Know the Novel – Part 1 // Introduction {A Writer’s Linkup}

I’m so happy to announce that I’m participating in Christine Smith’s yearly writer linkup: Know the Novel! I did it last year on my Facebook page because I didn’t have time to write an entire post, and I enjoyed it so much that I just had to do it again. So, thank you, Christine, for always making this happen. *hugs*

Since I talked about my dystopian novel, Prodigy, last time, I’ve decided to switch things up. I still won’t be doing NaNo because it’s a terrible time for me, but I figure it’s still a good time to really introduce you guys to my summer contemporary romance novel, The Last Time We Say Goodbye.

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What first sparked the idea for this novel?

The origin of this story is quite the tale. However, for the sake of time, I won’t tell the lengthy, detailed version. Basically, in a nutshell, this story is a variation of the original idea. The initial inspiration came from Danny Gokey’s song, “More Than You Think I Am.” Specifically, the line that says, “Your days and your times are destined for our dance.” And while that theme will be notably absent from this version of the story, it was the spark that fueled the creation of it.

_{Okay, editor Bree here. I’m just gonna go ahead and apologize for the mess that is that *points up* I honestly don’t know what Past Bree was trying to say, but I strongly believe it was lost in translation, so brownie points to anyone who can put that together.}

Share a blurb (or just an overall summary if you’d prefer)!

I really don’t share blurbs on my blog, but I hope this list of aesthetics satisfies you (for now)!

Summer beach trips | First love | Trying to fix mistakes | Grief child | Look at the stars and forget | Midnight runaways | Checkered past | Live for the future | All we have is now | Yellow vibes | Let’s sit on the roof again | Your frequent stupidity entertains me greatly | The cutest smile | Can we be young forever? | What a plot twist you were | Photography is my thing | My poetry is suddenly all about you | Someday you will find your place in this world

Where does the story take place? What are some of your favorite aspects about the setting?

This story takes place (almost) exclusively in Portland, Oregon. There will be some other cities in Oregon that pop up throughout the novel, but the main characters live in Portland. One of my favorite aspects of writing about a setting in Oregon is all the greenery, it literally makes me so happy.

Tell us about your protagonist(s).

'Cause everyone falls so hard
And everything falls apart
But we know we still got heart
Here's to the broken ones
:: Broken Ones by ILLENIUM ::

And my friends say I'm losing my mind
And my parents check in all the time
But it's harder to see you're not mine
with my bloodshot eyes
And I know that they're all probably right
And I know I should just say goodnight
But it's harder to see you're not mine, with my
Bloodshot eyes
:: Bloodshot by Dove Cameron ::

You were always there
Like a shining light
On my darkest days
You were there to guide me
Oh I miss you now
I wish you could see
Just how much your memory
Will always mean to me
In the blink of an eye
I never got to say goodbye
:: Gone Too Soon by Simple Plan ::

If I could go back and change the past
Be a little braver than I had
And bet against the odds
Would I still be lost?
Even if I woke up in my dreams
Would there still be something I'm missing?
If I had everything
Would it mean anything to me?
:: Wondering by Olivia Rodrigo & Julia Lester ::

Feels like we're on the edge right now
I wish that I could say I'm proud
I'm sorry that I let you down
I let you down
:: Let You Down by NF ::

It's a classic "me" mistake
Someone gives me love and I throw it all away
Tell me have I gone insane?
Talkin' to myself but I don't know what to say
:: Lose Somebody by Kygo & OneRepublic ::

I just wanna run
Hide it away
Run because they're chasin' me down
I just wanna run
Throw it away
Run before they're findin' me out
:: I Just Wanna Run by The Downtown Fiction ::

When my time comes
Forget the wrong that I've done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
And don't resent me
And when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory
Leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest
:: Leave Out All The Rest by Linkin Park ::

Who (or what) is the antagonist?

The antagonist is…well…too much of a concept to really describe. I’d say grief, but it’s so much deeper than that. The antagonistic force of the story is a deeply intricate sense of loss that propels the two main characters into each other’s arms. She needs someone who will stay… He needs someone who will see through the shattered pieces of his tough exterior and complicated past.

I don’t think that really answers the question, but it’s the best I can do right now because the antagonist isn’t really a person or thing. It’s an emotion. A feeling. A deep sense of feeling like you don’t belong that drives you toward bad and, sometimes, good things.

What excites you the most about this novel?

I’m actually really excited to write some of the more mundane scenes between Alex and Hope. I have a lot of fun dates planned for them, but I kinda like the idea of just writing about them going to get french fries at 2 A.M. or watching a movie and cuddling for two hours. There’s something really special about the bonding that happens in the little moments, so while the BIG SCENES are exciting, I’m also happy to write the smaller ones.

Is this going to be a series? Standalone? Something else?

This is a standalone novel. When I first had the idea (which was like drastically different from the current one), I thought it would be a trilogy. But since the plot has undergone many, intense overhauls, it’s just going to be one book.

Are you plotting? Pantsing? Plantsing?

Plantsing. I have certain scenes plotted to a T, but other scenes are just a complete free-for-all. I don’t like planning every single beat of the story because I need to feel like I can make a spontaneous decision and having a detailed plot would kinda ruin that for me.

Name a few unique elements about this story.

Unique elements? Well, every time I try to answer this, I can’t think of anything particularly original about this story. It’s filled with a lot of tropes that people dislike, such as the Bad, Brooding Boy, but over the years, I’ve found my peace in that. Not everyone is going to like this story. To be perfectly honest, it’s not the most original story. But it’s MY story to tell. God gave ME this story, which means that He wants ME to write it into existence. He gave it to me for a reason, and I think the most unique element about it is that it’s mine. I’m a unique being just by existing, so I think the same logic applies to my little story that makes me cry.

Share some fun “extras” of the story (a song or full playlist, some aesthetics, a collage, a Pinterest board, a map you’ve made, a special theme you’re going to incorporate, ANYTHING you want to share!).

The sun comes up when the stars keeping falling
Life goes on and on and on, yeah
Morning comes, it can't take that away
Holding on when you keep falling
Changes that we gotta count on
We'll get up and fight another day
:: Life Goes On by Bailey Bryan ::

We've got young blood
Can't destroy us
We make our own luck in this world
We've got young blood
No one chose us
We make our own love in this world
:: Young Blood by Bea Miller ::

Everywhere I go leads me back to you
I don't wanna go, think I'll make it worse
Everything I know brings me back to us
I don't wanna go, we've been here before
Everywhere I go leads me back to you
:: I Miss You, I'm Sorry by Gracie Abrams ::

So, before you go
Was there something I could've said to make your heart beat better?
If only I'd have known you had a storm to weather
So, before you go
Was there something I could've said to make it all stop hurting?
It kills me how your mind can make you feel so worthless
So, before you go
:: Before You Go by Lewis Capaldi ::

Let’s Talk!

Are you participating in the writer linkup? If so, drop your link below so I can check it out. What do you think of my book baby? Are you intrigued? Which part of the post did you like the best? I tried to give you guys a nice little peek into my story, so I hope you love it as much as I do. ❤