellen Degeneres

"Sometimes the greatest things are the most embarrassing." Ellen Degeneres' winning, upbeat candor has made her show one of the most popular, resilient and honored daytime shows on the air. (To date, it has won no fewer than 31 Emmys.) Seriously... I'm Kidding, Degeneres' first book in eight years, brings us up to date about the life of a kindhearted woman who bowed out of American Idol because she didn't want to be mean. Lively; hilarious; often sweetly poignant.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

By Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling has lived many lives: the obedient child of immigrant professionals, a timid chubster afraid of her own bike, a Ben Affleck–impersonating Off-Broadway performer and playwright, and, finally, a comedy writer and actress prone to starting fights with her friends and coworkers with the sentence “Can I just say one last thing about this, and then I swear I’ll shut up about it?”

Perhaps you want to know what Mindy thinks makes a great best friend (someone who will fill your prescription in the middle of the night), or what makes a great guy (one who is aware of all elderly people in any room at any time and acts accordingly), or what is the perfect amount of fame (so famous you can never get convicted of murder in a court of law), or how to maintain a trim figure (you will not find that information in these pages). If so, you’ve come to the right book, mostly!
In Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Mindy invites readers on a tour of her life and her unscientific observations on romance, friendship, and Hollywood, with several conveniently placed stopping points for you to run errands and make phone calls. Mindy Kaling really is just a Girl Next Door—not so much literally anywhere in the continental United States, but definitely if you live in India or Sri Lanka.

Beautiful Books 2: Writing Process

So Paper Fury and Further up and Further in. is hosting Beautiful Books for NaNo again this year. It was great to participate last year (my past posts are here and here). I completely dropped the ball this year and didn't write my first post until RIGHT NOW, so I couldn't put it in the linky, but you can find it here. 

Now for the part 2 questions:

Is the book turning out how you thought it would be, or is it defying your expectations?

It's a turning out mostly how I thought it would. I had an outline of how it should go already. So I'm mostly sticking to that.

To be honest this is me when I write in general:

What’s your first sentence (or paragraph)?

Miyoung knew well how cruel laughter could be; she sat with her head hanging low as it rang around her. 

Soy sauce and fish oil dripped out of her long black locks, soaking the blazer of her school uniform. The sticky drops against her name tag echoed in her ears, soaking each character of her name. Gu. Mi. Young.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Have you ever tried both methods and how did it turn out?

I'm more of a pantser. But I have shifted to become a hybrid. a Plantser if you will.

I will always share this GIF when I talk about being a pantser #sorrynotsorry:

What do you reward yourself with after meeting a goal?

A new car! Hahah, I wish. I do get myself something nice, like a new book. To be honest, I read a lot when I'm on a writing roll. It's like a positive feedback loop for me.

What do you look for in a name? Do you have themes and where do you find your names?

They do have to kind of mean something. They speak to the character or the character's journey. So Miyoung means eternally beautiful, which speaks to a gumiho's beauty and her ability to live for a long time.

Yena means beautiful and talented. Which is fitting because Yena is gorgeous and manipulative.

I picked Jihoon because it is a popular boy's name. I wanted Jihoon to feel more normal than the paranormal characters. Also, Jihoon is easy to pronounce for non-Korean speakers.

What is your favourite to write: beginning, middle, or end — and why?

 Middle all day long! I hate beginnings and endings! There is so much pressure on both!

Who’s your current favourite character in your novel?

Currently I like Miyoung. I made her much more flawed than I thought I would, so she's turning out quite quirky.

What kind of things have you researched for this project, and how do you go about researching? (What’s the weirdest thing you’ve researched?!)

I researched Korean mythology, shamanism, and just random street names. I stuck to the neighborhoods I know and have been to myself in Seoul.

Like the Tiny City I found behind this Tiny Door!

Do you write better alone or with others? Do you share your work or prefer to keep it to yourself?

I probably write better alone, but I enjoy writing more with others. And I share my work AS SOON as I've written it. I have some CPs who are all down for that and some I have to hold back from contacting as soon as I write the scene because I know they're busy.

What are your writing habits? Is there a specific snack you eat? Do you listen to music? What time of day do you write best? Feel free to show us a picture of your writing space! 

Must listen to something. Sometimes I even have the TV on, which many people find weird. I write really well in mid-afternoon and night time. I am not a morning person at all.

You can join the Beautiful Books Part 2 fun HERE

Beautiful Books 1: Introduce your Novel

So Paper Fury and Further up and Further in. is hosting Beautiful Books for NaNo again this year. It was great to participate last year (my past posts are here and here). I completely dropped the ball this year and didn't write my first post until RIGHT NOW. So I apologize for being late. But I will double post to catch up with the second prompt which is already out.

How did you come up with the idea for your novel, and how long have you had the idea? 

It's an old Korean myth/folktale about a Gumiho, nine-tailed fox that can shift into a beautiful woman. So I've had this idea swimming in my head for a couple of years. But I didn't have the confidence to commit to it until now.

Why are you excited to write this novel? 

Ummm, because it's about a nine-tailed shape-shifting fox.

Also, because it's a love story. And it's got a lot of K-Drama elements and I'm a K-Drama nut.
AND I get to look at beautiful inspiration like these GIFs:

What is your novel about, and what is the title? 

I think I jumped the gun in answering this question. But to go into more detail it is about a girl who is a gumiho, but doesn't really want to be. She's never had a regular life or real connections. And she meets a boy who is also lonely in his life. They fall in love, but of course things get kind of complicated along the way.

The working title is "Gumiho."

Sum up your characters in one word each. (Feel free to add pictures!) 

Hahn Jihoon - Detached

Gu Miyoung - Lonely

 Gu Yena - Cold

Which character(s) do you think will be your favourite to write? Tell us about them! 

I really do enjoy writing Jihoon and Miyoung. But there is a side character that comes in later in the book named Junu. He's a bit of a ladies' man and he has a mysterious past as well.

What is your protagonist’s goal, and what stands in the way? 

Miyoung deciding between her love for her mother (her gumiho side) and her love for Jihoon (her human side), and eventually having to deal with the consequences of her own disastrous choices.

Where is your novel set? (Show us pictures if you have them!) 

Modern day Seoul, South Korea

What is the most important relationship your character has? 

The relationship between the two mains is the most explored. But there is a huge theme of their relationships with their parents.

How does your protagonist change by the end of the novel? 

Miyoung learns that she cannot always lean on others in her search to define herself.

Jihoon learns how he hides himself behind these fake personas he creates for himself and that trusting other people might be worth it even if he does get hurt in the process.

What themes are in your book? How do you want your readers to feel when the story is over?
Three themes are: Love, Family, Search for self.

I want my readers to feel satisfied. Like everything happened the way it should have.

BONUS! Tell us your 3 best pieces of advice for others trying to write a book in a month.

Advice for people trying to do NaNoWriMo: Don't edit. You'll want to. But you can't, because the editing bug is strong and you will start to tweak things and get caught up in that. Edit in December. For November, write your heart out!

Join along in the fun here!