The What's Your WIP? Blog Tag

Hello, friends! Here's an unexpected post because we need to have our monthly tag and Monday I have a cover reveal and Tuesday I have another tag I want to post because I said I'd share about the blog tag I created and I wanted to fill in the answers while Broken is my WIP. xP

Soooo... here it is!

Rules:

• Thank the person who tagged you.
• Link back to the creator. 
• List the rules. 
• Answer the questions. 
• Tag as many or as few people as you wish & let them know they're tagged. 
• Add the questions at the end of your post for the "tagged" to copy. 

And here are the questions! 

1. Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be? 

It has a title and I believe it's the final title. "Broken." Because Nathan is completely broken (that was a given) and his life is in pieces. 

2. Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about? 

I have! 

Nathaniel Kemp is drowning in the darkness that surrounds him. Crime, abuse, grief, and violence have buried him in a deep slough of depression and bitterness. When hitchhiking to see his sister for the last time before taking his own life, Nathan is picked up by two unusual brothers. James, the eldest, insists that Jesus Christ died to save Nathan from his sins and can give him a new life. As the years roll on and Nathan continues to battle his past, he wonders... can there be forgiveness and healing even for him? 

3. Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?

I have a cover which I will probably keep. Making covers is one of my first steps once I begin a story. :)

4. How did you get the idea for this story?

It was a Sunday night when we were returning from church. As we drove down the highway I saw a man and a woman walking by the side of the highway. It were near a town and there was streetlights. Their unknown story really intrigued me and I pulled out my phone to write it. But instead, I remembered something I'd seen on that very highway years ago, at a different place. I believe it was just before the highway left the town and went into the woods. There was a man standing on the side of the highway asking for a lift. I had always wondered what he was doing there--and felt sorry for him. So I began writing his story. At first his name was Zach and his character was very different, but after a while, influenced by Kaitlyn Krispense's Beloved, I chose Nathaniel because of its meaning, and the character changed. 

5. How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?

I think I thought it'd be a short story. Now I think it'll be about 15,000 words or more. *goes check* Scratch that. It's at 16,076 words as of Monday, October 7th, at 1:40 PM. So I guess it'll be between 20,000 and 30,000 words. 😱

6. Who’s your favourite character so far? 

Adalyne Kemp! She's just so sweet... I love her character. She's perfect for Nathan. She's sweet and strong and brave and dainty.

7. What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?

When I was writing a scene between Adalyne & Nathan and I teared up. I never tear up when writing.  It was astonishing to be moved so deeply! 

8. Any special person(s) who helped create it? 

Kassie, Ryana Lynn, Hannah, & Annalissa! They sprinted with me, gave me compliments, fangirled over the characters, and brainstormed with me. I'm so very grateful for their help!! 

9. What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can give it without spoilers! xP)? 
xD Well, let's see... I think it's when Adalyne is trying to convince Nathan that he isn't as bad as he thinks he is and that she still loves him. That... that's the scene that made me tear up. I love it when she starts crying on him. xP Call me a drama queen... 😝

10. Can you give us a snippet? ;) 
Probably... *goes hunting* 

Adalyne stood in the doorway, as cute and dainty as ever. She was wearing a sunshine-hued T-shirt and a frilly blue skirt. She was barefoot, but her nails were painted a hot pink. Her long golden hair was loose down her back, and she was holding a book in her hand. It was obvious I’d caught her on a comfy day off. 

I was studying all these details to avoid looking at her face. In the spilt second it’d taken me to do this, she had hurled herself at me. Her arms locked around my neck and she dangled there, laughing and crying and squealing like the exuberant, emotional girl she was. “Nathan!!!” 

I wrapped my arms around her. So far she seemed glad to see me... but I didn’t dare hope yet. I patted her back awkwardly, waiting for her to remember. For her to scream and rage. I waited for the reaction I expected and dreaded. 

Add dropped to the ground and wiped tears out of her eyes. “Oh, Nathan, I’m so happy to see you! It’s been so long! How’ve you been?”

She looked up at me with her old expression of adoring love and I looked down at her wordlessly. She was even more gorgeous than before, with her pretty little freckles and Cupid’s bow and shimmering blue-green eyes, with glints of gold in their depths—like water in a lake, gilded by the sunshine. Just now a dark cloud of worry was sweeping over them, drowning out the sparkle.

