November is National Novel Writing Month, better known as NaNoWriMo. Every year, NaNoWriMo challenges writers across the globe to write a 50,000-word novel in just thirty days.
It's as fun as it is daunting.
Even though NaNoWriMo sounds strict with its timeline and fixed goal, it's an event for everyone, no matter your level of experience or genre. The focus is not about finishing with a ready-to-publish masterpiece but simply embracing creativity and putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard).
This year, I'm taking the plunge!
The last time I attempted NaNoWriMo was during my freshman year of college. I used the month of November for my take on a NaNo-adjacent challenge known as Screnzy that normally took place in April and was centered on writing scripts rather than novels; Screnzy was discontinued circa 2012, so I wasn't an official participant in any capacity, but I did write the majority of a screenplay in that time.
After nearly ten years, I'm jumping back into the NaNoWriMo pool—this time with an actual novel for my WIP!
Readers, allow me to introduce A Tided Love:
A Tided Love is a seaside second-chance romance set in Regency England.
The summer Caroline Sinclair visited Breamport remains one of her dearest memories—even in the wake of a bitter heartache.
Several years later and now a widow, Caroline returns to the seaside resort at her sister's recommendation in the hopes of mending her spirits. All the while, she cannot help but wonder about a certain gentleman with russet eyes she knew long ago.
Having broken off his engagement, Thomas Heathcott finds himself at the center of gossipmongers' prattle and unable to shirk the ever-elusive Miss Rosebury and her Tea Room Ramblings. All he desires is to move on and forget the blasted mess.
That is, until he runs into his past one summer night.
As memories begin to flood back, they realize so much has changed, but so many things remain the same—including the feelings they've harbored for so long...
It doesn't take long for the sparks to be reignited between Caroline and Thomas. But with her ex-mother-in-law nipping at her heels and rumors rising like the tide, it might prove enough to keep them apart—this time, forever.
There is still a lot that is vague about A Tided Love. I know the beginning and the ending and have some middle beats laid out, but everything that occurs in between is still to be determined—despite this being the most-planned-out thing this Plantser has written to date! But, then again, that's typically how it goes for any story of mine. The fun is in figuring it all out!
One thing I am certain of when it comes to A Tided Love is finally being able to incorporate a particular scene concept I've held in the back of my mind for years.
What is it, you ask? Two words: thunderstorm spiciness.
A Tided Love is also an experimental piece for me. Second-chance romance is a trope I have something of a love-hate relationship with (as I wrote about here), so I'm interested in seeing how my stance changes as I try my hand at writing it.
I'll be sharing progress updates on my social media pages throughout NaNoWriMo so be sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter to stay in the know. You can also find me on the NaNoWriMo website here.
♡ Happy writing my fellow NaNoWriMo participants! May the words flow and may the creative sparks fly! ♡
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