“Nathan? Are you all right?”

I looked back at her, drowning in guilt. I remembered the last time I’d seen her... eyes swimming in tears, a bruise darkening on her temple, betrayal and pain etched on her face. I remembered how she’d walked down the hall and locked herself up in her room. I remembered how I had not even dared to look deprecatingly at J.J., let alone yell at him for hitting her. I’d failed her. I deserved to be rejected. 

11. Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs? 
Well, it definitely didn't end up being what I thought it would be! I expected it to be a short story about a kid who'd been rebellious and a dad who was a little bit too harsh. The kid would go see his sister and... I think I also planned to have him and her (or another guy) hitchhiking on the highway like the two people I'd seen. Also, at first his name was Zach and his character was very different, but after a while, influenced by Kaitlyn Krispense's Beloved, I chose Nathaniel because of its meaning, and the character changed. Then I kept writing, and the story began to unfold very differently than I expected--the father's part, and Nathan's past, and basically everything really. So all that to say, yes, it was pretty much all different than I expected. 😜

12. Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story? 
There are several I found... or wrote. xP 
"When you see broken beyond repair... God sees healing beyond belief." 
"You have to be broken to be fixed." (Came to me randomly; probably going to work it into the book).

"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalm 34:18).

"He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3).

"A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalm 51:17). 

There are a couple others in my "mood board" but they're quotations from books so I won't put them here. As for hymns, there's a whole bunch: Amazing Grace, And Can It Be?, Alas! & did My Saviour Bleed, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, Just as I am, At Calvary... 

13. When and where have you done most of the writing so far? 
I've mostly done it in the evening (8:00 PM - 9:00 PM). As for where, it's varied between my desk, the basement, and the kitchen table. :) 

14. Where do you get inspiration for this story? 
I don't really seek inspiration for it... I just write. But when I was describing Adalyne's apartment I looked through my IKEA pictures for inspiration, and I find the quotes and hymns that I mentioned inspire me too. 

15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I'm a planster! ;) I have to plot a little to know where I'm heading, but I can't plot a lot. I know the big plot points, and in between I just write and see where the "muse" leads me. I love to watch my characters and their stories develop before my eyes!

16. Do you have a little ritual before you start writing? 
I generally make sure my phone is plugged in, put my earphones in, and choose my music. I also ask if anyone wants/can sprint with me. I want to start a habit of praying before I write, but I usually forget. :/

17. Are you thinking of publishing this story? 
I'm really hoping to. :) 

18. What things have you learned while writing this story? 

I've learned that God can fulfill dreams that you hardly dared to dream. I've learned that I can write deep subjects. I've learned how to write daily. And I've learned that characters don't get saved right away... just like real people. 

And I tag... Kassie, Ryana Lynn, Rebekah, & Erudessa, as well as anyone else who wants to do it! 

Here are the questions for your convenience: 

1. Has your WIP a working title? If so, tell us! If not, have you any idea of what it might be? 

2. Have you a synopsis for your WIP? If so, give it to us! If not, can you give us a blurb on what your WIP is about? 

3. Have you a working/mock cover for your WIP? If so, show us! If not, have you an idea in mind?

4. How did you get the idea for this story?
5. How long do you think it will be? Is it longer or shorter than you thought it would be?
6. Who’s your favourite character so far? 
7. What’s your favourite memory related to this WIP?
8. Any special person(s) who helped create it? 
9. What’s your favourite scene so far (if you can give it without spoilers! xP)? 
10. Can you give us a snippet? ;) 
11. Is the story still what you thought it would be or has it thrown you a couple curveballs? 

12. Is there a Bible verse, poem, hymn, picture, or quote that helped shape this story? 
13. When and where have you done most of the writing so far? 
14. Where do you get inspiration for this story? 
15. Are you a plotter or a pantser?
16. Do you have a little ritual before you start writing? 
17. Are you thinking of publishing this story? 
18. What things have you learned while writing this story? 

~ / / ~

What do you think of this tag? Would you like to read other people's answers (like I would)?